The Final Round?

I don’t think it would be crazy to declare this Lakers-Warriors series the most hyped up non-Finals matchup in modern NBA history. It’s only the conference semifinals, and we get the treat of watching the two biggest names of this generation face off. This battle of old foes would be an epic potential last chapter for both Curry and LeBron’s legacy 🏀

• While LeBron and Curry are still performing as superstars in their mid-to-late 30s, there’s no telling if this will be their final playoff duel

• The two reached this point in typical fashion, fighting off feisty young contenders for the throne and displaying the heart of champions. These living legends are inspiring some of the NBA’s highest viewing totals ever 🔥

The first matchup of this series certainly lived up to the lofty hype, as the Lakers built up a solid lead before a late 14-0 Warriors run nearly stole the game. The clash of styles was incredibly apparent, as the Warriors lived behind the three-point line, while the Lakers dominated the paint 💪

• It’s clear that LA’s considerable advantage in length and brawn will continue to give Golden State trouble

• From Jared Vanderbilt and AD’s suffocating defense, to LeBron’s forays to the rim, the Lakers exploited size mismatches throughout the victory 👀

The Lakers’ ultimate size advantage of course comes in the form of Anthony Davis, whose paint presence proved a whole different beast for Golden State after facing Sacramento’s more finesse oriented attack. AD continues to assert his case as the league’s premiere rim protector, putting a lid on the basket that forced the Warriors to live outside of the paint 🔒

• Davis has been performing an all-time great level on defense throughout this playoff run. His elite two-way performance in Game 1 put the big man in historic company ⭐️

The Warriors don’t seem to have an answer for Davis and LeBron’s bruising style, so they will need to be far more productive on offense to have a chance in this series. Having Curry run more pick-and-rolls, the weapon with which he often abused the Kings in his masterful Game 7 performance, will likely precipitate more efficient sets and open threes 💦

• The Warriors will be looking to run more offense through their superstar in general, as they failed to put the ball in his hands late last game

• Jordan Poole’s ambitious game-winning attempt generated a lot of buzz online 😬

Take a look at Game 2 odds for tonight - no newsletter till Tuesday, we’ll catch up on everything we missed then 🙏

Lakers vs. Warriors Betting Preview (subject to change)

• Spread: Warriors -5.5

• Moneyline: Warriors -240, Lakers +198

• O/U: 227.5

Trivia Question: LeBron is the NBA’s all-time top postseason scorer. Where does Steph rank?

For My Parlay Gurus

While I think the Warriors will play with more intention tonight, the Lakers exposed a variety of mismatches in Game 1 that they can continue to exploit. I like LA to pull off the upset behind another dominant defensive performance from AD and the Lakers’ legion of versatile wings 💪

• Lakers +5.5 @ Warriors: -108

• Anthony Davis OVER 3.5 Blocks: +130

$100 on this bet would win you $343 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: Steph is already 14th in all-time playoff scoring (full list here)

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