All 4 Cali teams in NBA playoffs

Until 1984, there were three NBA teams in California - the LA Clippers, the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. In 1985, the Kansas City Kings relocated to Sacramento thereby making the state of California home to four NBA teams.

Of the four teams, the Lakers and the Warriors are the most successful, sharing 24 titles between them.  The Clippers had never won a league or conference title but had won two division titles.  The Kings, then known as the Rochester Royals, won their one and only NBA title in 1951.  They had their glory years in the early 2000s and had won 3 divisioin titles (2003, 2004, 2023).

This season marks the first time that all four Cali teams qualified for the post season, with the underdog team Sacramento seeded number 3, higher than the Clippers (#5), GSW (#6) and the Lakers (#7).

The Kings, the best offensive team in the NBA this year, are back in the playoffs after 17 years.  They’re matched against the defending champion Warriors.  Behind De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk who combined for 70 points in their playoff debuts, the Kings outlasted the Warriors.  Game 2 would have been settled by the time you had read this.  Despite GSW heavily favored, some had predicted the Kings moving up to the next round in 7 games.

The Clippers likewise had won over #4 seed Phoenix in their first meeting.  Kawhi Leonard, often defending against Kevin Durant, always finds a way to score no matter the coverage.  Yes, Paul George is still not playing and Russell Westbrook was shooting bricks.  I think Phoenix will recover and I would dare say that they’ll advance in 6 games.

Memphis enters Game 2 with a serious problem.  Ja Morant is a doubtful starter with an injured hand, further decimating a lineup already missing frontcourt men Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke.  The Lakers won this one with an unlikely star in Rui Hachimura.

LeBron played like what 38-year olds are supposed to - shooting and missing threes, making several turnovers and giving half-hearted defense.  It gave Jaren Jackson, Jr. more than a few opportunities to bully him inside the paint.  LBJ looked burnt out.

If they miraculously survive the Grizzlies, the Lakers will have a huge roadblock in either the Warriors or the Kings.  I sincerely think that this is not the Lakers’ time for a title run.  But still, Go, Lakers..!