ESPN’s regular-season projections for NBA 2022-23 didn’t sit right with Los Angeles Lakers fans as the site listed them at ninth with just 36 wins.
The Phoenix Suns were projected to finish first with 49 wins. Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans were placed second and third with 47.9 and 47.6 wins respectively.
Memphis Grizzlies (46.1) and Minnesota Timberwolves (45.7) were touted to round up the top five. Fans on social media lashed out at the network for their analysis and shared their two cents about the predictions.
ESPN’s Stat-based win projections for the West:
1. PHX – 49
2. DEN – 47.9
3. NOP – 47.6
4. MEM – 46.1
5. MIN – 45.7
6. LAC – 43.6
7. DAL – 43.1
8. GSW – 41.9
9. LAL – 36.8
10. POR – 36.6
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 29, 2022
Why aren’t Lakers first?
— RUI FANATIC (@therealselena23) September 29, 2022
So the lakers will only be 3 games better considering ad n lebron missed a combined 69 games ? Ight
— BLUEMAN (@BabyEsko3900) September 29, 2022
Guarantee the lakers be better than the suns 🤷🏾♂️
— TROLL😈 (@LEJUNIORJAMES) September 29, 2022
A healthy lakers team will win more than 36 games
— JT 💫 (@TheJayNastyy) September 29, 2022
Lakers better out of everyone here
— . (@jordydagoat_) September 29, 2022
Taking the over for Denver, LAL, and Warriors, and the under for Phoenix and Minnesota
— 🌘 (@bballcasuall) September 29, 2022
So they're assuming the lakers with a dramatically younger team are going to get MORE frequently injured?
— Blue Eyed Casval (@DoomedCasval) September 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/FixndW/status/1575683224017473536
Lakers at 36 is laughable. Give me the over. Easiest money of my life
— OT Cloud 9 (@OTCloud9) September 30, 2022
So the Lakers only win 36? Lmao. Yeah if they are hurt.
— Eren Yeagor (@Mr30110) September 30, 2022
Why does ESPN expect the clippers to be good every year? Even after being proven year after year that they'll forever be lil bro in LA. The warriors at 8? These projections r cheeks. I think the nuggets win the west w GS not too far behind and the Lakers right behind them. https://t.co/UegroI4fwi
— Lil Cozy™ (@ZachBaile) September 30, 2022
It wasn’t just the Lakers fans who were mighty miffed at the projections. Golden State Warriors fans expressed their sheer displeasure when they saw that their team was placed eighth with 41.9 wins.
Possible Explanation For The Reason Behind The Los Angeles Lakers’ Projected 36 Wins
Per Kevin Pelton, the brain behind the projections explained the logic behind his predictions involved multiple factors of the team’s performances over the last couple of seasons and the health of the players. In this case, LeBron James and Anthony Davis — the major names on the side missed a sizeable chunk of games last year.
James averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 56 games, while a string of injuries derailed Davis’ season as he notched up 23.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists from 40 games. This combined with their 33-49 finish last season where they failed to make the postseason may have played a part as well.
That said, the Lakers have an upgraded roster and the initial reactions from insiders and the team’s staff have been all positive, and that would mean having a shot at blowing past the projections. They open their campaign in an away game against the Golden State Warriors on opening night on October 18.
