The Los Angeles Lakers are looking like a brand new team heading into the second half of the season, with the team needing to go from being 5 games below .500 to winning games to ensure they can be in the playoffs.
The Lakers have been close to the playoff picture all season but haven’t been able to break into the top 10 in the West. Despite that, the Lakers are now among the best teams in the West for the players they got on the trade deadline by trading Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley away.
The Lakers weren’t even the Western Conference team that improved the most, as the Phoenix Suns shocked the NBA by trading for Kevin Durant. Even with KD returning to the West, coach Darvin Ham let everyone know that the Lakers don’t fear any team.
Darvin Ham on the Suns adding Kevin Durant: “I think it’s a huge shot in the arm for the Western Conference … but make no mistake about it, we don’t fear anyone”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 10, 2023
The Lakers and Suns aren’t even in the same stratosphere right now. The Suns are going to make a push for the top 4 in the West, while the Lakers are the 13th seed. Maybe Ham should focus on making his team competitive enough to take the fight to the Suns instead of pre-empting a statement about not being scared of the team.
Should The Lakers Be Worried?
If you’re a Western Conference team that isn’t worried about the Phoenix Suns, you’re not preparing yourself well enough. Even with their lack of depth, the Suns, with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton, might be a genuine quarter of elite players, with KD and Booker being a legitimate superstar pairing.
While the Lakers made good moves in the summer, they have a mountain to climb before they can even settle into the playoff picture. With most of the roster unavailable for their game against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight, a loss will mean that this core might have to come back from a 25-31 record to make the playoffs.
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