Lakers Icon Magic Johnson Says Guards Will be LA's Key to Success vs. Nuggets in NBA Playoffs

Earvin "Magic" Johnson & Rob Pelinka Los Angeles Lakers Media Availability
(Photo : Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) EL SEGUNDO, CA - Earvin "Magic" Johnson discusses the upcoming Los Angeles Lakers' season at UCLA Health Training Center on September 20, 2018 in El Segundo, California.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson has offered advice to his former team as they gear up to take on the defending NBA champions Denver Nuggets.

The Nuggets famously swept the Lakers during last year's Western Conference Finals on the way to the title.

"For the Lakers to have any chance to beat the Nuggets this time around, the guards have to bring their A-game. Last year, the Nuggets' guard trio of Bruce Brown, KCP, and Jamal Murray were dominant," the Hall of Famer said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, April 19.

Aside from being perhaps the greatest player in franchise history, Johnson also served as the Lakers president of basketball operations from 2017 to 2019.

"The Lakers' key to win will be DLO, Reaves, Vincent, and Dinwiddie outperforming Murray, KCP, and Braun," the 64-year-old added. 

Read more: Nuggets HC Michael Malone Makes Glaring Admission About Lakers Star LeBron James Ahead of Playoff Series

The five-time NBA champion also criticized the idea that the Lakers should have purposely lost their play-in game against the New Orleans Pelicans to avoid facing the Nuggets in the first round.

Nuggets are clear favorites over the Lakers

The Nuggets have won eight consecutive games against the purple and gold franchise, establishing themselves as the clear favorites heading into the first-round playoff series.

Denver came up with convincing wins in all three of their matchups in the regular season this year. 

The two teams are scheduled to go head-to-head in Game 1 of their first-round matchup on Saturday, April 20, at the Ball Arena in Denver. 

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