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

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.
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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. The Los Angeles Lakers are legitimately deep

Yes, the Los Angeles Lakers do have some old role players and that could be a cause for concern but when you look at the roster from top to bottom, this is actually a really deep basketball team.

Sure, some of the role players can only produce so much but that is fine when you have three stars who will combine for 75-80 points in a playoff game. The Lakers just needed complementary pieces and they got that and more.

There is still another two signings or so to make to fill out the roster but as it currently stands right now it is really hard to hate what the Lakers have going on. Here is a look at how the positional depth chart could shake out:

  • PG: Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn
  • SG: Malik Monk, Wayne Ellington, Talen Horton-Tucker
  • SF: LeBron James, Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore
  • PF: Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony
  • C: Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol

The Los Angeles Lakers are two-deep at every position and three-deep at most. More importantly, this team is very versatile and can throw so many different looks at opposing teams based on what the matchup dictates.

Want to go really big? Run out Westbrook, Ariza, Carmelo, LeBron, Davis (or Westbrook, Ariza, LeBron, Davis, Howard). Want to go small? The Lakers can easily run a three-guard lineup of Westbrook, Monk/Nunn, Horton-Tucker/Ellington, LeBron, Davis.

They added shooters, they have rebounders and they have guys who can create their own shot, such as Monk, as well as guys who can create for others, such as THT. There is some potential for the defense to struggle but they still have a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Anthony Davis, a good defender when he tries in LeBron, a long defender in Horton-Tucker and size in Ariza and Bazemore.

It might not quite be last year’s defensive team but there is no reason why they shouldn’t be above league-average, which is more than enough.