Maybe it’s last season’s sad first-round playoff exit, or maybe it’s the memory of what the Thunder did to them last month in a 121-92 blowout, the Lakers have their doubters. This is despite them being 17-6, sitting second in the West and winning their NBA Cup group with a perfect 4-0 record.
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Last year’s Lakers had obvious flaws. They lacked of a true starting center after trading away Anthony Davis. That deal yielded Luka Doncic but the defensive hole it left on the roster was something even the Slovenian superstar couldn’t fill as he took some time acclimatizing to his new surroundings.
Since then, Luka has raised his game to an MVP level after spending the summer getting in shape, while Austin Reaves has evolved into an All-Star-caliber second option. LeBron James has barely played, but it hasn’t been an issue as Luka and Reaves have lit it up. The team has also benefited from the addition in free agency of Deandre Ayton, who has stabilized L.A.’s rim protection and rebounding. Still, there are many skeptics out there.
Rich Paul, the Klutch Sports super agent who calls LeBron a friend and client, has come out with some strong words on his new podcast with Max Kellerman, Game Over.
“I personally don’t think the Lakers are good enough to be contenders, not right now,” he said. “I don’t think they have enough to get to the Western Conference Finals.”
To reach the conference finals, the Lakers first need to finish second or third in the conference (or fall to sixth or seventh) so that they can avoid OKC. They’re currently tied for second with the Nuggets, but the Rockets and Spurs are just behind, so there’s plenty of work ahead of them.
Once the playoffs start, that’s where Paul sees problems with the way the Lakers play.
“We seen last year, they ran into athleticism and length,” he explained. “They struggled. So when you look at it now — athleticism, length, shooting, speed … because now, can the Lakers play fast? I don’t think so.”
Paul also thinks their style of play will make the Lakers easy to guard in the postseason. They do run a lot of isolation, counting on Luka and Reaves to create their own shots a lot of the time. The Lakers rank 24th in the league in assists per game, which means they’re not moving the ball and testing opposing defenses as much as they could be.
The athleticism factor could certainly be a problem. JJ Redick is coaching one of the oldest rosters in the league, and we’ve seen this year how young, aggressive, athletic teams like the Blazers, Hawks and Suns gave the Lakers major issues. After playing 82 games, it will be even more difficult for the Lakers to keep up with teams like that.
The Lakers’ stars will ultimately determine how far they’ll go. Can Luka, Reaves and LeBron outscore teams in the playoffs? If the defense can just be passable, that may be enough. We’ll find out in April, but for now, the Lakers need to keep stacking wins.
