Los Angeles Lakers cannot afford to be timid this season
Although it is well-known that the Los Angeles Lakers may not have that one player that can be pointed to as the automatic leader, guys will need to step up in 2017-2018.
In 2017-2018, the Los Angeles Lakers will not be expected to double their win total from this past year. However, there will be a greater weight on the team’s shoulders to get better.
The historically successful franchise has never won more than 27 games over the span of the last four seasons. With that being said, fans are practically starving because they have not been fed with a lot of positivity in recent memory.
It is not to say that the team cannot reasonably trek above that 27 win plateau; it is pretty fair to anticipate it being done.
In a thin period of time, President of Basketball Operations, Magic Johnson, and General Manager Rob Pelinka have done quite a bit. The additions of Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will improve their interior scoring and perimeter defense. The ball club also gobbled up several draft picks, with Lonzo Ball being the most prestigious pickup.
Ball projects to be one of the team’s go-to guys this season. Some would argue, even with his unremitting pass first mentality, that he will be the go-to guy. All the hoopla over the last set of months certainly seems to suggest that.
This hoopla has produced a staggering resurgence of energy through the city. Even if a lot of said energy derives itself from nothing more than hope, it is clearly there.
In a recent report from Lakers Nation writer Eric Avakian, the Lakers feel this way, too. Rookie Kyle Kuzma gives further confirmation through the following:
"It’s awesome. We come in and it’s a positive energy every single day […] It’s just a great culture, you can tell that the culture is different than what it was in the past with past teams. We’re definitely going in the right way I think."
Although the culture may be different, one thing is not. A proven, go-to leader is one thing they currently do not have. That could change as the season progresses, but, right now, that is undetermined.
Los Angeles Lakers
Ever since the alpha-dog personality Kobe Bryant retired, the purple and gold have not had that luxury. Bryant was never afraid when the ball was in his hands and was heavily relied on in the most crucial moments of a game.
Likewise, the five-time champion was never afraid to speak his mind, either. The Black Mamba did not mince words whether it involved opponents or his own teammates.
Communication is a major part of basketball. Last year it was evident at certain points that L.A. did not do this regularly enough on the court.
Individuals would miss switches while on defense, most especially, and sometimes miss assignments altogether.
As a result, the Lakers often allowed 110 plus points per game. A stat like that is simply inexcusable. It caused television analyst James Worthy to argue at one point that such play could not be gotten away with in a more conventional corporate setting.
It is understandable that the purple and gold are young. Few players on the roster have more than a few years of experience under their belts.
However, such an excuse can only go far. Let alone sheer effort, speaking up on the court is every bit as vital.
This is an area where improvement will need to show up in during the 2017-2018 campaign.
Such a thought may seem like nothing more than a fantastical dream. Yet it is a must and second-year talent Brandon Ingram grasps that truth.
Now that his test run is over, Ingram knows he needs to at least somewhat get past his normally quiet self. The small forward alludes to this change of heart in a piece by Bruno Manrique of ClutchPoints.
"Just the respect these guys have for me and the respect I have for these guys I think everybody can teach each other something. I try to lead by example and of course I try to throw my voice in there also so I think that’s also a big year for this. I feel very comfortable talking to these guys, trying to lead by example so I think it is a big year for that also."
In a perfect world, Lakers fans can only hope this translates into the regular season. Glimpses of it were seen in Ingram’s lone appearance in Summer League, but it was a tiny sample size.
Summer League games are not the best measure of analysis, either, needless to say, because some of its participants may never even make it to the NBA.
Lopez and Luol Deng will likely carry out leadership roles themselves. In particular, they should slide in as the new mentors for the youngsters with Metta World Peace out of town.
Every team needs a guy or two along those lines, and, in that aspect, the duo is invaluable.
However, indeed, the Lakers need a guy(s) that do not become panic-stricken when the lights are on. In Los Angeles, surely enough, the lights will always be superabundant.
It is possible that Ingram could be that guy. His willingness to try to speak up more is a good baby step.
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Ball could become a leader himself assuming his acute unselfishness never goes away.
Perhaps a player like Julius Randle metamorphoses into that character. After all, he has been working his rear end off all summer and is due for a breakout season.
In any event, this is the year the Lakers need to get back on track. Indubitably.
Now, no one expects them to make a deep playoff run. Some believe the playoffs themselves would be north of a miracle.
The Los Angeles Lakers can no longer shy away from the lights anymore, though. Going upward is the only option.
Maybe it means a 10 win increase, or maybe that number is even cut in half. It still represents an improvement.
It could simply mean playing games more tightly and having total breakdowns less frequently.
Moreover, it could mean having the courage to put the ball up in the final seconds of a close game instead of hesitating with the rock.
Whatever it means, though, the Lakers have to make such goals a reality this season. In doing so, the Lakers will become a franchise that people want to play for again. In essence, they will slowly become the Lakers again.
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It is L.A.’s time to shine even just a bit more brightly again—stage fright is no longer acceptable.