The Los Angeles Lakers made a big splash in the market in the offseason. Not only did they trade for Russell Westbrook but they also shook their roster by adding multiple veterans.
And, while some people believe that the fit is questionable and that they’re way too old to compete in the playoffs, 3-time NBA Champion James Worthy is actually pretty optimistic about this team:
“I like the people that they brought in to kind of add to what they already had,” Worthy said on SpectrumSportnet radio.
“The beauty of it is is that you have that third playmaker,” Worthy added. “You got LeBron, you got Westbrook and you have [Talen Horton-]Tucker who all three are able to create space and collapse the defense. I think the three-point shots will come easier now. You got AD handling the ball. He’s going to demand a lot of attention. That’s going to be the big task for the coaching staff. figure out how to play these guys. And have Carmelo who’s 40% and Monk who’s a great shooter, Bazemore, Ariza. Ariza, he’s going to add other dimensions with his experience and his defensive savviness. I think the three-point shot should increase and be better than it’s been the last few years.”
https://twitter.com/SpectrumSN/status/1428565569746264066
Yeah, the Lakers are older than most teams but they’re also deeper. They have more talent and, barring injury, a Big 3 of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis should lead them to a top-3 spot in the Western Conference.
James and Davis will be back to full strength and motivated after that first-round exit, and you know that Westbrook always has a chip on his shoulder.
Also, given the way they shaped their roster with veterans, we like the Lakers’ chances against pretty much everybody else in the league.
