Last season was one of the most disappointing seasons in Lakers’ history with the Lakers missing the playoffs by a wide margin, even failing to win 40 games winning only 33 games despite having a roster with Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Russel Westbrook to lead them.
In a competitive western conference the Lakers, like the Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, and many teams in the league, were hit hard with the injury bug losing Anthony Davis for a big portion of the season, and Lebron James also missed some games.
The trio only played 25 games together going 13-12. Despite Lebron James, seeming to get better on the offensive end, putting up almost 30 points per game to go along with his normal 7 assists and 7 rebounds, the Lakers seemed to have never been a real threat in the western conference.
Many questions arise around the Lakers Organization, can Anthony Davis and Lebron James stay healthy simultaneously for the duration of the season? Can Russel Westbrook co-exist with Lebron James and Anthony Davis being that neither Westbrook nor James is comfortable playing off the ball?
Can the Lakers defend at top level in order to compete with the cream of the crop not only out west but throughout the league. The eastern conference is loaded as well as the western conference, making this the most balanced the league has looked on paper in years.
If the Lakers have any hope of winning another championship in the Lebron era, they need Anthony Davis to play like Bubble Anthony Davis. They need 2018 Lebron James when he was facing the Warriors.
They need average Triple Double for a year Westbrook, because at least that Westbrook was knocking down more mid range jump shots and free throws. The Lakers won the 2020 title because they had size size and speed on the perimeter defensively with Cauldwell-Pope, Caruso, and Rajon Rondo, along with great 3 point shooting, something every Lebron James championship team has.
The Lakers now have none of that, with the defense being terrible, no significant size up front, and one guard who plays defense, but thinks he is better at it than he is, along with the other guards not interested in playing defense in Westbrook. The wait is over. Tis the night before the NBA season.
