The Los Angeles Lakers are set to face their longtime rivals, the Denver Nuggets, in the first round of the playoffs, a matchup that some analysts believed they would have preferred to avoid by tanking their game against the New Orleans Pelicans. However, the Lakers competed hard and earned their spot against the reigning champions.

Sports analyst Craig Carton has expressed skepticism about the Lakers’ chances, pointing out the team’s recent struggles against the Nuggets. The Nuggets have dominated the Lakers in their recent matchups, winning eight consecutive games dating back to the Western Conference Finals, where they swept the Lakers in four games. Despite the Lakers’ efforts to stay competitive, they have consistently fallen short against the Nuggets.

Carton emphasizes the significant coaching gap between Mike Malone of the Nuggets and Darvin Ham of the Lakers, suggesting that the Nuggets are well-equipped to exploit the Lakers’ weaknesses. While the Lakers have made efforts to match up against the Nuggets, they have been unable to overcome their opponents’ strengths.

It remains to be seen whether the mainstream media will focus solely on the Lakers or acknowledge the Nuggets’ accomplishments and strengths as the reigning champions.