Can LeBron James Do the Impossible? Lakers vs. Thunder Playoff Prediction

News ArticlePublishedMay 02, 2026 at 04:46 PM EDTBy Tyler ErzbergerA decade ago, 31-year-old LeBron James did the unthinkable.He stopped the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals and thwarted the team that usurped Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls as the most successful regular-season team in league history.James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a title and delivered his home state a championship in an emotional scene.Fast forward a decade, and 41-year-old James might have an even higher mountain to climb in the Western Conference semifinals: the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, fully operational, with the Lakers missing the NBA's leading scorer, Luka Doncic.More news: Kevin Durant Could Leave the Rockets for These 3 Teams This Offseason...More news: Here’s Who Wins Every NBA Western Conference First-Round Playoff SeriesThe Thunder, even with Doncic, are a terrible matchup for the Lakers, with everything they need to slow down L.A.'s offense while scoring at will against them.The Lakers beat the Houston Rockets by playing strong defense and forcing inconsistent shooters to beat them, and they outlasted Houston.That won't be the same against the Thunder, who will attack the Lakers' weak spots and suffocate them on defense.A 31-year-old James would have trouble efficiently scoring on this arguably