Los Angelas Lakers Season Preview

Los Angeles Lakers

2014 Record 21-61

2015 O/U 29.5

Who are their stars?

The Staple of the Staples Center for the past decade has been Kobe Bryant. The only problem is that he has only played in 41 games since 2013. Now at age 36 with redone knees, a new shoulder, and Achilles, you just have to be skeptical as to what he can give you at this point. The other problem is that when you are looking for star talent beyond Bryant we are talking about a 19 and 20 year old. Their last two top five picks have the talent to be great NBA players; they just aren’t old or matured enough at their position yet. Heck, Deangelo Russell has yet to play in the NBA and Julius Randle did not finish his first NBA game before being sidelined for the season. Basically we have Bryant teaching two rookies while maintaining his own health.

Who are they glue guys?

The argument as to how this team can get better in my opinion would start with this offseason when they went out and got a decent core of glue players. Lou Williams for example has a role, knows his role and can play his role. The biggest question is who can play with Lou Williams? Williams is an up tempo ball handler, and in the guard rotation as a whole of Russell, Bryant, and Jordan Clarkson all are primary ball handlers. If Bryant sits back and become an off ball player it may be best for his health, but he is better fit to play with Clarkson in a slower offense. Williams could play with Russell while he develops, but I wonder how long the ego either would have to not be the primary ball handler. Aside from Clarkson and Williams, the Lakers beefed up the frontcourt by adding Roy Hibbert via trade. Hibbert, while a strong defender, more than likely will not be on the court running up and down with Williams. How the Lakers mix and match these guards with Hibbert will be the most interesting aspect of the Lakers, and it will ultimately decide the fate in LA.

Who are the rotation players?

If the Lakers ultimately realize they need to run with the youth of Clarkson, Russell, Randle, and even Williams, they may realize Hibbert wasn’t the asset they invested in. If that is the case, Brandon Bass in a small ball center isn’t ideal, but he is a better runner than Hibbert. Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black may also see minutes in a smaller lineup. Nick Young and Metta World Peace should see a split in time as the three, but in that smaller lineup I wouldn’t count out Bryant playing the three. Young and Worlde Peace are usually at their best went maintained next to Bryant, so finding lineups between all the guards and getting the three minutes together is unlikely. Larry Nance is the last name to watch as he could fit into the up-tempo lineup.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far can they go?

Overall I may even be too high on this team. I don’t see direction, and Bryant resurrecting his career is the only possibility that the Lakers are competitive. Otherwise, they are going to roll out a group of young rookies, and they are going to try to run teams off the court. They aren’t going to be a great defensive crew, and if Hibbert cannot fit this is a tanking club. A top 3 overall protected pick is in the balance and would go to Philadelphia at 4 or higher, and the question soon becomes, do you go for missing the playoffs, or do you go for not losing that first round pick? I would eventually shut it down and go for next year, and I would bet this team under in overall wins.

Under 31.5, 13th in the Western Conference, 23th in the NBA