After overhauling their roster at the deadline — and starting with a win over the Golden State Warriors no less — the new-look Lakers finished the season with 18 wins in 27 games and the NBA’s third-best defensive rating during that span. Still, it was hard to know if they’d be any good when the games really counted, if they could even get there.
Well, they’re here now, and with five wins in seven games after a 117-112 win over the Warriors to open the Western Conference Semifinals, they look pretty good.