People seem divided on the Los Angeles Lakers’ ability to perform next season. Although at least one player has expressed his belief that they may be contendersMany experts believe they are, at best, a playoff tournament team.
According to an ESPN panel, the Lakers are the team most likely to stumble next season because they received the most votes in the “Team Turmoil” poll, which isn’t exactly the kind of poll you want to win (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via ESPN:
“When it comes to voting on Team Turmoil, the focus is on uncertainty on the field, coaching staff and management,” ESPN staff wrote.
“The ‘winner’ this season is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have a new coach in JJ Reddick, a 40-year-old superstar in LeBron James and plenty of questions on the court after their first-round playoff exit last season.”
Los Angeles won 47 regular-season games last season, even though it didn’t bother playing hard against a number of the inferior teams it lost to last season. It beat the New Orleans Pelicans in the play-in tournament before losing to the Denver Nuggets in five games in the first round of the playoffs.
While the superstar duo of James and Anthony Davis is as formidable as any, many seem to think that James’ level of play will drop off significantly, or that, at the very least, he and Davis will spend an extended period of time on injured reserve.
The Lakers have deficiencies such as a lack of a true defensive center or 3-and-D wing, and their starting backcourt of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves is slow and lackluster defensively.
There are also questions about Redick, of course, a rookie head coach who has never been an assistant coach in the NBA or in college. He could very well succeed, but he could also have issues managing his ego and personality due to his lack of coaching experience.
The Lakers didn’t make any additions to their roster this offseason, other than signing Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, their two draft picks. Knecht, who was expected to be a top-10 pick but was taken by LA at No. 17, may play well, but it could also be difficult for him to supplant the existing wings in the rotation.
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