The NBA has an 82-game season, and after 1 game it is safe to say the Lakers are going nowhere. If they do not make a change at some point this team will miss the post season yet again. Everyone loves to blame Russel Westbrook, and while it is clear the self-nicknamed “360” trio has not worked, this is a badddddddd team overall.
Now you may say “well it was only game one against the defending champs, it’s still a long season.” While you may be right, this team was “built” for title contention. They are going on their third season removed from their last championship and they have only gotten worse. Why am I writing about the Lakers as a Knicks fan you ask? Because as some of you already know, I’m the biggest Lebron fan there is and even I am starting to give up on him getting ring number 5. Will Lebron pass Kareem in points this season? Yes. Will Lebron pass Magic in assists this season? Yes. Are these both incredible feats for the already greatest basketball player of all time? Absolutely! But even I find it corny at how the media is trying to spin the season for how the Lakers will underperform.
JJ Reddick wants to use this season to appreciate LeBron’s greatness instead of holding the Lakers accountable for being bad. CORNY. The new bromance that Draymond and Lebron have is something else that is super corny too. Man is down twenty points cracking jokes smh. If this is how he is going to care about the season, then I’m not going to care either! Also, I know y’all see what Iggy’s doing with his hands, PAUSE. Warranted due to the situation, but still PAUSE!
Aside from the level of corniness let’s get back to the problem at hand, The Lakers. Aside from AD the Lakers looked in the words of Charles Barkley “TURRRRRRRRIBLE.” Lebron had a better second half but still contributed to the 10/40 3-point shooting. 10/40! That’s disgusting. The key to success for Lebron led teams has always been surrounding him with shooters. It creates the spacing needed to drive and kick and have success. Miami did it, won back-to-back championships. Cleveland did it, came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the greatest championship in NBA history. The Lakers even did it 2 years ago! Then they let everyone go and Rob Pelinka refuses to make the moves to get them back to being Championship level contending team they should be. And to be clear he is refusing to, it’s not like he couldn’t.
Since the season ended there have been rumors of trades. They needed to dump Westbrook’s contract and could’ve used their upcoming two first round picks in a package deal and have refused to do so. They could have had Buddy Hield and Miles Turner, blew it. They could’ve made a move for Bodganovich from the Jazz, blew it. Instead, they brought in Patrick Beverly who I watched go ISO at least 4 times that game. WHAT IS THAT?!? If Patrick Ewing was the coach he would ask if he practiced that shot in practice like he did to his Georgetown player.
This is no overreaction. The Lakers will miss the 2022-2023 post season if they do not make some type of change. I don’t know if its players, or playing style but if they continue to play like this, they are going nowhere. Look at the West. I’d take the Pelicans over them with the Lakers old young core and Zion. I’d take the Clippers over them; I hate the Clippers with a burning passion and I still think they are going to smoke the Lakers tonight (I really hope I’m wrong.) The Suns, Warriors, Grizzlies, Nuggets. Then you throw in teams like the Timberwolves, Jazz, and Trailblazers who could most certainly give the Lakers a run for their money. The Lakers are on the outside looking in. You can’t win games when you have two more assists than turnovers! 21 turnovers EW! Can’t spell Lakers without L. Do they turn it around? The only way they can is if they do a “360” get it?