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When the buzzer sounded on the Spurs’ 111-103 Western Conference finals Game 7 victory over the Thunder, a new king of the conference was crowned.
And the series, which was the first Western Conference finals to go seven games in eight years, showcased how far behindthe Lakersand the rest of the conference teams are in competing against the Spurs and Thunder.
For the Lakers, the gap was already evident.
They lost all four regular-season matchups tothe Thunderwith an average margin of defeat of 29.3 points per game. And in the playoffs, albeit without superstar guard Luka Doncic, they suffered a four-game sweep with an average margin of defeat of 16 points per game.
The Lakerswent 1-3 against the Spurs during the regular season with an average margin of defeat of 13.8 in those matchups. The gap between the teams widened as the Spurs improved throughout the season.
Those are the teamsthe Lakerswill need to overcome if they’re going to compete in the West and contend for an NBA title.
What lessons can the Lakers learn from the Western Conference finals to help close the gap?
It starts with adding more depth to the roster.
Many circumstances determine the success of a season for players and teams.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
