Lakers look to close out defending champion Warriors
The Lakers hold a 3-1 lead over the defending champion Warriors with a chance to close it out in Game 5 on the road. As the series shifts back to San Francisco, the Warriors will be focused and determined to extend the series.
Per the Los Angeles Times, head coach Darvin Ham said, “It’s going to be a tough one going up north. That game on Wednesday is going to be another dogfight. We can expect another dogfight. That’s a prideful team. They’re the defending champions for a reason, so all of us are going to have to make sure we’re on the same page and locked in.”
Laker Nation, Coach Darvin Ham has been doing a super job of getting our @Lakers ready to play in the first four games and making the right decisions and adjustments within the game. The Lakers have to be ready to play because of Golden State's Championship pedigree.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 10, 2023
Ham and the Lakers know it’s going to be a challenge to close the series out in Game 5. Golden State has won four titles with their core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. They know what it takes to win in the playoffs.
For LA to win on the road, it will take great performances from Anthony Davis and LeBron James. The superstar duo has won a championship together and is the key to advancing to the Western Conference Finals.
James commented about closing out the Warriors, saying, “I think we’ll be ready. One thing about when you play Golden State, you don’t have an opportunity to relax. You just don’t. So I'm not worried about us going in there comfortable. You just can’t do it versus Golden State. It’s not possible.”
GAME 5 HYPE TAPE 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/2ujK1qkwec
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) May 10, 2023
This Game 5 is a must-win for Golden State to stay alive, which means they will come out with a ton of energy and intensity. It will be important for LA to match their intensity and survive the early runs to stay in the game.
The Lakers will need James and Davis to perform in Game 5. Look for them to set the tone and have others step up, like D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Dennis Schroder.