Lakers News: Hall Of Famer Changes Mind On LA's Postseason Prospects

Look who's come around.

Hall of Fame former Philadelphia 76ers/Phoenix Suns/Houston Rockets power forward Charles Barkley, now an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster for TNT, has made a habit of hating on your Los Angeles Lakers this season, both before and after the team's epic flurry of trades. 

I was aligned with Barkley prior to the deals, but felt that following the moves the team was much better balanced and, if not quite a contender, certainly a legitimate tough playoff out.

Now, perhaps thanks in part to the Lakers' 128-112 late-game road victory over the Memphis Grizzlies and the uncertain health of Memphis All-Star point guard Ja Morant, Barkley has pulled a complete 180 on LA, as he explained during today's marathon of TNT playoff basketball broadcasts. Chuck believes Los Angeles can actually go pretty darn far in the West this year. Vegas oddsmakers are at least bullish on the club's chances of beating the Grizz.

"If you actually look at it now, the Lakers that was the easiest path to the Conference Finals…I rather be in the Play-In and play 1 bad team at home. The Clippers got a tougher road because they have to go through the Suns and Denver."

— Charles Barkleypic.twitter.com/DlwOoAQUzd

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 17, 2023

"If you actually look at it now, you say, 'Damn, the Lakers, that was the easiest path to the Conference Finals. And you're going to see, 'cause they're going to be in the Conference Finals," Barkley predicted.

"The Clippers played their starters [to win their final game of the season and avoid the play-in tournament], I said, 'Hey, I'd rather be in the play-in and play one bad team at home,'" Barkley continued. "Well ask the Lakers how they feel now. The Clippers've got a tougher road because they're going to have to go through the Suns and Denver."

With Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reporting today that All-Star forward Paul George expected to miss the duration of the 2023 postseason's first round, the Clippers became massive underdogs in their 4-5 playoff matchup against the healthy Phoenix Suns. But that didn't stop them from eking out a win in their own first game, 115-110. They remain significant underdogs without PG-13 available, but at least this will be a fun series.

Meanwhile, LA's route to the Western Conference Finals, should the team be able to actually beat the Memphis Grizzlies, would next see the Lakers squaring off against one of two other Pacific Division foes, the Golden State Warriors or the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento currently leads that series 1-0. The West's top overall seed, the 53-29 Denver Nuggets, will most likely be the next club the Clippers would have to face, assuming they would be able to survive Phoenix (which, you know, they probably won't).

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