The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the most puzzling teams in the NBA this season. They have the veteran talent to be successful, but for whatever reason, the roster has struggled to consistently come together. LeBron James has made it clear he wants to compete for a championship, yet the Lakers have only looked like true contenders at times.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” James’ agent Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
One of the Lakers’ biggest issues is that with three dominant scorers, the ball can stick at times, which has proven costly. Head coach JJ Redick believes that has contributed to several losses this season.
“That’s, again, it’s something we talk about all the time. We’re a better basketball team. We win more games if we have more potential assists. And get more assists,” Redick said after a loss to the Boston Celtics.
On Thursday night, the Lakers lost again, this time to a short-handed Phoenix Suns team, marking their third consecutive defeat. Speaking to the media afterward, Redick acknowledged that losses in Los Angeles tend to draw heightened attention.
“We talk about this as a staff like our losses are louder than other teams. Because we’re the Lakers, and because of the way we lose. I make mistakes,” Redick told reporters.
Redick is correct from an organizational standpoint, but the scrutiny also comes with the star power on the roster. With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and James, expectations are naturally high. When the losses begin to outweigh the wins, criticism is inevitable.
Los Angeles got off to a hot start but now finds itself on the bubble of the Play-In Tournament. That is not where the Lakers want to be, especially with the Western Conference’s top young teams having fared well against them during the regular season.
