NBA Opening Night: Lakers, Nuggets square off; Key matchup to watch

A Los Angeles Lakers primer

LeBron James will be entering season number 21 in the NBA and this will be an important season for him concerning his legacy. He has already broken the NBA’s all-time scoring record and has four titles on his Hall of Fame resume.

The Lakers realize that the window of opportunity will only be open for a few more seasons concerning James and they have to believe that general manager Rob Pelinka constructed a roster good enough to get them over the hump. Once again everything will begin with Davis. He is the one who the Lakers will depend on to carry them through.

It is well documented how injuries have plagued Davis over the years and it’s imperative that he remains healthy When he is healthy, Davis is one of the best big men in the league and is capable of dominating a game for four quarters. In order to take down the Nuggets Davis will have to be at his best. Pelinka really did his due diligence as he signed some key players who should fit in and contribute immediately.

The Lakers were finished at the bottom of every 3-point shooting category last season so Pelinka signed Cam Reddish and Gabe Vincent to help improve the team in that area. Size and depth in the frontcourt were also added with the additions of Christian Wood and Jaxon Hayes. The Lakers have two dynamic big men to choose from whenever Davis goes to the bench depending on need. While Wood can stretch the floor, rebound effectively, and run the pick and roll, Hayes is more of a defensive presence but is also dangerous in the open floor in transition.

The Lakers will need all of the help they can get when it comes to defending Jokic. Jokic is dangerous because he makes the players around him better and he doesn’t have to score to have an impact. This game is an important one for the Lakers because they know that they have to get past the defending champs in order to accomplish their own lofty expectations.