This is how the utopian first round of playoffs will be for a depleted Lakers squad

Misfortune has struck Los Angeles Lakers in recent days, losing Doncic and Reaves for the 2026 NBA playoffs. Their strong position in the Western Conference prompts us to review which opponents they might have to face in that round and what lineup they will put on the table to work the miracle.

Everything was going smoothly, but the train has derailed. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will not be available for the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, where Los Angeles Lakers will seek a victory to boost their confidence and morale enough to aim firmly for the championship ring. If they secure a win in that series, the Angelinos would regain their two key players and be significantly strengthened at all levels to deepen their postseason journey.

It is clear that maintaining home court advantage is the priority. It is already challenging to think about defeating the Nuggets, Rockets, or Timberwolves; it would be even more utopian to do so if they had to play more games away from home in the series. They are tied with the Rockets and Nuggets, so they need to secure a win to avoid falling to the fifth position. From there, everything points to them relying on LeBron James.

The starting five could feature Smart and LaRavia as Lieutenants to a LeBron who would act as the maestro, trying to involve Hachimura and Ayton heavily in the attack. Off the bench, Kennard would seek to provide outside scoring, Vanderbilt defensive toughness, and both Kleber and Hayes would aim to bring energy in the paint. In this scenario, it wouldn't be surprising to see Bronny James playing more minutes than expected. Ultimately, a bleak outlook for Los Angeles Lakers.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Así será la utópica primera ronda de playoffs para unos Lakers en cuadro