The Lakers Are Exceeding Expectations

Thus far, the Los Angeles Lakers are exceeding expectations. Can they keep it up, though?

Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers won their sixth game on December 30th. They achieved their sixth win this season on November 12th this season.

Even in such a small sample size, the Los Angeles Lakers are exceeding expectations in 2016-17.

Are the Lakers going to make the playoffs? Absolutely not. However, Luke Walton has brought back a sense of excitement and energy to the Lakers organization. He brought a winning and competitive mindset with him from the Bay Area, and he is infusing it into Staples Center.

Under Byron Scott, the Lakers had the worst season in the history of their franchise. When you think Lakers basketball, you don’t think 17 wins. Kobe’s farewell tour didn’t necessarily help the rebuilding process either.

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Kobe averaged just under 17 shots a game last year, and shot 35.8 percent from the field. Kobe disrupted the flow of the Lakers offense and he took away shots from his young Lakers teammates. With the all time great now retired, the young Lakers are playing free, but also playing with passion and determination.

The Lakers are 6-5 on the young season (who would have predicted that through 11 games). Despite a few tough losses, they are heading in the right direction. The Lakers have a young and talented core with D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle, Brandon Ingram, and Larry Nance Jr. (All are under the age of 25).

Russell will be a superstar in this league someday. He has great shooting ability, he sees the floor well, and he definitely does not lack the confidence you need to be a starting point guard in the NBA.

Luol Deng, Lou Williams, and Nick Young have all bought into Luke Walton’s system as well. Young especially looks completely rejuvenated. The Lakers will most certainly get more than 17 wins this season. Most likely somewhere in the mid to late 20’s, possibly early 30’s.

They are still 4-5 years away at least to becoming the Lakers team that we are accustomed to seeing in the playoffs year after year. They will be a lottery team yet again when the summer comes around.

The 2017 NBA draft is loaded with young talent, so the Lakers should be able to snag another young piece to add to their collection. They already have a point guard for the future with Russell. So, there wouldn’t be a major need for a Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr., De’Aaron Fox, or Lonzo Ball.

They could benefit from an athletic wing like Josh Jackson, or maybe take a smooth scorer in Jayson Tatum. They could also take a huge risk on an injury-plagued Harry Giles, or draft a skilled big like Lauri Markkanen or Jonathan Isaac. There are so many different directions they could go in.

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In the next couple years, they will have an embarrassment of riches with all of their young talent. Luke Walton is the perfect coach to foster young players, help them grow individually and collectively, and he will get the Lakers back to where they belong.