Charles Barkley crushes Lakers’ title hopes

11-time All-star and NBA legend Charles Barkley does not see the Lakers as a threat and believes the Los Angeles Lakers have no hope of competing for the Western Conference this year. “Obviously he’s the greatest basketball player in the world today but the problem is that team isn’t very good,” Barkley told Stephen A. Smith on ESPN SportsCenter as they previewed the 2018-19 NBA season. “The Lakers are not a contender, they’re probably a five or six seed in the West and they’re going to get a lot of attention. Told by Smith that the Lakers will reach the Western Conference finals, Barkley added: “I think you’re wrong in my opinion. They’re not even as good as the San Antonio Spurs! “The Spurs with DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus [Aldridge] healthy all year, they’re better. I think Oklahoma City is probably better now that they’ve got rid of Carmelo [Anthony] and the Rockets are better. “They’re the second best team in the West and then it’s a toss-up between Oklahoma City and the Spurs. And then, no disrespect to the Lakers, but I’m not even sure they’re better than the Portland Trail Blazers. “I mean LeBron is great but it’s going to take those young guys at least a year to adjust to even playing with LeBron. Those guys have all played with the ball their entire career, LeBron is a power forward who has to have the ball - it’s not going to just click right away. “The Lakers are going to have some growing pains and by the time they get through the season, they’ll be the fifth or sixth seed.”

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