Los Angeles Lakers: 3 reasons why LA will blow the West out of the water

By Jason Reed | Aug 5, 2021

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles during a 105-100 Lakers win over the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center on March 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE. /

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(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The Los Angeles Lakers have more starpower than any team in the Western Conference

This is where the discussion always has to start. While there are other parts of the equation when it comes to building a title team, having the most starpower is often an indication of success in this league.

And before you point out the Milwaukee Bucks, they did get some injury luck to go their way against the Nets and still have the best player in the league and two other top-30 players.

Nobody in the West comes close to what the Lakers have. First off, the Lakers have two players who are in the top 10, which is something that only the Brooklyn Nets also have. That alone gives the Lakers more starpower.

Throw in Russell Westbrook, who is still a top-25 player at worst, and this is a star-studded cast, despite any conflicting playstyles. The rest of the West does not even compare.

Kawhi Leonard is going to miss most if not all of the season for the Clippers, Jamal Murray is missing most of the season for the Nuggets, the Jazz are solid but Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert is not enough, Damian Lillard is all alone, Luka Doncic is all alone and Phoenix is really talented, but LeBron and AD are better than both Chris Paul and Devin Booker.

The only team that could come close is Golden State and that would take an MVP season from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to return at 100%. Even then, Thompson is not a top-10 player in the league and Draymond isn’t any better than Westbrook.

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