Lakers News: Insider Illustrates Why LA Has Ideal In-Season Tournament Competition

For the first time this year in the NBA, there will be an in-season tournament. It was voted upon and agreed to by members of the league.

The NBA has long wanted to get something like this installed, but it took negotiating and compromises to finally come to fruition.

Teams will be playing a few games against each other after being randomly assigned into groups. The Lakers were put into the West A group along with the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and Portland Trailblazers.

The goal of the groups was to try and space out the teams based on last season's standings. But one Lakers insider believes that LA may have lucked out by being paired in this group.

Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!Jovan Buha of The Athletic believes that the Lakers path forward in the in-season tournament should be relatively easy.

“Portland projects as the worst team in the West once it trades Damian Lillard; even if he’s still on the roster for this matchup, the Blazers will be a bottom-five team in the West. Similarly, Utah is one of the four or five worst teams in the West. Memphis will be without Ja Morant, who will be serving a 25-game suspension to start the season, with newcomer Marcus Smart trying to fill the massive void without Morant and the departed Dillon Brooks and Tyus Jones.”

Per The Athletic

LA will be tested in this tournament, but Buha does make some good points. They have shown that they match up well against Memphis, with Morant in the lineup. They also get to face off against two teams that aren’t projected to be very good in Portland and Utah.

Phoenix will likely be the toughest test for the Lakers with their trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. But the Lakers should be able to match up if they play their cards right.

It will be an interesting first installment of this tournament, and the Lakers will get to test it out against some fun opponents. This should be interesting to watch play out, as the Lakers try to build momentum at the start of the season.

Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!