If there is one team entering the upcoming NBA season with a ton of variability, it is the Los Angeles Lakers. After a tough season last year in which they failed to feature in the playoffs, the organization is back once more to try and make a mark in the Western Conference.
With a trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook (for now), in theory, the Lakers are in a good position to at least be competitive. But the age of James (he will be 38 on December 30th), the injury history of Davis (which needs no explanation), and the fit of Westbrook (can he finally change how he plays for the sake of the group?) raise more questions than answers.
Predicting the statistical leaders for the Los Angeles Lakers is difficult.
Beyond those three players, the Lakers have a first-year head coach in Darvin Ham who is saying all of the right things about how he is going to get this group to play. But talking with conviction at media day and facing the trials and tribulations of a campaign in Hollywood are two totally different beasts.
The group assembled around the stars is a unique one, and depth will be an issue as the regular season unfolds. Despite this, there is still some talent further down the bench to get the Lakers through some inevitably tough stretches throughout the year. A championship seems a far stretch right now, but this is a franchise that could surprise a few people.