You both say you need to see more but I think that's true for most of these teams. Nuggets need to show more defense. Grizzlies need to show consistent halfcourt efficient offense. Kings need to prove a bottom third defense can advance far in the playoffs. Your faith in them is no more justified in my eyes.
Lakers, with a healthy AD and LeBron, number 1 defense and average shooters was somehow enough in 2020. Is it that much of a stretch...? Especially considering this is the same formula and team make-up which worked once before?
Of course, they could totally lose round 1 and I'm overthinking it, but a number 1 defense with Vanderbilt, Davis, and even Schroder has shown defensive chops. Davis has averaged 30 plus and LeBron post-ups have been devastating for any team without a big forward and center to contend which is damn near most of them. They won 2020 killing and attacking the glass relentlessly, and that's what they are doing now. They did it to Minnesota who have two 7-footers, and they could do it to a lot more teams. I've never seen them like this since 2020.
If you're someone like me who believes defense travels best in the playoffs, it is most certainly not a hot take at it.