Like a team with two of the NBA’s best on their day, paired with a shallow roster and a new coach trying to craft his identity.
One could argue the Lakers’ 16-13 record flatters them. Their net rating of -3.0 is 12th in the Western Conference, ahead of only the woeful Trail Blazers, Jazz and Pelicans. LeBron James has finally shown signs of aging this season, though he’s improved since returning from a week-long absence due to personal reasons. Outside of Anthony Davis, who is having one of his best all-around seasons, there haven’t been any consistent standouts. D’Angelo Russell has floundered and is now out of the starting lineup. Rookie Dalton Knecht got off to a fast start, but is mired in a slump as of late.
And yet, the Lakers are three games over .500 in a season that has threatened to go off the rails multiple times. New coach JJ Redick looked like a genius during a 3-0 start, a novice on a disheartening 1-4 road trip, a genius again during a six-game winning streak and a novice again after a 41-point loss in Miami ended a 2-6 stretch. Since that defeat, though, Redick and the Lakers have steadied themselves with four key wins, including two over the rival Sacramento Kings on the road.
All in all, the Lakers look like the kind of team most expected. The question is whether that’s good enough for James as he nears his 40th birthday.
