1. Repeat as champions
A resolution that is at the top of every NBA team’s list at the start of each year is to win a championship. For some franchises, it is more realistic than others, and for the Los Angeles Lakers, their championship window might be the widest in the league right now.
Coming off of last season it was hard to envision the Lakers improving on a roster that had one of the best seasons in franchise history. However, many have argued that Rob Pelinka was able to have one of the best offseason of any team in the league and did improve the roster substantially.
All of the great Lakers championship teams have won back-to-back titles including the showtime era, the Shaq and Kobe run, and the Kobe and Pau lead teams. To really cement their legacy as one of the best Lakers dynasties of all time a back-to-back championship run is almost necessary.
Going back-to-back would also mean that LeBron would get his fifth championship to tie him with the Laker greats like Kobe, Magic, and Kareem. He would also be one championship away from Michael Jordan who most universally recognizes as the best to ever do it.
One thing LeBron has never pulled off in his illustrious career is a three-peat and no team has achieved that since the Kobe and Shaq lead Lakers. Since James and Davis are perhaps the best duo to play with each other since Kobe and Shaq, then maybe they can repeat as champions in the next couple of seasons.
With the roster the Lakers have assembled going into this season, there is no doubt about it that this season is championship or bust. The Lakers have the most championship experience, coupled with the deepest and most talented roster in the league.
There are only a few teams in the league that can compete with the firepower the Lakers have going into the season. If James Harden does not go somewhere and create a super team, then the Lakers should worry about the Bucks, Clippers, the Heat, and the Nets as teams that would be able to dethrone them in a postseason series.