The 10 Biggest Questions For The Los Angeles Lakers This Season

For Lakers supporters all throughout the world, the suffering of last season is still resonating with them. The Los Angeles Lakers, who had one of the worst seasons in franchise history, were eliminated from playoff contention after failing to earn a spot in the play-in round. Despite having LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook as three superstars in their primes, the Lakers’ players were forced to watch the postseason from their homes. Finishing with a ridiculous 33-49 record, nobody could have foreseen such terrible play at the beginning of the year, especially with the 11th seed in the West.

There was absolutely no way the New Orleans Pelicans without Zion Williamson, the Los Angeles Clippers without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, and a San Antonio Spurs side devoid of real talent should have been ahead of the Lakers in the standings. But that was the reality, and the Lakers suffered a massive reality check in terms of the roster and their play on both ends of the court. Looking ahead to this upcoming season, Los Angeles needs to make sure they play as badly as they did in 2022. The players will be a year older, which is not a good thing, but they did make changes by bringing in Patrick Beverley, Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker, and Thomas Bryant to the team.

But even with the additions, there are 10 massive questions the Lakers have to face before the 2023 season. There are no guarantees that the Lakers will make the postseason, and even with a roster filled with superstar talent, there are far too many doubts to ignore. Here are the 10 biggest questions for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2023 NBA campaign.

10. Is Darvin Ham Ready For The Lakers?

This is a big question that must be answered. It is not easy for a rookie head coach to be thrust into a position where a title-contending team missed the play-in last year. Ham will be in the hot seat from the start of the season because he has to find a way to implement Russell Westbrook into a system that does not suit him. He also has to keep the players motivated because it will be hard to bounce back after an atrocious season. Obviously, Ham also does not have experience as a head coach.

This is a very difficult position to be in as he has to place the Lakers in a position to compete with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and Philadelphia 76ers, at the very least, who all have experienced head coaches. Darvin will need to find a way to keep his players happy, find a system that works, and also convince the roster to play defense. Remember, the Lakers were ranked 21st in defensive rating and 28th in OPPG. Fixing a rather broken defense won’t be easy, and there is a big question if a rookie head coach is the right man for the job.

9. Is Patrick Beverley Good Enough For The Lakers Or Does He Trick Us All?

The Los Angeles Lakers were always going to trade Talen Horton-Tucker, but fans expected it to be for another All-Star-caliber player. Instead, they received a 34-year-old defensive-minded point guard. Beverley is a stout defender, even if some players feel that he does not actually defend the ball. Beverley has played with 3 different teams, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves, and has made the playoffs with every team. Patrick expects to once again make the playoffs, this time with a Lakers team that had no shot at competing in the postseason last year.

Will the Lakers benefit from having Patrick Beverley instead of a 21-year-old Talen Horton-Tucker? Beverley’s game will be under a microscope this season, and we will finally understand whether the point guard is good enough to be on a contender or if he is simply a player who tricks everyone into thinking he is an impact player. For years, we have heard the criticism and also support for Beverley, and we finally get to see which side is telling the truth. Losing the most valuable trade asset in Horton-Tucker will force the Lakers to play Patrick heavy minutes, and the player better respond.

8. Is Russell Westbrook Ready To Play More For The Team?

Russell Westbrook, in some ways, refused to play for the sake of the team. He was not supposed to handle the ball as much on the floor and often attacked the basket recklessly instead of moving the ball. That is his playing style, and it gave him an MVP award in 2017 because his aggression resulted in a ton of points scored, assists, and also turnovers. But with the Lakers, Russ cannot play like that. He must be “another guy”, something he has not shown the ability to be.

Can the former MVP play more for the team in 2023? That means being a backup playmaker to LeBron and, oftentimes, being benched in favor of other guards who shoot the ball better in Dennis Schroder, Kendrick Nunn, Austin Reaves, and even Lonnie Walker. Westbrook might even have to accept a 6th man role at times, and is he willing to adapt? The point guard is one of the best-paid players in the world, and it is hard to accept a lesser role when getting paid over $44 million. But Westbrook has to adapt and accept a lesser role for the sake of the team, which unfortunately has never happened in his career.

7. Can The Lakers Improve Their Defense Or That Is Mission Impossible?

Last season, the Laker players could not defend their own shadows. Outside of perhaps Stanley Johnson, who has a late addition, no player played any form of consistent defense. LeBron James, at age 37 going on age 38, will not be a terrific defender. It is simply too much to ask for a superstar in his 20th season, and he will need help in that regard. Russell Westbrook has never been a stout defender despite his physical gifts because he gambles too often and wants to score more than he wants to get stops. Of course, Anthony Davis is rather finesse in his playing style and does not impose himself as much as he should.

Can the Lakers actually improve their defense with the aforementioned facts? Lonnie Walker and Patrick Beverley will improve the perimeter defense, and Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones will add cover inside the paint. But is it enough to greatly overcome the poor defense by the Laker stars? Davis will be the key, and if he is fully healthy, he can be the best defender on the team. We haven’t seen the big man play dominant defense since 2020, and he must return to that level. If Davis can’t dominate on defense, the Lakers playing consistent defense might be mission impossible.

6. Can Anthony Davis Play A Full Season Without Injury?

Anthony Davis is a top-10 player in the world when healthy and motivated. It can even be argued that Davis is a top-5 player in the game because very few players can score 25 PPG, grab 10 RPG, and block 2 shots per game with extreme ease. Anthony can also pass the ball, has a high basketball IQ, and has tremendous length as a 6’10” power forward. Remember, Davis led the Lakers in scoring during the 2020 season (26.1 PPG) and they ended up winning the championship at the end of the year.

Davis must return to full health and lead the team in scoring for the Lakers to be successful. LeBron James has to pace himself to keep healthy for the playoffs, even if he is going for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record. James should not have to average 30 PPG for the Lakers to win games, because it is not fair for a player in his 20th season. Rather, Davis needs to take control of the offense (and the defense) to become the best player in the regular season. Without Davis playing like a top-10 player in the world at least, the Lakers have no shot at winning a championship. Whatever Anthony is doing in the offseason, it needs to be changed, because obviously, the big man has been unable to keep healthy and help LeBron on the court.

5. Can Russell Westbrook Play Smart In The Offense And Not Shoot Bricks In The First 10 Seconds Of The Offense?

There is already a question about Russell Westbrook willing to accept a backseat role. But can Russ change one major aspect of his game, which is taking bad shots quickly into the shot clock and rushing his offense? The aspect of Westbrook’s game that frustrated fans the most was his inability to keep calm and make smart plays. Remember, LeBron James is on the floor, and he is the smartest player in the world and never rushes. Westbrook is the complete opposite in terms of setting up an offense and making the right plays.

Westbrook averaged 44.4% shooting from the field and 29.8% from three last year to go along with 3.8 turnovers per game. That is down to the point guard’s inability to keep calm, take smart shots, and let the shot clock run a little bit more before launching from the perimeter. Westbrook is a putrid three-point shooter and even shot the ball poorly from the field as a whole, so he mustn’t take bad shots and “brick” them when LeBron is right there to make better plays. Westbrook should move the ball quickly, cut to the rim, and focus on posting up his defender as much as possible instead of rushing his shots.

4. Will Lakers Trade Russell Westbrook During The Season?

Continuing on Russell Westbrook, will the Lakers finally trade him and rid themselves of a mistake that has been haunting them? Westbrook is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and a player known for his incredible triple-double exploits at the point guard position, but he was not the answer for the Purple and Gold last year. In the best-case situation, the Lakers would want to trade Russell Westbrook for role players or at least a starting-caliber player better suited for LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ playing styles. The Indiana Pacers deal is supposedly on the table, but will the Lakers bite the bullet and give up their two future first-round picks?

If the Lakers want to get serious about moving Russell Westbrook, they must include any and all first-round picks to rid themselves of a problematic figure. If the Lakers can acquire Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, their title chances might skyrocket compared to what it is right now. The chance of Russ changing his game and being a great fit with LeBron and Davis is far less than Hield and Turner fitting seamlessly with the Laker stars. In other words, the Lakers will have to decide if they want to essentially ignore the future for a chance to win at least one more NBA championship. Of course, nothing is guaranteed, and the Lakers moving Russ won’t automatically guarantee a championship. But if the right trade package comes along, the Lakers will have to analyze if moving Russ would be the best move because it very well could be.

3. Can Anthony Davis Finally Become A Top-5 MVP Candidate?

Anthony Davis must lead the defense and stay healthy. But even if he does that, can he compete like a top-5 MVP candidate? Davis is capable of winning the MVP award because his incredible skill level at his size might be second-to-none. Joel Embiid is a tremendous center, but he is nowhere near as agile as Davis is. Nikola Jokic is another big man with incredible skills and is a better passer than Davis, but he does not have the athleticism of the Unibrow. Davis does everything on the floor at a superstar level, and we saw glimpses of a top-5 player in the world during the 2020 season.

But can the power forward elevate his game to a top-5 MVP candidate? LeBron James needs to take a backseat for once in his career, and he has a chance to do that to further extend his career alongside Anthony Davis. The 8-time All-Star is destined for the Hall of Fame after making the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, and he is missing an MVP award because he has the talent to have at least one before the end of his career. Beyond becoming the best player on the Lakers, Davis has yet to elevate his game to become a top-5 player and top-5 MVP candidate for his own sake. A player of his size and skill set does not grow on trees, which means expectations are extremely high.

2. Is A 38-Year-Old LeBron James Like A Fine Wine?

We have seen very few athletes age like Vino, or a fine wine. One of those is Tom Brady, a legendary quarterback with 7 Super Bowl rings. Another one is LeBron James, who was arguably a top-5 player in the world at 37 years old with the Los Angeles Lakers last year. But LeBron is almost 38 years old, and by December 2022, he will reach that age. We have not seen a 38-year-old compete at an MVP level before, but can James do it? Based on what we saw from him last year, James will likely accomplish this incredible feat. But The King will be a year older at some point in 2023, and it is only natural for him to experience slower recovery, lesser production, and potentially some injuries. Can LeBron continue to defy the odds and be above human nature? He is already in a league of his own in terms of longevity in the NBA, and he looks to be primed to play until his 40s.

If we see LeBron continue his level of play in 2023, he will indeed be aging like a fine wine. At his age, The King is tremendously clever at making his teammates better and also reading opposing defenses. James knows basketball inside and out, and he will be an invaluable source of information for the Lakers’ roster. However, if we see LeBron’s decline in athleticism and production, it could be bad news for Los Angeles. The King must be at a superstar level for the Lakers to compete because he is the lone constant in terms of what to expect. James will have pressure on his broad shoulders again this upcoming season, and he must meet the call to give his team a shot at coming out of the Western Conference.

1. Are The Lakers Really A Championship Squad?

Are the Los Angeles Lakers really a championship squad? LeBron James will be 38 next year, and his defense was already non-existent last year. Not to mention, The King might need to take a small step backward in terms of playing heavy minutes because he is looking to play for another 2 or 3 years. Anthony Davis will be 30 next year, and he has only played at least 60 games once in his Lakers career. As a big man gets older, he does not necessarily get healthier. Russell Westbrook is still on the roster, and he has been declining for a few years now. Role players such as Kendrick Nunn and Thomas Bryant are coming off major injuries and missed time, and we do not know what they will bring.

A 34-year-old Patrick Beverley and a returning Dennis Schroder aren’t necessarily guaranteeing a playoff spot either. The Lakers lost Talen Horton-Tucker and Malik Monk, two players that bring energy and youth, and we might see how that could affect the Lakers’ system on offense. The biggest questions are focused on LeBron, Davis, and Westbrook and that will trickle down to the rest of the roster. There is pressure across the team, even reaching rookie head coach Darvin Ham. The best way to answer that question is to compare the Lakers to other contenders.

Taking the Milwaukee Bucks, for example, the Lakers are very different. A rookie head coach cannot compare to a veteran like Mike Budenholzer, and the Bucks’ Big Three defend at an elite level and are comfortable in their roles as the primary, secondary, and third option. The Lakers Big Three are not in tune with each on the floor and are not consistent on defense, either. Even the Los Angeles Clippers have an experienced head coach and two superstars that play off each other perfectly. Not to mention, they have added key supporting players including John Wall and Norman Powell since last season. The Golden State Warriors? They are built on team chemistry, shooting, and defense, which is the perfect recipe in the modern NBA.

The Lakers have not proven they can defend at a high level, have a rookie head coach, and could have an issue with Russell Westbrook returning to the court. Los Angeles did not necessarily get younger or healthier with their moves, either. When comparing the Lakers to other title contenders, it might seem clear they do not have a championship squad. But if LeBron continues playing like a top-5 player in the world, Davis returns to MVP form, and Westbrook finds his groove or is traded for the right players, the Lakers might start showing some semblance of becoming a championship core. 

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