Lakers Stumbling Through 2021-22 Season

The Staples Center is currently home base for LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and Carmelo Anthony—what could be better for a Lakers fan, or even a general basketball fan? As the 2021-22 season start indicates, quite a lot.

The season started with a loss to the Warriors, which was followed by a 10-point loss to the Suns. Two wins, against the Grizzlies and Spurs, led to a loss against the Thunder. In all five games, the Lakers posted the top scorer—in fact, the Lakers have had the game’s top scorer in their ranks for all 28 games this season.

With LeBron and Russell Westbrook both in Lakers jerseys, there should be nothing to hold the squad back from repeating the Lakers’ 2020 Finals victory—at least, in theory. At the moment, the team is treading water in the Western Conference.

At the moment, NBA betting odds in PA list the team last in Pacific Division winner odds, behind the Warriors (-118 favorites), Suns, and Clippers. Clearly, LeBron and Westbrook have a long season ahead. But with Carmelo, Davis, and LeBron, it should be a lot simpler than the team has made it seem so far.

In fact, the Lakers’ lackluster start has led many to think—if the team can’t smash out another Finals win with their current roster, then what team can?

 A List of (Valid) Excuses

Despite a killer lineup and a cast of top scorers, the Lakers have hit a few stumbling blocks this season. First, there were a string of injuries; even up until Dec 13, Davis faced issues with his knee. Next came the challenge of a start-studded roster; head coach Frank Vogel had trouble finding a lineup that would account for multiple talented players.

In other words, could the Lakers star-studded cast be a problem for on-court dynamics, similar to the early trials of the Nets in recent years? So far, the biggest challenges have been for LeBron and Davis, as well as injuries for smaller players, including Ja Morant, who can move the ball with greater ease.

The struggle for LeBron and Davis has been about chemistry, which has led to a breakdown in playmaking for a roster that has some of the sport’s biggest visionaries. Some have noted the Lakers’ lack of urgency; in other words, they’re not struggling for lack of skill, but for lack of effort.

Struggling to Build on Previous Defenses

As the season has progressed, pundits and fans seem to have nailed down the Lakers’ key issue: a horrendous defense. In a loss against the Grizzlies in early December, the Lakers allowed 67.8 percent of shots to be taken at the rim, with Davis’ size as a center somehow not curbing this statistic.

Another huge problem is turnovers. In early December, the Lakers were ranked 28^th in the league. However, it’s important to note that the Lakers traded many of their top defensive stars in the off-season, from Kyle Kuzma to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

In fact, during the Lakers’ last 2020 Finals win with both Davis and LeBron, neither posted the most playing minutes. Instead, defensive starts, including Alex Caruso and Danny Green in addition to Caldwell-Pope, played more than any other player in the Finals.

At that time, the Lakers were ranked third in the league in terms of defense. This improved last year when the Lakers were ranked first at the end of the 2020-21 season. One main issue seems to be the presence of two centers. In this scenario, Westbrook isn’t adding to the Lakers, but spreading their talents thin; with both him and LeBron on the court, the team hasn’t been able to space the floor.

So, is it an issue in which Vogel needs more time to figure out how to arrange his winning roster? And, with both LeBron and Davis to handle, will there be enough flexibility to try out new lineups or even trade for a better solution (or acquire one)?

Chris Skeldon

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