The 2022 NBA champions Golden State Warriors, led by their centerpiece Stephen Curry, have had a horrendous start to their 2023 playoffs run. However, experts and analysts still have their money on the Dubs to try and make a comeback against the Sacramento Kings despite being down 2-0. With all the other heavyweights in the Western Conference taking most of the headlines, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James, are quietly making their moves.

The Lakers are 1-0 up against the Memphis Grizzlies and former NBA star Jamal Crawford has high hopes for the team albeit under one condition. He recently joined the Dan Patrick Show and talked about how the ‘chess master’ LeBron might lead his team to glory this season.

Jamal Crawford lays out the blueprint of success for LeBron James and the Lakers

During a segment of the show, the host asked Jamal Crawford whether he thinks the Denver Nuggets are the team to beat in the West. Crawford didn’t hesitate and named the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors as his favorites going into the playoffs. However, he feels the Lakers have a great chance of winning as well and they are right there with Kevin Durant and Curry’s teams.

The Lakers’ chances of winning are contingent on one man. You guessed it right, it is LeBron James. According to Crawford, the four-time NBA champion has to be the master manipulator making moves, while his team is in the fourth quarter. Moreover, he had some instructions for the rest of the players as well.

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Crawford said, “I can see the Lakers being right there as well. When the game slows down, LeBron’s at his best, he’s a chess master. And I have always said, for the Lakers to go where they want to go, LeBron has to be their fourth-quarter guy. AD and the other guys have to be the first and third-quarter guys to kind of carry him.”

King James has come up clutch on numerous occasions for his team this season. The NBA’s All-Time Top Scorer averages 8.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in the fourth quarter this season.

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Crawford also chimed in on Kevin Durant and the Suns. When asked about their loss against the Los Angeles Clippers, he said, “I think it happens when you are in the playoffs for the first time, trying to figure it out.” Despite having the likes of Durant and Booker on the court, the Clippers got the better of the Suns. They play their next game on the 19th.

The Warriors suffer a major blow to their title hopes

The Golden State Warriors were touted to be one of the strongest teams coming into the 2023 NBA playoffs. However, the reality seems to be quite different. They are 2-0 down against the Sacramento Kings!

Although Curry has scored 30 and 28 points in both of their away losses, the team as a whole has struggled. Moreover, four-time NBA champion Draymond Green was ejected during game 2 of the 7-game series and this has invited a lot of flak.

With all such issues inside the team and the Kings looking more charged than ever, the Warriors have a Herculean task on their hands. They play their next game on the 21st at Chase Center.

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What are your predictions for the 2023 NBA playoffs? Let us know in the comments down below.