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“The Nets and Lakers are known for loading up, just like the Yankees”: Sixers legend Julius Erving picks his erstwhile NBA team to beat Kevin Durant, James Harden and co in the playoffs

Amulya Shekhar
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"The Nets and Lakers are known for loading up, just like the Yankees": Sixers legend Julius Erving picks his erstwhile NBA team to beat Kevin Durant, James Harden and co in the playoffs

Julius Erving says that the Philadelphia 76ers are primed to beat Kevin Durant and co in the playoffs. He also commented on the Nets’ roster.

Sean Marks and Rob Pelinka have been doing some pretty darned great work as GMs for their teams. The Lakers and the Nets are arguably the biggest gainers of the deadline day market.

While the Nets were able to pick up Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge from the buyout market, the Lakers landed Andre Drummond. This bolsters their big man rotations in a big way.

Most people have tipped these two teams to meet in the NBA Finals. But Julius Erving is of a different opinion. Dr. J, as he’s known to us all, believes the Sixers have what it takes to beat both teams.

Also Read: “Nobody knows who Isiah Thomas is, the Pistons are irrelevant”: When Scottie Pippen and Charles Oakley roasted the Pistons legend in an interview with Michael Rapaport

Julius Erving comments on the Nets’ and Lakers’ roster construction

Dr. J was a guest on Sixers guard Danny Green’s ‘Inside the Green Room’ podcast recently. He compared the Lakers and Nets to the New York Yankees. The Yankees are known for spending their way to the postseason:

“It’s reminiscent of how the Yankees used to do it all the time. They load up – they call it ‘buying a championship.’ The Lakers are known for doing that too.”

“They’re getting all these pieces … they don’t know at the end of the season what it’s going to look like or what it’s going to feel like, but they’re going to be formidable. You’ve got a team with six former All-Stars, and three [All-NBA] guys who have been there and succeeded in the playoffs.”

Also Read: “Celtics fans were shaking up our bus when we were leaving”: Lamar Odom revealed what had happened right after Kobe Bryant and his Lakers lost to Boston in the 2008 NBA Finals

“I’m betting my money on Philly. … Ws mean confidence. It’s not cool to be overconfident, but it’s very cool to be confident. So you need to maintain that confidence and get out there and perform, that’s the way I see it.”

Also Read: “Thank goodness you’re retiring Larry Bird, I’m tired of seeing your face”: How Michael Jordan hilariously wished the Celtics legend as he announced his retirement

About the author

Amulya Shekhar

Amulya Shekhar

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Amulya Shekhar is a sports junkie who thrives on the thrills and frills of live sports action across basketball, football (the American variant works too), parkour, adventure sports. He believes sports connect us to our best selves, and he hopes to help people experience sports more holistically.

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