After two years in which the Los Angeles Lakers have been left behind with their poor performance in the NBA, the pressure on the leadership is quite great and even more so after making radical decisions in the offseason, such as the firing of Frank Vogel and changing very much of the template.
Here are 4 situations that could prevent another disappointment.
One of the keys to the season will be seeing how a base of veterans like LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis get along with all the players who arrived in the offseason. The bet would be to find a dynamic similar to that of the 2020 Lakers.
One of the big reasons the Lakers failed the past two years was the physical condition of Anthony Davis, who only played about half of the team’s games from 2020-21. If he manages to stay healthy, it will be very difficult for the Lakers not to fight up front in the West.
Russell Westbrook couldn’t get along with Frank Vogel last season and it affected the team’s aspirations, even damaging the atmosphere of camaraderie inside the locker room. If Darvin Ham can find a good relationship with Westbrook, he could capitalize on his talent better.
The previous campaign lacked young players to fuel the team with energy and the Lakers’ intention in the market was to renew themselves, but now the task of the players will be to perform as expected of them. Players like Austin Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV and Wenyen Gabriel are some who will have a duty to stand out.
