Los Angeles Lakers: Predicting final record and postseason outcome

The Los Angeles Lakers look to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit, falling at the hands of the Phoenix Suns. They had to battle their way into the playoffs in the first place, winning a play-in game against the Golden State Warriors to actually clinch a spot in the postseason.

It’s not a place these Lakers expect to find themselves in again, and they took steps to ensure their success in 2021-22. They added Russell Westbrook and just about every long-time NBA veteran of stature that they could get their hands on, like Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard (again, for the third time), Trevor Ariza, Rajon Rondo (again), Wayne Ellington and more.

The Los Angeles Lakers look to bounce back from a disappointing first-round exit, retooling with stars like Russell Westbrook. How will it work out?

Injuries were their undoing last season, with Anthony Davis and LeBron James both missing large chunks of the season, setting them too far back in the Western Conference to overcome their disadvantages. The added depth provided by these newcomers puts them in a position to thrive if everything goes well, but survive if injuries or other issues arise.

When James and Davis went down last season, Kyle Kuzma was expected to be the next in line and wasn’t up for the task. This time around, if there are absences, Russell Westbrook is more than capable of being a one-man wrecking crew (for better or worse) and keeping the ship afloat for extended periods of time.

Still, there’s a feeling of building on a sandy foundation with this roster. So many aging legends on one team seems to be begging for trouble. How much better did they really get this offseason?

Here’s our prediction for the Los Angeles Lakers’ record next season:

Los Angeles Lakers 2021-22 record: 55-27
Western Conference standings finish: 1st

In a league where the Brooklyn Nets don’t exist, the Lakers are probably the realistic favorite to win the NBA championship, and they’d be favorites by a heavy margin. However, the Nets do exist and Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving make for one of the most formidable Big 3s the NBA has ever seen.

A lot will happen between now and the NBA Finals when we can potentially expect these two teams to meet, but as great as the aging LeBron James is, the Lakers are at a deficit in this matchup. They have a ways to go just to catch up to both their top-end talent and their depth.

The Lakers had a good offseason, but the Nets had a great offseason.

How do we expect the Lakers’ season to finish?

Los Angeles Lakers lose NBA Finals 4-2 to the Brooklyn Nets

The days of LeBron James-led teams overcoming Kevin Durant-led teams in the NBA Finals are almost a decade behind us, and they won’t be coming back this year. The Lakers may have a size and brute strength edge, but stopping Kevin Durant and his compatriots (if healthy) is a virtual impossibility, even for the mighty James.

There’s no shame in falling just short if that’s how things play out, and it won’t be the first time LeBron loses in the Finals. Will it be the last?