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5 reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers will repeat as NBA Champions

By Robert Marvi

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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1. No one else has dramatically improved

Often times, when a team wins the NBA title, the other contenders load up and make trades or signings that are specifically aimed at adjusting to the reigning champs and taking them down.

Nothing of the sort has really happened this offseason.

Yes, the Milwaukee Bucks have upgraded in the point guard department, going from Eric Bledsoe to Jrue Holiday. The Brooklyn Nets will have a healthy Kevin Durant this season, and if he’s even close to what he used to be, his new team should be legit title contenders.

Even the Portland Trail Blazers, who barely made the 2020 postseason, added a few good role players, and with a healthy Jusuf Nurkic, they could be a dark horse team in 2021.

But no one has made any changes that scare Lakers fans.

This isn’t the early 2000s when there was a constant arms race in the Western Conference. In 2001, the San Antonio Spurs added Tony Parker and Bruce Bowen after getting swept by L.A. in the conference finals. The same year, the Sacramento Kings traded the exciting-but-erratic Jason Williams for the steady-but-dependable Mike Bibby to become true title contenders.

Maybe Jayson Tatum will become a full-fledged superstar and make the Boston Celtics tops in the East. Maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo will finally unleash his inner beast come playoff time and get his Bucks over the hump.

Maybe Leonard will have another Michael Jordan-esque run through the postseason and give the Clippers a real shot against the Lakers, but it looks like it would take more than that for that squad.

Next. What to look for during the preseason. dark

Right now, those are really the only chances the field will have against the Lakers, unless James dramatically declines, or he or another key player either gets injured or comes down with Covid-19 during the playoffs.

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