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NBA Power Rankings: Every Team’s Starting Five

By Maxwell Ogden

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Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-80. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Lakers 96-80. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

29. Los Angeles Lakers

If Kobe Bryant comes back like The Black Mamba of old, this ranking obviously won’t stick. The reality is, Bryant has played in a grand total of 41 combined games over the past two seasons.

Generally speaking, the Lakers’ entire starting lineup consists of more question marks than anything else

Center Roy Hibbert is an elite rim protector, but his offensive game and willingness to impose his will are often scrutinized. At power forward, Brandon Bass is solid and Julius Randle has upside, but the latter suffered a season-ending injury in his first career NBA game.

Throw in rookie point guard D’Angelo Russell, and the Lakers have a great deal of inexperience in their starting five.

The question at hand is what will come of Bryant. If he moves to small forward, Jordan Clarkson will start at the 2-spot, but Nick Young could easily start at the 3 with Bryant at shooting guard.

The Lakers have too many question marks to warrant a higher pre-season ranking.

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