The 2022-23 NBA season officially started on October 18, and it’s been almost 2 months since then. Let’s be honest- the Lakers got off to a rocky start, beginning the season with 5 consecutive losses, and it didn’t stop there. However, since then the Lakers have turned into a different team, winning 8/10 games at one point. What shifted LA’s mindset? How did they go from a team that had no chance of making the playoffs to a team that has managed to beat the Greek Freak and his Milwaukee Bucks?
Written by: Riya Kalra
18 December 2022
Anthony Davis. What else is there to say- following Davis’s coffee table injury, he has been averaging 27.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, and 12.3 RPG. Due to Davis’s high stats, the Lakers have been able to play more of their game against high-caliber teams. Davis has been playing efficiently on both ends of the floor. Davis has been pressuring players on the defensive end while being aggressive in the paint, asserting himself on a physical level. Davis is a power machine, and the Lakers have already experienced what playing would be like without him, taking the 102-116 defeat from Cleveland. Davis will have to continue playing at his MVP level for his Los Angeles team to even have a chance at clinching a playoff spot.
Not only has Davis been effective on the court, It’s no surprise that the 4-time MVP LeBron James has been on fire. However, that hasn’t always been the case this season. Fortunately, as the season progressed and Davis rejoined the Lakers, James’s playing has improved- averaging 25.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, and 9.1 RBG. Recently, James suffered an ankle injury, pulling him out of LA’s game against the Raptors, falling short 113-126. With both James (ankle) and Davis (sickness) out that game, the Lakers tasted what playing without their two stars would be like.
Though Davis and James have been carrying the Lakers, there is one past star we’ve been missing out on. What’s Russell Westbrook up to? For one thing, he played a stellar game against Boston recently, the best he’s played in a while. Maybe it was the alleged trade rumors ruminating in Westbrook’s thoughts, but the 9x NBA All-Star was able to pull it together. Westbrook scored a solid 20 points that night, a key to the Lakers' comeback against the famous Celtics. Unfortunately, the Lakers suffered a devastating loss in overtime to Boston 108-122.
The Celtics beat the Lakers simply because they played a better game, LA played well, Boston just played better. If LA’s season continues like this, it won’t last very long. Fortunately, they pulled a great 126-108 game against Denver, but was that just luck? Or pure talent? Let’s face it, the King is aging, AD is always injured, and Russell Westbrook is burnt out. The Lakers could’ve won that thriller against Boston if LeBron simply passed the ball, the King is great- but even he has his flaws. It’s not just the Lakers who are struggling, the once-dominant Warriors are 11th in the West, while the Lakers are ranked 12th. However, the Lakers could make a comeback, Orlando (once the worst team in the NBA) has won several games in a row. Could this be a sign for the Lakers? Will LeBron pull LA out of the dark? Will AD ever be strong and healthy? Will Westbrook get his mojo back?
The bottom line is- if the Lakers don’t get their act together, they’re in for a long season, missing the playoffs.
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