Los Angeles Lakers: 4 hot takes for the team in 2018-19

The Los Angeles Lakers will be under a microscope the entire year. Here are some hot takes for the team to watch for throughout the 2018-19 season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have one game in the books! Real analysis pieces will go up replacing the conspiracy articles about free agency and second-guessing of rosters.

The Lakers suited up for the first time in the LeBron James era against the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday night. Then there is no rest for the weary as the Lakers put on their track shoes and play the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Now that everything counts, we get to really see what the front office consisting of Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and Jeanie Buss had in mind building this roster. But let’s be clear here…every story that surrounds the Lakers this year will have LeBron James somewhere in it somehow.

Lake Show Life did an in-depth feature covering LeBron James, looking for tendencies that might happen early in the season…

Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Hot takes for LeBron James in 2018-19

LeBron James begins a new era with the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow night on the road against Portland.

If you haven’t read it, check it out and share it on social media with every Lakers fan you can. It will give insight on possible issues if the Los Angeles Lakers struggle.

Now we take a look at the REST of the roster and what they may have to overcome this season. This is four takes for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018-19.

Yes, playing with LeBron James is a part of it. Let’s see what Lakers icon Shaquille O’Neal has to say…

Thank you sir…now here’s what I have to say…

Outside of my good friends at FanSided, I only pay attention to a few analysts when it comes to the NBA. Charles Barkley happens to be one of them…

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/1052337283985072128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1052337283985072128&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F10%2Fcharles-barkley-lakers-nba-predictions-thunder-nuggets-comments-video-lebron-james

Now if you listen casually, you may think that Charles Barkley has no clue (the comments allude to this!) about what he is talking about. But let me tell you something…

He’s probably right.

The Lakers have numerous issues match-up wise with the teams that he mentions in the clip, the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets.

Let’s break it down, shall we?

3. The backcourt has issues on the offensive end of the floor.

I will mention my discontent for the positionless basketball theory of the Los Angeles Lakers all season long. To me, it is an analytical way of…rolling the ball out and trying to figure out what’s going on as we go along.

Ergo…no structure. This starts in the backcourt…let’s start on the offensive end.

Offensively, the Lakers need to score at least 40 points per game collectively to stay competitive. This is not to win but stay competitive.

I have used the same quote throughout the entire preseason for Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo…

"This is an extremely important area of emphasis. Eventually, teams are going to pack it in the paint and demand Rondo (and eventually Ball) to consistently hit the jumper during the season. That’s the NBA folks. Whatever this positionless basketball the Lakers are selling will not work if everyone is not contributing on the offensive end. Good teams will isolate these guys and take advantage if they don’t look at the basket. The backcourt has to look for their offense and not look to LeBron James for everything."

I am a huge fan of Rajon Rondo, however, he has to keep the defense honest by at least looking at the rim when left wide open. During the preseason, Rondo did not attempt more than five shots that I remember.

At the point guard spot, this is a problem. Offensively, the Lakers are playing 4-5 against their opponents. In the Western Conference, the backcourts score when the mood fits them…MAN is this conference moody!

Portland: Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.

Houston: Chris Paul and James Harden.

Golden State: Yeah…those two dudes!

How about Phoenix…Devin Booker and insert who you want to here! But they signed Jamal Crawford, who just scored a basket as I’m writing this! Dallas and their backcourt are dangerous in Luka Doncic and Dennis Smith Jr., this list goes on and on.

For the Lakers to be successful, the backcourt has to match their opponent.

This goes for Lonzo Ball as well. When he knocks down this three here, look at the room that Klay Thompson leaves for him…

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1050941578573799424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1050941578573799424&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flakeshowlife.com%2F2018%2F10%2F13%2Flos-angeles-lakers-3-players-stood-119-105-win%2F

After Curry hits his three (more on that later…) when the Lakers get into their high pick and roll offense, Lance Stephenson draws two players and Lonzo hits the jumper. But the point that is shown here is the attention Stephenson received compared to Ball. Look for this until AT LEAST CHRISTMAS for the point guard position from the opposition.

As for the two guard spot…

Except for one preseason game, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a disaster. Josh Hart has outplayed KCP the whole preseason but against Portland, KCP was in the starting lineup. Josh Hart makes his presence felt on the floor if he’s scoring or not. Can’t say the same for Caldwell-Pope.

2. The backcourt has issues on the defensive end of the floor. 

Let’s be clear…they are awful. No guard on the roster has shown the ability to stop dribble penetration. With the dribble penetration, it leads to defensive breakdowns…like this!!!

In the opener, LeBron had back to back dunks. But, look at the defensive breakdown sandwiched between the dunks. Rajon Rondo let Lillard go by too easy and LeBron James did not rotate over to get the dunk. These things cannot happen! Press play!

Before I get into this…has anyone seen Nik Stauskas do anything like what he did to the Lakers last night? My point exactly. It seems that role players that no one has heard from seem to have a coming out party against the Lakers. Stauskas was allowed to get off because of bad Lakers defense from the guards.

I mean really…

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1053127627337170946

He has a nickname now Lakers fans! Do you see a trend here???

The Western Conference is loaded with stars, for some reason, the Los Angeles Lakers turn ordinary players into stars!

This team is NOT built for winning!

Charles Barkley again…

Charles Barkley chooses Spurs, Nuggets over LA: 'I have no idea what the Lakers are doing'

"“What kind of team are they? Are they gonna let those young guys play, or are they going to put those old guys out there? That’s why I didn’t understand because those old guys are not their future. Ball, Kuzma, Brandon Ingram — that’s their future. So, I don’t know what the Lakers are doing. Are they going to try to groom those young guys and go forward with LeBron, or are they going to play those old guys? I think that’s going to be the most fascinating thing. I mean, I have no idea what the Lakers are doing. Are they a young team or are they an old team? I think that’s what I’m gonna be watching for the most.”"

What this means is the Lakers organization is going to have to make a decision on their philosophy going forward.

Are the Lakers going to play the young guys and develop them? Or are you going to slow their development by playing the veterans that we all know won’t be around next year?

The worst formula for an NBA team is putting together a roster with a number of players who are trying to score another contract. It’s a recipe for disaster. Think about this; the Lakers have five players that are on one-year deals.

The process is great for the front office. Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka can make any trade they want with the assets and cap space that they have. Their job is to make sure they secure that next max level player with enough cap space and have the flexibility to continue making moves in the future. That, or leaving their options open at the trade deadline to make a possible run this year if the situation calls for it. Until that deal happens…

Luke Walton will have his work cut out for him with the rotations.

4. JaVale McGee sits down, the team struggles on defense, rebounding. 

God bless JaVale McGee, but if the Lakers really believe that they can count on the energy that he has been putting out for 82 games, I have about five miles of L.A. highway property to sell you. Cheap! When he sits down it is almost ridiculous how the Lakers struggle on defense and grabbing rebounds. Look at what McGee did last night alone…

Rotating to the rim reading and reacting to Brandon Ingram…

https://twitter.com/BR_NBA/status/1053149126655860737

Blocking shots…

https://twitter.com/BR_NBA/status/1053130231853142016

…and running the floor. The only problem is when he sits the Lakers can’t stop anybody down low…

https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1053124785289363457

This is why the Lakers positionless basketball will kill them if they don’t get another big man. They have Michael Beasley who played two minutes, just long enough to make my point playing the five spot.

The Blazers forced the Lakers to switch which forced Lance Stephenson to defend Meyers Leonard in the post. Lonzo Ball tries to double team the post and falls down. When he falls, the defense collapses and Nik Stauskas hits the easy three. Roll play…

The Lakers were outrebounded 54-46 against Portland. Outside of JaVale McGee, there has been no player on the Lakers that has consistently sacrificed and committed to doing the dirty work. For this, to work, all five guys on the floor will have to be committed to finishing defensive possessions and not leaking out early which is a bad habit.

The Los Angeles Lakers have started their long journey through the NBA season. Lake Show Life will be there every step of the way. Continue to check in for Lakers news, previews and reviews.