Here me out. I’ve seen so many people say Lakers and Nets a guarantee matchup for the finals. That’s a dream that’s never gonna happen. I’m sorry but it will not happen. Lakers are older than dirt and have tons of players who can’t stay healthy. You can say the same thing about the Nets they’re getting older and can’t stay healthy. People saying “well if they’re gonna be healthy and they’re all gonna get in shape this season and it’s gonna be a guaranteed finals.” But let’s face it. Especially James Harden and Anthony Davis, they don’t have the mentality to get themselves healthy and to stay in shape. As for the Lakers they’re going up against new, young, on the rise teams such as Jazz, Suns, Grizzlies, Nuggets, and lets not forget the warriors and trailblazers are still gonna be in the mix. Same thing for the Nets the Hawks, Bucks, Hornets, Knicks, Sixers, Celtics, and even the BULLS (which is great to see) are on the rise among other teams. Last year people guaranteed the Lakers would go back to back for the championship and Lakers where just barely hobbling into the playoffs. I understand that a matchup of Westbrook and Lebron on the Lakers vs KD and Kyrie on the Nets would be a marquee matchup especially if these guys were all still young and healthy but let’s face it, they aren’t. If this was 2012 even 2016 yeah I would’ve said they would be in the finals. But we will not see either Lakers or Nets in the finals this year and any year after. I predict that at best both teams will be hobbling into the playoffs at an 8th seed or both will be in the play-in and that’s best case scenario.