It has been a wild ride for Lakers Nation over the past two years. From being in the depths of basketball hell during the Russell Westbrook era to making a surprise run to the Conference Finals, the Lakers have encountered both highs and lows in their quest for banner no. 18.
For this upcoming season, there is a lot of faith that the Purple and Gold will be competitive and the odds in Vegas are reflecting that with the over/under at 46.5 wins for the Lakers next season. But if you ask NBA insider Brian Windhorst, he’s not so sure that LA is a lock to be a 50-win team.
“Never bet anything on the Lakers because even if you’re right it’s always gonna be a bad price because the casinos completely skew it. What these totals are reflective of is what the sportsbooks perceive as a high parody Western Conference. The Lakers can be a much-improved team than they were a year ago and still only go 46-36 because there’s gonna be so much more competition. The Houston Rockets, who were a speedbump all last season, they’re gonna win a lot more games this year. They’ve improved drastically. The Spurs, Wembanyama, is gonna help them. The bottom is gonna raise up a little bit.”
.@WindhorstESPN is handing out free Lakers betting advice 🤣🔮
"Never bet anything on the Lakers because even if you're right it's always gonna be a bad price." pic.twitter.com/vpBwljTiQo
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 14, 2023
Rob Pelinka didn’t add any major stars to the roster, but he did build up the supporting cast by adding veteran role players like Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes, among others. These moves didn’t drastically raise the ceiling for LA, but it gives them flexibility and a cushion to survive when/if their best guys go down.
Anthony Davis Is The Key To Success
While LeBron James is sure to play at an All-Star level again next season, nobody should be asking him to carry the Lakers to victory. That job falls on the shoulders of Anthony Davis now, who is facing some real pressure to live up to his status as a superstar player.
If Davis can stay consistent (and stay healthy), it could go a long way in cementing the Lakers as a formidable force in the West.
Still, nothing is guaranteed in the NBA, and a lot will have to go well for the Lakers if they want to meet their goals next season.
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