As we move into the holiday season, the Los Angeles Lakers are 21-3 and have the league’s best record. But there’s a really long way to go, and there are some things they need to shore up
Just a couple of months into the season, the Los Angeles Lakers are lookin’ good!
They’re 21-3, good enough for the best record in the NBA, and they’re doing it by defending at a high level, running off their defense and moving the ball around in their halfcourt sets. It also doesn’t hurt that they have two of the best players in the world in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
As of now, the Purple and Gold are top-five in defensive rating, points allowed, assists and points scored in the paint, and top-10 in fast break points.
But to be fair, they haven’t been challenged that much yet. However, they recently won three straight on the road against the Nuggets, Jazz, and Trail Blazers to help quiet some of the schedule being weak talk down.
Later in the month the Lakers will have their first matchup with the powerhouse Milwaukee Bucks, and of course the Christmas Day showdown against the L.A. Clippers.
The Lakers will also get their first look at the Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics in January, and all three of those contests will be on the road.
Between now and then, and especially between now and April, there are a few things the Purple and Gold are not doing a good job of that they’ll need to address to give themselves a great chance of winning the NBA championship this upcoming June.