The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the 2024-25 NBA season, seemed like a team on the outskirts of championship contention in the Western Conference. However, with the acquisition of Luka Dončić, replacing Davis and Max Christie, hope has risen for the Lakers’ true title aspirations. Lakers fans, it might be time to get excited.

Despite some clear shortcomings within the roster, JJ Redick has done an impressive job of adjusting his strategies to work around those weaknesses. It’s in moments like these where the Lakers’ potential to contend in the 2024-25 season has become clearer. Nonetheless, James and Dončić will still need to carry a significant burden to guide the Lakers through the fierce competition in the Western Conference playoffs.

All things considered, the Lakers’ path to the NBA Finals does present some favorable matchups. With the standings so tight, there are several possible routes to face certain opponents, some of which would be more advantageous for the Lakers.

First round opponent: Sacramento Kings

The era of being dominated by Domantas Sabonis and the Sacramento Kings is over. This current Kings team no longer poses a major threat to the Lakers and Davis.

An important factor to note is that for this ‘perfect’ scenario to unfold, the Lakers would need to rise to the second seed by the end of the season. Los Angeles has triumphed in the last four matchups against Sacramento, and their current roster doesn’t present any major concerns for the Lakers.

While teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves or Dallas Mavericks could be considered, there are reasons to believe either of those squads might be tougher to handle. An emotionally-charged series with the Mavericks, for example, could be dangerous.

Second round opponent: Memphis Grizzlies

If the Lakers manage to secure the second seed, the Memphis Grizzlies would likely finish third in the standings.

Although the Grizzlies are a solid team, the Lakers have had a strong record against them (7-3 in their last ten regular season games), and a recent playoff victory over Memphis should boost the confidence of the Lakers’ locker room.

Third round opponent: Oklahoma City Thunder

The most difficult decision comes when considering who the Lakers would prefer to face in the Western Conference Finals. Realistically, there’s no easy matchup, and an eighth-seeded team making a surprise run is unlikely.

Choosing between potential opponents like the Nuggets and Thunder is tough, as both have their challenges. Despite the recent victory over the Nuggets, the Lakers’ past struggles with them make Denver a less favorable option, even though the Thunder have had an excellent season.

Los Angeles has also posted a 7-3 record against Oklahoma City in their last ten regular season games. Shannon Sharpe might have summed it up best.