New champion among 10 bold predictions for 2019-20 NBA season
1. Lakers will win NBA title
The Los Angeles Lakers hoped that adding LeBron James to the roster would bolster the team’s chances of notching a playoff appearance last season. Initially, the move paid dividends, as the Lakers won 20 of their first 34 games and had the fourth-best record in the western conference.
Unfortunately, James sustained a groin injury in a win against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. The injury kept LBJ out of the lineup for 17 games. The Lakers managed to produce only six wins during that stretch.
Additionally, Lonzo Ball was limited to 47 games thanks to an ankle injury, while Brandon Ingram developed a blood clot that cut his season short after 52 appearances.
When it was all said and done, the Lakers failed to make it to the postseason for the sixth straight year. This was totally unacceptable for one of the league’s storied franchises.
On the heels of a disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs once again, the Lakers came into the offseason with one thing in mind: putting together a roster that could legitimately contend for a title. They finally pulled off a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans that netted them Anthony Davis.
The Lakers signed DeMarcus Cousins to a one-year deal, but his role has been reduced to that of a cheerleader, thanks to a torn ACL that will prevent him from playing this season. Other notable additions include Dwight Howard, Danny Green, Jared Dudley and Troy Daniels.
Yes, Howard has been with four teams in five years since he last donned the purple and gold in 2012-13, but he will prove to be a serviceable backup the second time around. Also, don’t sleep on the trio of Green, Dudley and Daniels, either.
While none of them aren’t what you would refer to as elite difference-makers, they all shot better than 35 percent from beyond the arc in 2018-19. It is also worth mentioning that both Green and Daniels are career 40 percent shooters from distance and Dudley isn’t far behind at 39.2 percent.
When you have two of the most talented offensive scorers in James and Davis, the perimeter shooters will get more than their fare share of quality looks at the basket, which spells trouble for opposing teams.
So, yeah, that other LA team that occupies the Staples Center won 48 games a year ago; they did improve during the offseason and they will be a team to be reckoned with as the season progresses. On the other side of the narrative, the Lakers’ offseason can be considered a success as well.
And with both James and Davis motivated to take this squad to the next level and the roster being mostly comprised of win-now players, my prediction is that the Lakers will be hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2020.