1. LeBron James
Come on, seriously? Are there really so many people out there who believe LeBron is going to miss the playoffs? He’s been a part of 13 consecutive postseasons, so why would it change now?
As we’ve already discussed, this Lakers team isn’t as inept as the general consensus would lead you to believe. There may not be a second superstar for James to rely upon, but he’s got a bevy of young, energetic playmakers at his disposal. Combine them with a wily bunch of bench veterans, and you’ve got the makings of a serious noisemaker.
I’m not saying the Lakers need to be considered legitimate threats to the Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors, but the endless skepticism feels like begrudging disillusion. People would rather tear down Los Angeles than admit it’s a team worth taking seriously in 2018-19.
Well, it’s time for a reality check. With James now in town, there’s no way around it. The Lakers are going to make the playoffs, even if it requires the King to get it done all on his own. However, that won’t be the case. You could even argue that this current Los Angeles team offers more upside than the Cleveland Cavaliers squad he carried to the 2018 NBA Finals.
Yes, it’s the West. Yes, the road to the postseason will be a bumpy one. With LeBron in the lead role, there’s little that can keep the Lake Show from extending its run into late April or even May.