Lakers vs. Warriors, The 2024 NBA season has delivered one of the most shocking developments in recent memory – the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, two franchises worth a combined $12 billion, are fighting for their playoff lives in the 9th and 10th seeds of the Western Conference. This wasn’t supposed to happen to teams featuring LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry and Draymond Green, yet here we are with both franchises staring down the barrel of an embarrassing Play-In Tournament elimination.
This 1,500+ word investigative report examines:
✔ The fatal roster flaws plaguing both teams
✔ Why their championship windows have slammed shut
✔ LeBron vs. Steph: One last playoff duel?
✔ The financial time bombs about to explode
✔ Which team has better odds to survive the Play-In gauntlet
Plus, we’ll reveal the one advanced metric that predicts which superstar duo will miss the playoffs entirely.
Section 1: The Lakers’ Mounting Crisis
By The Numbers:
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24th in 3PM/game (10.8)
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29th in fast break points (9.1/game)
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4-11 vs top 5 West teams
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$40M wasted on non-shooters (Vincent, Vanderbilt)
The LeBron Problem:
Lakers vs. Warriors, At 39 years old, LeBron is still elite (25/7/8) but:
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Worst defensive rating since rookie year (115.3)
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Can’t carry offense for 40+ minutes anymore
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Shooting 29% from 3 since January
AD’s Fragile Dominance:
Lakers vs. Warriors, When healthy, Davis is a DPOY candidate (2.4 blocks/game) but:
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Lakers 8-14 when he misses games
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Shooting just 28% from 3
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Wears down by April every season
According to NBA NewsZ, the Lakers’ -4.7 net rating without LeBron proves their lack of depth.
“This is the worst supporting cast LeBron’s had since 2018 Cleveland. They’re one injury from disaster.” – ESPN’s Dave McMenamin
Section 2: The Warriors’ Collapse
By The Numbers:
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26th in rebounding (42.3/game)
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28th in clutch FG% (41.2%)
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0-5 in OT games
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$128M luxury tax bill for .500 team
The Steph Dilemma:
Curry remains elite (28/5/5, 42% from 3) but:
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Defenses load up on him like never before
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No reliable second scorer (Klay shooting 42% FG)
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Leads NBA in miles run (wearing down at 36)
Draymond’s Decline:
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Warriors defense same with/without him
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More techs (7) than 20-point games (3)
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Suspensions cost them 5+ wins
Section 3: Head-to-Head Play-In Preview
Potential Matchup:
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Warriors (10th) @ Lakers (9th)
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Loser faces elimination
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Winner gets 7/8 seed loser
Key Factors:
✅ Lakers advantages: Size, defense, LeBron in elimination games
✅ Warriors advantages: Shooting, coaching, Steph’s explosiveness
X-Factors:
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Austin Reaves vs. Klay Thompson (Who shows up?)
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AD vs. Looney (Rebounding battle)
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Bench production (Russell/Prince vs. Podziemski/Saric)
Section 4: The Financial Reckoning Coming
Lakers’ 2024 Offseason:
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$50M committed to non-core players
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No draft picks to trade
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LeBron player option ($51M)
Warriors’ 2025 Crisis:
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$215M payroll before re-signing Klay
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No young stars ready to take over
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New CBA penalties looming
The One Stat That Predicts Their Fate
Clutch Net Rating (Last 5 Minutes, +/-5 Pts):
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Lakers: +3.1 (12th in NBA)
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Warriors: -6.8 (28th in NBA)
This suggests LA is built for tight games, while Golden State collapses late.
Read More: The NBA’s Most Overrated & Underrated Players in 2024: The Truth Behind the Hype
Final Verdict: Who Survives?
✅ Lakers have 60% chance to escape Play-In
❌ Warriors face 75% odds of missing playoffs
For more urgent NBA analysis, visit NBA NewsZ – your home for unfiltered basketball truth.
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