Los Angeles Lakers: 2019-20 NBA season preview
Predictions
This Los Angeles Lakers team is improved from last season, but the Western Conference is as daunting as ever. In addition to the Lakers, the LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors all have legitimate cases as contenders.
The one thing none of those teams have, however, is LeBron James, and a motivated James, at that. With Anthony Davis as a running mate, some pressure can be taken off James as he isn’t going to be relied upon as the only source of consistent production.
Davis is set up to have a monster season. Being in Los Angeles, his profile will grow even more as people will take notice at just how great he is on both ends of the floor. He will finish in the top-5 of both Defensive Player of the Year and MVP voting. James will join him in the top-five of the MVP voting as well.
Those won’t be the only people getting recognized this season. Kyle Kuzma has an excellent opportunity if he buys into being the team’s sixth man. If he does, he will contend for that award as well.
Navigating the difficult Western Conference won’t be easy, but the Lakers have some battle-tested players that know what it takes to get it done during a grueling season. Frank Vogel leads an experienced coaching staff as well that has plenty of experience going deep into the postseason.
The start of the regular season gives Los Angeles a chance to get off to a hot start while they work out some of their kinks and build their chemistry and cohesion. With two of the top players in the NBA healthy and ready to go, they should do some damage early and often.
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