Even though they had to endure some tough times, the Los Angeles Lakers are back at the top of the NBA. With LeBron James in town, it was just a matter of time before they got multiple stars wearing the purple and gold again.
The Lakers won the ring in James' second season in L.A, adding Anthony Davis and multiple veterans. Now, following a disappointing season as reigning champions, they've also added Russell Westbrook to that mix.
It seems like, barring a major surprise, the Lakers should be the team to come out of the Western Conference and make it to the NBA Finals. Nonetheless, not every one of their rivals seems too preoccupied about that.
Blake Griffin Isn't Impressed By The New-Look Lakers
Brooklyn Nets big man Blake Griffin recently said that, even though the Lakers look pretty good on paper, that's not a guarantee to success, as the most stacked teams don't always go the distance:
"You look at it but at the end of the day, things on paper, it's tough to say. I've been in situations where a team stacks up and it doesn't work out," the former Los Angeles Clippers star said, as quoted by Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News.
Griffin sure knows a thing or two about that. His Clippers from the Lob City era constantly fell short in the playoffs, and the Nets' offensive juggernaut couldn't get the job done last season due to injuries.
Whether Griffin is throwing shade at his rivals or not is not for us to decide. But he definitely has a valid point right there. But the best part about his words is that - also barring a disaster - the Nets are expected to make it to the NBA Finals, so he could put his money where his mouth is.
