When your name carries the weight of a Luka Doncic or a LeBron James, criticism is never too far behind. Sometimes, those critiques will be fair. Often times you get dragged through the mud for something that is either not entirely your fault or just completely does not have to do with you.
After the Los Angeles Lakers lost their nail-biting 110-109 ball game to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night in embarrassing fashion, a huge chunk of the discussions on Wednesday had to do with the stars. The game, to some, was just another example of why the formula in Los Angeles just does not work. That is what Brian Windhorst was talking about on ESPN.
Windhorst said, "When Luka, LeBron, and Austin Reaves play together, they're just not a good team. ... The data is just the data, okay? When Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic play together, ... the Lakers are an excellent team. When all three of them play out there, they're not."
The ESPN analyst pointed to the differences in the per 100 possession numbers between the samples mentioned, downplaying the factor of health (and any other nuance) in the process. It's the wrong takeaway from the game. However, it is the one the Lakers set themselves up for.
Lakers' problems go far beyond Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James
Trevor Lane, perhaps in response to the criticism mentioned above, highlighted an important statistic from last night's game. Even without the matchup being the most impressive the Lakers stars have enjoyed, the data was actually positive in their favor. The trio worked well together.
Lane wrote, "Lakers were +4.6 per 100 with LeBron, Austin, and Luka on the floor last night. The most important thing for them to reach their ceiling is getting the 3 of them to be a net positive."
The trio of Doncic, James, and Reaves have not fully meshed together just yet. Luka has even gone on the record to say as much. Minimizing all of the roster issues down to the three guys is just missing the mark, though.
There are problems with the frontcourt, wings, and general construction that make the flaws so clearly not limited to the stars and their fit with one another. Hypothetically, imagine a lineup with Doncic, James, and Reaves supported by a reliable two-way rim protector and a 3-and-D point of attack defender. Would the Lakers' ceiling not immediately skyrocket?
The messaging from the Lakers about having enough and winning with their star power once the NBA Playoffs arrive does ultimately set up Doncic, James, and Reaves for the criticism. It is Hollywood after all. Everyone wants to discuss the stars. However, leaving it there ultimately makes the conversation pretty shallow.