The Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious against the New Orleans Pelicans tonight. After the final regular season win against the Pelicans, LeBron James had said that the play-in was going to be an “extremely difficult, extremely physical” game. While it may have proven true, in part with Zion Williamson’s game-high 40 points, the Lakers blazed through to look every bit like the team that the NBA world was accustomed to. With the 110-106 win, owing to their elite defense and rebounding prowess, Los Angeles claimed the playoff berth as the seventh seed; which spectators had speculated not to be the case.

Coach Darvin Ham said as much in his post-game presser. A reporter touched upon a post that said the Lakers would be better off losing this game than facing the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs round 1. This, because the Nuggets have won 8 straight games against the Lakers, including the WC Finals last year. However, HC Ham did not seem to take the results much to the head.

“Insane asylum sources say that?” Ham immediately asked. When the reporter answered in the negative, he casually remarked, “Just someone that just got out of the insane asylum, then. Got you.” Good thing Ham was in a jolly mood.

But he did not fail to give props to the Nuggets. “There’s a reason why they’re defending champs. But we like our chances.” Although Ham seemed confident, he also made sure to set realistic expectations for the team. Injuries have been one major issue for the Lakers this season. There have been only a few games where both LeBron and Anthony Davis or either one aren’t on the injury report.

But the Lakers coach seemed to be comfortable with where they are in the postseason, despite all the naysayers and doubters. And they have a former Laker and 5x champion in support of their case.

Magic Johnson believes in LeBron James and Co.

When one of the best in the field is in your corner, it means that you are doing something right. LA found themselves in such a situation when 12x All-Star Magic Johnson took to X refuting the same claims that Darvin Ham did in the presser. “It’s ridiculous that I’ve been hearing people think they should intentionally lose … As a true competitor, you should always want to win. To be the best, you have to beat the best!”

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He also mentioned how the Purple & Gold came close to defeating Denver throughout the four-game series. Of course, there is no doubting the Nuggets behind Nikola Jokić are brilliant. But to completely degrade a team like the Lakers and one of the greatest in basketball by extension outright seems like a stretch.

Anyway, Ham wasn’t lacking confidence in their matchup against the Nuggets. And if the recent LA team is anything to go by, they will probably give Denver a run for its money.