The Golden State Warriors should be rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers to fall apart in the NBA Playoffs and blow it up this summer.
The NBA Playoffs have been a great treat during this otherwise rough year for sports fans. We have two great matchups in the conference finals and it’s clear who the Golden State Warriors should be rooting for in each scenario.
Before we get to the obvious, let’s briefly talk about the Eastern Conference. The Warriors should be hoping the Boston Celtics implode against the Miami Heat as this would potentially put Marcus Smart on the trading block by the next deadline.
As for the West, it’s clear the Warriors should be rooting against the Lakers. And it’s not because of their longstanding rivalry with LeBron James – and it’s not for the sake of hating on the top-seeded team in the playoffs.
Rather, the Warriors should be hoping the Lakers fall apart for one major reason: Anthony Davis’ upcoming free agency decision. As long as the Lake Show is dominating and winning games with ease- Davis will remain in the purple and gold. A run to a championship would solidify their chances of keeping Davis.
In contrast, a disastrous conference final or massive upset in the NBA Finals could potentially drive Davis out of LA. This would be wonderful for the Warriors as a path to next year’s finals would instantly open up.
Other Western Conference titans look like they will be here for quite some time. The LA Clippers have most of their core locked into longterm contracts while the Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks have youth on their side. The only powerhouse with the potential to collapse is the Lakers – and most of that relies on Davis’ decision.
It is probably unlikely that Davis leaves the Lakers barring a massive meltdown in the playoffs but it is something the Warriors should remain hopeful for as they watch the remainder of the postseason.