The Los Angeles Lakers are projected to miss the playoffs by ESPN. Do you agree with that prediction?
The Los Angeles Lakers have high aspirations for the 2018-19 season. After signing LeBron James, expectations were heightened as the organization accelerated their rebuild.
With James, and is eight-year NBA Finals streak in town, fans are hopeful he can help snap a playoff streak of the Lakers. Los Angeles has missed the postseason for five consecutive years, the longest drought in franchise history.
In a loaded Western Conference, qualifying for the postseason is an impressive feat. Outside of the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, an argument can be made for every other team in the Western Conference being a playoff hopeful.
James and company will have their hands full snapping that playoff drought. Los Angeles has a specific plan heading into the offseason for their roster, and they accomplished their goal. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka wanted to surround James with defensive-minded playmakers and they did that.
In addition to James, Los Angeles also signed veterans JaVale McGee, Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and Michael Beasley. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was also re-signed, giving the Lakers some excellent depth.
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While the veterans garnered a lot of attention this offseason, it is the young guys they will be relying upon to take this team to the next level. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart will be expected to take the next step in their development and push the Lakers into the postseason.
Early returns have been positive, as the Lakers have looked good at times during the preseason. However, there has clearly been things that need to be worked on as well.
With James in the fold, there is always an adjustment period needed. With an improved roster, the playoffs should be attainable for Los Angeles. However, some people are not as high on the Lakers as other people.
One of the people who are down on Los Angeles is ESPN. In their recent projections, the Lakers are expected to miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season.
A big reason for the low prediction is because of how many minutes the Lakers have being played by returning players. Only 55 percent of the minutes this season are predicted to be played by returning players. The Suns are the only team with a lower projected percentage.
While that is a knock against the Lakers, it can also be seen as a positive. LeBron James is an improvement on virtually any player in the NBA. Rondo is a huge improvement at the backup point guard spot. The only spot that could provide worse production this season is the center spot, where things are unsettled.
However, with the improvements elsewhere, things should even out in that regard. It is tough to imagine the Lakers missing the postseason this upcoming season. With the improved roster and James leading the way, a playoff spot should easily be within reach for the Lakers.