After finishing 8th in the Western Conference and losing to Denver in the first round of the playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers decided to stand pat in the offseason. Despite the disappointing end to last season, there were some positives to take away. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were exceptional, with Davis proving himself as a high-impact player on both ends of the floor and James leading the team in scoring, assists, and steals. Both players were named All-NBA.
However, the rest of the team struggled with inconsistency and underperformance. Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell showed flashes, but when the playoffs arrived, the Lakers heavily relied on their stars, James and Davis, which was not enough to advance in the loaded Western Conference.
The Lakers made a surprising move when they decided to replace their head coach. The departed coach quickly fell out of favor within the team and front office. His replacement, JJ Redick, has no prior coaching experience, but his extensive playing career and knowledge of the game could potentially make up for his lack of coaching experience. Redick will have to prove himself in a win-now situation, as James is turning 40 in December.
Bronny James, the oldest son of LeBron James, is expected to spend time in the G League during his rookie season. While second-round picks typically do not make an immediate impact, the younger James is poised to make history by playing alongside his father.
The spotlight is on the Lakers’ role players this season, as the team looks to improve their 3-point shooting and defense to avoid the Play-In Tournament. Players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent will be crucial to the team’s success.
Overall, the Lakers’ success this season will depend on the performance of their supporting cast and how well they can complement their star duo of James and Davis. The team has the potential to make a deep playoff run, but improvements are needed in various areas to compete in a competitive Western Conference.
