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Los Angeles Lakers have proven they’re legit with back-to-back sweep

By Jason Reed

DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers is restrained by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Lebron James #23 after being called for a foul against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Pepsi Center on December 03, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - DECEMBER 03: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers is restrained by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 and Lebron James #23 after being called for a foul against the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter at Pepsi Center on December 03, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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Despite having the best record in basketball the Los Angeles Lakers still had plenty of doubters. The Lakers have proven those doubters wrong with the most recent back-to-back.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been firing on all cylinders thus far this season. The partnership of LeBron James and Anthony Davis has been as dynamic as advertised and the role players on the team have been much better than anticipated before the year.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who are currently riding a 13-game winning streak, are the only team that the can keep up with the Lakers record-wise. Both teams are 19-3 through 22 games and are on a collision course for a highly-touted showdown on December 19.

Based on the upcoming record of both teams, we could see a showdown of two 24-4 teams. How incredible is that?

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The Bucks have garnered more praise in the NBA community, however, because of Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s remarkable season and the teams that the Lakers have played. The Lakers have not had the hardest schedule in the league thus far, leading many to believe that the Lakers were frauds.

Nobody could deny that they are a great team but plenty were denying them a chance of being the best team in the league, citing the Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers as better alternatives.

Could the Bucks or the Clippers beat the Lakers in a seven-game series? Absolutely, that could really go either way. However, if you are not a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and you are still telling yourself that the Lakers are not a bonafide top-three team that is on the same level as the Clippers or Bucks then you are delusional.

Back-to-backs are not supposed to be easy in the NBA and the Los Angeles Lakers made it look easy. In the first leg of the back-to-back, the Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 105-96. They maintained their lead for the entire game and Anthony Davis held Nikola Jokic to just 13 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

They held the now 13-5 Nuggets to just 96 points. Granted, they average less than other top teams in the league, but that is remarkable.

Then, in the second leg of the back-to-back, the Lakers had to take on the Utah Jazz, who have a great defense and were viewed by many as one of the best sleeper contenders in the league. The Lakers didn’t just beat Utah, they dismantled them, 121-96.

In terms of points allowed per game, the Nuggets and Jazz are the second and third-best teams in the Western Conference, behind the Lakers. The Lakers outscored them by a combined 34 points on a road back-to-back.

Yes, there is something to be said about how much the Lakers are playing their superstars and down the stretch, it would probably be best for the team to adopt a more conservative workload similar to the one the Los Angeles Clippers are doing.

Making sure LeBron and AD are rested and ready for the playoffs is key, however, there is still a lot of basketball left to play. They might be taking on heavy workloads now, but getting the wins out-of-the-way now could also lead to them being fresher in the playoffs as they can rest more in March and April.

The numbers don’t lie. The Lakers are tied for the best record in the NBA and have the second-best point-differential per game at +9.0. The only team better is the Bucks, who play in the much weaker Eastern Conference.

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The three best teams in the league right now are the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. Anyone that is still denying the Lakers is simply living in a fantasy land.

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