Los Angeles Lakers: Team’s biggest early-season disappointments

We’re three weeks into the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2017-18 season, and there have been quite a few disappointments despite the team exceeding expectations.

It’s November. The Los Angeles Lakers are 5-7, which is better than most folks had in mind for them through 12 games. There’s been plenty of positive this season, but we’ve also seen a hearty helping of negative for the Purple and Gold (or is it Yellow now?).

I don’t want to be a buzzkill here. I understand that, at this point, the Lakers have exceeded expectations. It was assumed they’d be at the bottom of the barrel in the Western Conference, when in fact they’re currently 11th in the standings. That’s something to be proud of, especially considering the relative youth of this squad.

Still, in order to improve, we must understand our flaws. So that’s why I’m here — to help us understand what’s going wrong in Laker Land right now. It’s been fun watching this team compete in ways it hasn’t in years, but that doesn’t mean it’s been all sunshine and rainbows. For every bit of good, there’s been bad to go along with it — that’s why the Lakers are only 5-7.

I’m sorry if you prefer to see everything through rose-colored lenses. In my world, though, it’s better to see things for what they really are instead of glossing over the imperfections.

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With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest early-season disappointments for the Lakers. Just remember that this is an exercise meant to provoke thought and reflection. I can assure you I’m not here to be a hater.