4-1 over the first five games is a solid start for the Los Angeles Lakers. They have taken advantage of the manageable schedule to begin the year and are quickly positioning themselves for another season near the top of the Western Conference. In doing so, they have also shown flashes of what this campaign could look like.
Five games is not a lot to judge a team on. Even so, there should still be a handful of early lessons here that hold true for the remaining 77 matchups still slated for the coming regular season.
1. Luka Doncic is already in MVP form
Let us start with an easy one that should age gracefully. That Luka Doncic guy is pretty good at this whole basketball thing. Playing in four of the Lakers' first five games, the Slovenian superstar got to show off his MVP form.
The matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers sticks out as a lackluster outing. Apart from that, Doncic has been sizzling to start the year. Luka is averaging 36.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 35.5 minutes per game. His shooting splits of 48-40-88 look healthy. As does his effort on the defensive end.
If the Lakers keep winning and Doncic keeps performing at this level, that elusive first MVP may finally find its way to his trophy cabinet.
2. Lakers offense projects to be absolutely elite
The Lakers are currently tied for the best offensive rating (122.5) in the league. This is one of those cases where the small sample size should not be deceptive. Los Angeles has every opportunity to be this good throughout the entire season.
Rob Pelinka remodeled the roster around his explosive backcourt tandem of Doncic and Austin Reaves. A tailor-made group around the two offensive juggernauts has shown its value.
One of the best stats — that is ultimately unsustainable for the entire season — is Reaves posting a ridiculous 73.8 true shooting percentage to start the year. That number will come down eventually. However, it goes to show just how nicely the pieces have fit in Los Angeles, allowing their best players to thrive. Having a potent offense all throughout this campaign should be par for the course.
3. Kevon Looney has quickly proven unplayable in the early goings
Let us shift gears from the good to the bad. As anyone with eyeballs would be able to tell you, Kevon Looney has played very poorly to start the year.
After four lackluster outings, JJ Redick pulled the plug on Looney for at least one night in their latest matchup against the Clippers. Jarred Vanderbilt proved himself much more capable in that outing. It would be tough to imagine how the veteran center consistently gets back on the court after that one.
Vanderbilt might be the better temporary solution in the frontcourt alongside Sandro Mamukelashvili. Adou Thiero should provide another option when he is healthy again. One way or another, though, Looney providing more than a veteran voice has proven unwise thus far.
4. Lakers' biggest roster issue is backup center
To build on the Looney topic, the Lakers should be eyeing up real improvements in the frontcourt as soon as possible. They have already started that cause by adding Lawson Lovering on a two-way deal.
Dec. 15 is still far off, but Pelinka should already be doing his homework on where he can call to find center depth in the form of a full-time main roster player, too.
Karlo Matkovic could be an interesting name, if Joe Dumars ever turns into a reasonable negotiator. Jalen Smith continues to stick out as desirable as well. In any case, adding a little bit of extra juice to the frontcourt would help decrease the concerns in that area. With the Lakers wings performing admirably, that is priority number one right now.
5. JJ Redick's top focus is still leveling up the Lakers defense
Redick spent the summer preaching to the new Lakers additions about the value of defense. The Lakers' lone loss of the season thus far perfectly illustrated why. Firepower is not lacking in Los Angeles. However, you still need to get stops for those offensive weapons to equate to wins.
At this exact point, the Lakers boast a defensive rating of 112.3. That ranks 17th in the NBA. Los Angeles needs to creep up above the middle of the pack if they want to truly unlock their contending upside.
The "defensive wins championships" cliché is overstated. In the NBA, the lesson is more so about being balanced on both ends. The Lakers still need to work toward finding that consistent competency on both sides of the court.
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