NBA Power Rankings: Have LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers hit their stride?

In this week’s installment of our NBA Power Rankings, we explore whether LeBron Jams and the Los Angeles Lakers have hit their stride

Just a couple weeks ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were the butt of every NBA joke. They opened the season with three straight losses and dropped five of their first seven to begin the season. LeBron James was even talking, recently, about how he almost “cracked” during the Lakers’ early-season struggles.

A month into the season, the Lakers are looking better and better with every passing day and week. Los Angeles has won five in a row and seven of their last eight overall. They are currently 8-6 and are only one game back (in the loss column) from the second seed in the Western Conference.

It’s early, I know, but it’s hard to argue against the fact that the Lakers have the look of a team that is beginning to round into shape.

And after the rough start to the year that they had, it has to be an amazing feeling for James and company. While no one honestly believes that this team is going to contend in the West this season, as currently assembled, it’s hard to argue that this team isn’t improving.

That’s what LeBron-led teams do, especially the first incarnation of them – they often start off slow, and then pick up steam.

Let’s take a look at this week’s NBA Power Rankings.