Los Angeles Lakers: Midway through the season, it’s been a success
Midway through the 2018-19 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers have been better than expected this season
At the mid-way portion of the 2018-19 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers may only be four games over .500 and sitting in the 8th spot of the Western Conference, I don’t think anyone would argue that this season hasn’t been a success.
There were many questions about this roster surrounding the arrival of LeBron James during the summer. After all, the team failed to secure a second star after signing LeBron, and while their young players have shown flashes of potential, they’re not exactly budding superstars.
Entering this season, many expected for the Lakers to make the playoffs but not much else. For the first time in a long time, there wasn’t the expectations that LeBron would factor into the NBA Finals.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
However, before LeBron’s injury on Christmas Day, the Lakers were on pace to do everything but that. On Christmas Day, the Lakers were 19-14 and tied for the 4th seed in the West. They were also only 3.5 games back of the top seed.
If you had told me they would be that close to the top at that point in the season, I’d say you were lying. Or didn’t believe that prediction.
Nevertheless, the LeBron effect has been real for the Lakers this season. Lonzo Ball may not be averaging more points this season (compared to his rookie year) but he is shooting a better percentage from both the field overall and 3-point range. Tyson Chandler was a great in-season addition, and solidified this team’s depth at the center position.
Josh Hart has continued to be a pleasant surprise for this team, and has taken another step this season for the Lakers. While Brandon Ingram has talent a bit of a dip in terms of efficiency this season, he’s still arguably the second best player on this roster.
Kyle Kuzma has been the second most productive this season, though, as he continues to impress after being somewhat of an afterthought in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Despite sitting in the 8th seed at this point in the season, the Lakers have been better than expected. As LeBron is expected to miss another few games, it should be noted that the team is 3-5 in his absence.
Even though they’ve struggled without him, the Lakers are still only two games back from the 4th seed. If they are only two games back of hosting a first-round playoff series when LeBron comes back, that has to be viewed as a win for this team.
Related Story. The Milwaukee Bucks aren’t an NBA Championship contender just yet. light
The Los Angeles Lakers have been a success this season, and as the NBA Trade Deadline approaches there’s still the chance this roster can improve. Perhaps a Western Conference Finals appearance isn’t out of the realm of possibility after all.