Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers remain the favorites to repeat as champions going into this season. The legacy of Kobe Bryant is still felt in the hearts and minds of all those who bleed purple and gold. The Black Mamba never dies and was no doubt watching over the Lakers team that brought an NBA championship to Los Angeles.
The pressure is now on to repeat as champions and with a revamped roster, the Lakers look poised for years of playoff success. The extensions signed by both LeBron James and Anthony Davis gives the team the assurance of having two top 5 players to build around for the foreseeable future. The offseason additions of Marc Gasol, Montrezl Harrell, Wesley Matthews, Alfonzo McKinnie, and Dennis Schroder give the team more options on the perimeter and in the paint.
Montrezl Harrell will play with his trademark energy and give James a great option to pass to in the paint. Marc Gasol will give the team a great passing center that can protect the paint and allow Anthony Davis to play at power forward and not have to take the physical beating of guarding centers on a nightly basis.
Dennis Schroder gives the team a great change of pace guard that can take some of the ball-handling responsibilities off of James and create for his teammates. A young player to watch out for this season is Talen Horton-Tucker who has looked amazing in preseason action and could become a part of the rotation if he continues to show rapid improvement.
The Lakers will miss the defensive instincts and passing that Rajon Rondo provided for them last season but should be able to overcome it with their great offseason additions. James remains at the top of the game entering his 18th NBA season with no signs of slowing down.
Anthony Davis showed his amazing two-way play and defensive versatility throughout the postseason and should be even better in his second season playing with James. James and Davis remain the best duo in the NBA and should lead the Lakers through another championship season.