by Andrew on Sat Apr 16, 2022 1:20 pm
Well, as much as anything else, the second half of the season hurt DeMar's MVP chances! Injuries were a bummer. They really missed Lonzo's playmaking, and it's going to be rough without him in the postseason. That was one of the biggest changes in the first half of the season. DeMar and Zach were great, but in Lonzo, they had someone who could create for others and make things happen instead of letting the offense stagnate. After he went down, in games where the shots weren't falling or the defense started locking them down, they didn't seem to know how to pull themselves out of the funk and end cold streaks. They need a floor general, and they don't have one when Lonzo is out.
With that being said, here's hoping they put up a fight and at the very least, avoid the sweep. It's still been an enjoyable year at times so far, as it's clear they've taken steps in the right direction. Being on top earlier on in the season may have gotten some hopes up, but at the same time, they probably would be higher and looking more competitive if not for the injuries. It was still nice to see them get back to the Playoffs, and hopefully they can distinguish themselves by at least taking one game from the defending champions. I don't think it's realistic to expect much more, but I'll be cheering them on from afar all the same.