A Few Things For The Los Angeles Lakers To Focus on During Training Camp
The Los Angeles Lakers will enter the 2019-20 NBA season with Championships goals. What makes them different than teams like the Charlotte Hornets or Dallas Mavericks is that they actually have a shot. Last season, the Lakers underachieved. Not to take anything away from LeBron James, but it was proof that he alone could not get it done. So, the front office did their best to surround him with quality players this offseason to turn their misfortune around.
With the additions of Anthony Davis, Danny Green, and Dwight Howard, the Lakers should not miss the playoffs this season. It’s even to the point of title talk in L.A. Are the Lakers really threats to come out of the Western Conference with teams such as the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Portland Trail Blazers also stacked to the ceiling with talent? On paper, the Lakers appear to be a lock for the WCF, but will it work on the court?
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers struggled on the defensive end. Their offseason was spent on trying to remedy that situation. While LeBron can still get it done on that side of the ball, the rest of the roster was not able to match his intensity. Adding Anthony Davis will bring their stock up but the addition of defensive ace Danny Green should help as well. Now, they have added Dwight Howard to man the second unit, things could get interesting in The Staples Center this year.
As far as perimeter play goes, who could you trust with the ball in ther hands in the closing seconds? If we were to just focus on the starters, who in the staring unit would you trust with the all in their hands behind the three-point line with the game on the line? LeBron James and his .339 percent? Danny Green (.455 percent) Kyle Kuzma (.303 percent), Rajon Rondo (.359 percent) or Anthony Davis (.331 percent)? You see the issue there? Driving to the basket will be the focal point of their offense but what happens when defenses begin to play off their man and dare them to shoot? How often will they get lucky?
This is where LeBron, Rondo, and Davis will have their work cut out for them. If Davis can find the right open man after the double team comes, the Lakers will have the looks. It’s just a matter of Green, Kuzma, and LeBron making the shots. Green averaged 5.4 attempts per game last season while LeBron and Kuzma combined for 12 per game. Three-pointers are a huge part of any team’s offense in the NBA and the Lakers will struggle.
On paper, they have the tools to make a great run. But is the chemistry there? The Los Angeles Lakers will have its share of us and downs, but by the end of the season, they expect to be the last ones standing.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
