That’s the opinion of NBA legend Isiah Thomas, who believes the Warriors are the only team in the Western Conference the Lakers will struggle to beat in a seven-game series.
LeBron James has not featured for the Lakers since suffering a groin injury against the Warriors on Christmas Day.
And the Lakers have slipped down the standings to ninth in his absence, although there are only six games separating third and 11th.
The main goal for the Lakers will be to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013.
And Thomas suggests they can make a deep playoff run if they avoid the Warriors.
“Depending on the seeding,” Thomas said on The Official Lakers Podcast.
“I don’t think they can beat Golden State in the first round.
“However, if they get to the playoffs and they’re playing anybody else… I’ve watched LeBron over the last eight years to go the Finals with a lot of different players and before he got hurt, the Laker were fourth in the West.
“So I put nothing past LeBron James and then when you combine him with playoff Rondo, anything is possible.
“I don’t know if they would have enough to beat Golden State, but if they made it to the playoffs I would pick them to beat just about anybody in a seven-game series.”
With James being out injured, it has given the young players on the Lakers’ roster a chance to take centre stage.
And Thomas believes they would have already benefitted from the few months spent playing alongside James, much like Magic Johnson did under Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
“He is the most impactful, leader in the sport,” Thomas said on The Official Lakers Podcast.
“Just being in his presence on the daily, not only are you going to become a better basketball player, but the wisdom and things you can learn by the way that he’s handled himself off the court, that helps you also.
“You can’t underestimate the impact that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had on Magic Johnson.
“Every day that Magic Johnson walked into the locker room or practice and he got to sit and play with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and be around him… that’s the same impact that a lot of the younger players will have being around LeBron James.”