Luka Doncic believes Lakers can win all of it: 'We have now the staff to do it'

After the Los Angeles Lakers beat Houston on Friday night time to clinch the Pacific Division title and the third seed within the playoffs with their fiftieth victory of the season, their postgame celebration was each wild and moist.

The jubilant shouts and roars from their locker room might be heard by means of the cement partitions of the tunnel of their downtown area. The aquatic factor of the festivities grew to become apparent moments later when coach JJ Redick emerged with damp hair and carrying a inexperienced Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt, which he known as “the one dry merchandise of clothes I’ve.”

“Hopefully, within the subsequent 9 days, the $17,000 in harm to the carpet can get mounted,” Redick mentioned jokingly. “There was about eight ice buckets placed on me.”

Redick and his gamers had earned a number of moments of enjoyable. A staff led by a rookie head coach and LeBron James has navigated by means of a large midseason commerce, survived a number of latest setbacks and emerged as a transparent contender for a deep playoff run.

And maybe even a title problem for a franchise with 17 banners already within the rafters?

“I really feel like we are able to win a championship, to be trustworthy with you,” Austin Reaves mentioned. “The explanation for that’s I do know all people in that locker room believes that.”

James did not converse to the media after the sport, however Luka Doncic echoed Reaves’ evaluation of the Lakers’ perception of their championship high quality after they wrapped up the division with their seventh win in 10 video games down the stretch.

“I feel we’ve got the staff to do it,” mentioned Doncic, who scored 39 factors in three quarters towards the Rockets. “When all people is locked in, we’re a tough staff to beat, in order that’s our purpose.”

The purpose appears more and more life like, which is much more spectacular as a result of this model of the Lakers has solely been collectively for 2 months.

Doncic performed his first recreation for Los Angeles on Feb. 10, a number of days after the Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world by dealing the Slovenian famous person in a package deal for Anthony Davis. The Lakers are 19-12 since then — not a jaw-dropping report, however one which stands out given the upheaval they’ve confronted.

“The fellows which have been right here all alongside, they went by means of each single peak and valley,” Redick mentioned. “I feel even this third iteration of this staff has gone by means of a bunch of peaks and valleys. Simply extremely happy with our staff. It is an accomplishment to win 50 video games within the common season in any yr, significantly on this yr, on this Western Convention.”

Are the Los Angeles Lakers the staff to beat within the West? | Converse

The Lakers now have one of many NBA’s finest scorers of their lineup subsequent to the highest scorer in basketball historical past, and the partnership is more and more engaging.

Doncic and James mixed for 53 factors in 53 minutes towards the Rockets in what was most likely their ultimate outing earlier than the playoffs start subsequent weekend. Los Angeles additionally completed 31-10 at house, posting the third-best house report within the league.

Clinching the No. 3 seed means the Lakers can relaxation their high gamers Sunday in Portland, and everybody can get a while off subsequent week whereas the play-in event happens. Los Angeles needed to slog by means of the play-in video games in every of the earlier two seasons after ending seventh within the West with James and Anthony Davis.

When the Lakers lastly study their first-round matchup Sunday, they will start mentally making ready for the ultimate chapter in a season stuffed with drama — however nonetheless missing a Hollywood ending.

“I used to be joking with my finest good friend the opposite day, speaking about how I really feel like this yr has been 5 years in complete, however then once more, it feels prefer it simply began on the identical time,” Reaves mentioned. “As a lot as this group has been by means of, each time we hit any sort of adversity, we bounce proper again, and that is all you possibly can ask of a gaggle.”

Reporting by The Related Press.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication day by day!