The 2019-20 NBA season is still in question due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) with no one really sure whether or not play will resume or if it will end up being scrapped altogether.
For a Los Angeles Lakers team that is sitting in first place in the Western Conference and was picking up momentum as the 2020 NBA playoffs grew closer, to lose a chance to prove themselves in June would be devastating.
On this episode of the Lakers Nation Podcast, Trevor Lane is joined by Gary Sheffield Jr. and Chris ‘The Masterpiece’ Masters to discuss what the eventual return of the season means for the Lakers as well as the sports world at large.
In a recent interview, LeBron James was asked about the potential cancellation of the season if conditions are not safe. He expressed that he would not have any ‘closure’ if that is the path that ends up being taken, which is something that Lakers fans have been struggling with.
After years of rebuilding, the Lakers were finally back on top and looked poised for a deep playoff run. While nothing is guaranteed, it appeared the Lakers had at least as good of a chance as any team at taking home the championship.
Should the season be canceled, the only things that fans would be left with are what-ifs and thoughts of what could have been. It would be forever seen as a lost season, made all the more tragic (in terms of the sports world anyway) by how close the Lakers appeared to be.
If this had occurred during one of the down seasons, losing it would have been an easier pill to swallow. To do it now with the team winning again after seasons of struggles would be a cruel twist of fate.
James himself was making a strong case to be named the 2019-20 NB Most Valuable Player but without the completion of the season, he may not be able to overtake the favorite, Giannis Antetokounmpo. That said, there is still hope that at some point, the NBA will find its way back.
They also take a look at Lakers trades of the past and come up with one trade each they would like to go back in time and undo. Is it the Steve Nash trade? Dwight Howard? Chris Paul almost-trade? They sort through them all.