By winning 14 of their last 16 games, the Los Angeles Lakers have become one of the NBA’s hottest teams, not to mention one of its most dangerous teams. In the month of March, they rank 10th in defensive rating, seventh in offensive rating and sixth in points per game, and they’re peaking at the right time.
With a 48-26 record, the Lakers are in third place in the Western Conference and are 1.5 games ahead of the fourth-place Denver Nuggets. They’re starting to look like the type of team no one will want to face in the playoffs.
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That was the message Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki sent during an NBA on Prime telecast when he talked about how well things have come together for them.
“Luka [Doncic] has been playing incredible basketball,” Nowitzki said. “(He’s been) on fire for weeks now, averaging almost 40 a night. … The big three is healthy for the first time. I think they finding their roles. LeBron has been doing a great job stepping back, letting the younger two (Doncic and Austin Reaves) carry the offense.
“… Is that a team you really want to see in the playoffs with three guys that can decide the game and take over down the stretch?”
Doncic is on the type of extended tear few players have ever been on, Reaves continues to play excellent All-Star-level basketball and James has adapted well to his new role as L.A.’s third scoring option. The team has found a way to play solid defense even though it isn’t built to excel defensively, and it has been doing a better job of getting out in transition and creating pace in small spurts.
The Lakers may not win the NBA championship this year, but they could be poised to go on the type of postseason run that could set themselves up for something special next season.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Dirk Nowitzki warns rest of NBA about facing Lakers in playoffs