The 2025 NBA Playoffs are here, and with the bracket mostly locked in, fans are buzzing about what’s ahead.

In the Western Conference, while younger squads like the Thunder and Rockets sit high in the standings, it’s the star power of the Los Angeles Lakers that has many wondering if experience could outshine youth.

Lakers betting on experience to defy the odds

This Lakers squad has been hard to define all season.

A midseason roster shake-up and the addition of Luka Doncic to play alongside LeBron James gave the team a new identity, one that has only started to take form in recent weeks.

Entering the playoffs as a lower seed with +600 odds to make the NBA Finals, L.A. doesn’t look dominant on paper, but paper doesn’t account for postseason magic, especially with two of the game’s smartest floor generals leading the way.

LeBron and Luka bring a level of poise and playmaking that few teams can match.

Even without Anthony Davis anchoring the defense, the Lakers have found stability through rising star Austin Reaves and strong interior support from Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura.

While depth may still be a concern, their top-end talent makes them dangerous.

It’s a team that has already proven capable of dismantling higher seeds, including a recent rout of the No. 2 Houston Rockets.

Their opening-round opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves, won’t go down easy.

Led by Anthony Edwards, Minnesota is battle-tested, but this year’s squad isn’t as strong as the one that reached the conference finals last season.

If the Lakers advance, a path through Houston and then possibly Oklahoma City, whom L.A. handled well in April, suddenly looks very navigable.

With +1100 odds to win it all, the Lakers are a long shot, at least on the surface.

But when LeBron and Luka are both focused and healthy, Los Angeles transforms into one of the most unpredictable teams in the league.

If momentum builds, don’t be surprised if they’re still standing when the Finals begin.