Lakers Rapidly Transform into Serious Championship Contenders

OKLAHOMA CITY — Are you convinced by the (Lakers) magic yet?

Still skeptical? Wasn’t convinced by their impressive win against Denver? What about their victory over the red-hot Houston? Before their matchup on Sunday, Oklahoma City had triumphed in 11 of their last 12 games and hadn’t been defeated at home in almost a month. Then, the Lakers arrived and demolished the Thunder by 27 points.

How about LeBron James? In the Lakers’ 126–99 victory on Sunday, James contributed 19 points, many of which came from his signature turnaround jumpers. It’s repeatedly highlighted how extraordinary James’ performances are at the age of 40, and rightly so. Alongside his scoring, James also recorded seven assists and three rebounds, playing a pivotal role in a defense that restricted Oklahoma City to under 100 points for the first time since mid-January. In a team predominantly comprising younger players, James was the standout athlete on the court.

“This is a great team to measure ourselves against and see where we stand,” James commented.

What about Luka Doncic? Last spring, Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks knocked Oklahoma City out of the playoffs. Now in a Lakers jersey, the Thunder have lost their first game against him. Despite Oklahoma City’s strong perimeter defense featuring Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Cason Wallace, Doncic managed to score 30 points from 20 attempts.

Casual. pic.twitter.com/9DncipmljT

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 6, 2025

Is Austin Reaves the Lakers’ “x-factor”? Thunder coach Mark Daigneault seemed to think so before their game, but Reaves has been more than just an x-factor lately. Scoring over 30 points in four of his last six games and averaging 5.8 assists per game, his best yet, Reaves has shot 60% from three-point range in the last three games, including making 4 out of 8 attempts on Sunday.

And what about JJ Redick as a coach? It’s time to recognize that Redick has excelled in his role as head coach of the Lakers. Regardless of how he got the position, Redick has proven his worth, leading the team to a disciplined, organized, and efficient performance. The Lakers are on pace to secure 50 wins, a feat not achieved since the 2019–20 season. Despite trading away a top-tier rim protector for a less proven one, the team’s defensive rating has slightly improved since the trade.

Speaking of defense, Reaves praised teammate Dorian Finney-Smith for his defensive prowess after Sunday’s game. The Lakers, who have historically lacked aggressive wing defenders, now boast several, including Finney-Smith, Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and even Jordan Goodwin. James is also having one of his best defensive seasons, contributing significantly to the team’s ability to secure offensive rebounds, chase down loose balls, and win 50-50 battles.

“They have good size at every position, they’re smart and effective in their defensive schemes. You need a bit more speed to beat them than we had today,” Daigneault remarked.

Conventional wisdom might suggest the Lakers shouldn’t be performing as well as they are. The trade involving Doncic was significant, meant more for future prospects than immediate impact. Yet, the team has gelled remarkably, winning 28 of their last 41 games and four of their last five, with the only loss being a close one against the equally formidable Golden State.

“We’re approaching the postseason,” James said. “We’re focusing on building strong habits. Sometimes games unfold unpredictably, but it’s about those habits. We’re building them now as we head into the final stretch of the season.”

The Lakers, just a few points ahead of Denver for the West’s third playoff seed and only two games ahead of Memphis for the eighth, face a critical period. They will soon have a rematch with the Thunder in Oklahoma City followed by a trip to Dallas for Doncic’s highly anticipated return.

“Positions can change quickly,” Reaves noted. “We hope to keep up our momentum.”

If they do, securing home court advantage in the first round could be crucial. Only Oklahoma City has more home wins than the Lakers this season. A potential second-round matchup with Houston looks favorable, and a conference finals against Oklahoma City could see the Lakers’ seasoned stars shining brightest.

In his postgame remarks, James emphasized, “It’s about habits. They [the Thunder] know their identity and what to expect in the postseason. We’re still figuring things out with our lineups, with what Luka wants to do, what Reaves and I aim to achieve, and ensuring we all hold each other accountable. As we approach the playoffs, we need to be playing our best basketball.”

While the odds might seem against them, the Lakers have quickly developed a strong team chemistry and discovered a defensive strategy that works. In tight games, they possess two of the NBA’s most formidable finishers.

They might not have been expected to contend, but here they are, proving the doubters wrong.