The Los Angeles Lakers have already been through this once these playoffs. Most analysts picked against them in the first round, and they still found a way through.
Now the challenge gets tougher. And so does the doubt.
After advancing behind a strong stretch from LeBron James, the Lakers are once again being counted out heading into the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
ESPN panel all in on Oklahoma City
ESPN gathered predictions from 10 of its NBA analysts ahead of the series. The result was simple and pretty telling.
All 10 picked the Thunder to win.
There was no split, no hesitation and no one leaning toward a Lakers upset. It is a full consensus in favor of Oklahoma City.
That is not far off from what Los Angeles saw in the first round. In that series, 14 of 15 ESPN experts picked them to lose. Only one analyst sided with the Lakers at the time, and even that vote has flipped heading into this matchup.
Why the Thunder are getting so much respect
The Thunder have earned it. Led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City won 64 games this season and has looked in control for most of the year. They also beat the Lakers in all four regular-season meetings, which is a big part of how this series is being viewed.
It is not just about record or talent. It is about matchup. Oklahoma City plays with pace, space and discipline. Head coach Mark Daigneault has built a group that forces teams to defend constantly and make quick decisions. That has been a problem for the Lakers so far.
Even Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been open about the challenge, praising the Thunder for how complete they have looked.
Lakers still have something to say
At the same time, this is not unfamiliar territory for Los Angeles.
They just proved they can win a series that most people expected them to lose. James continues to control stretches of games, especially when things slow down in the playoffs. That experience still matters.
There is also a level of confidence that comes from already beating the odds once. The Lakers know what this looks like.
Key questions heading into the series
There are still real concerns. The status of Luka Doncic is a major storyline, and any limitation there changes how dangerous the Lakers can be offensively. Depth and consistency are also factors, especially against a team that plays as fast and as clean as Oklahoma City.
Those are the reasons behind the unanimous predictions. It says as much about how steady the Thunder have been as it does about the questions surrounding Los Angeles.
Another chance to flip the narrative
The expectation is clear going into this series. The Oklahoma City Thunder are supposed to win. Los Angeles has heard that before. Now they get another chance to respond on the floor and see if they can change the conversation again.
