The Los Angeles Lakers– one of the NBA‘s top three franchises (at least from a general awareness point of view). The other two franchises in that group, the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics, have a tradition of excellence, much like the Lakers themselves.
With the Bulls and the Celtics, we pretty much know what we’re going to get this season. We also what direction they’re currently moving. Can’t say the same for the L.A. Lakers though. A comprehensive rebuilding project, as is needed here, often involves a total tear down first.
Look at the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball. Cubs President Theo Epstein had to completely gut the roster before he reshaped and restocked it in his mold, and it took four years to get the project moving where it needs to be. It could take four years with the L.A. Lakers too, but for the sake of optimism, let’s call this year two. Last season the Lakers went 21-61, the worst record in franchise history. Everyone is predicting the Lake Show to finish last in the Pacific Division, and no one expects them to make the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics on the other hand, have an identity. You can sort of see a plan in place. The Celtics were a fringe playoff team last year that is slowly trying to build in the mold of their leaders, Brad Stevens and Danny Ainge, (here’s more on that).
They should finish second in the Atlantic Division this year, and they’re just a piece or two away from being in the Eastern Conference’s top four (which tells you how weak the Eastern Conference really is)
The Bulls have an identity too. They’re a team with a championship window that just closed (if it was ever really open to begin with). They are a good, solid team that will win a playoff series or two, before inevitably losing to Lebron and whoever his supporting cast is. The Bulls are not getting past Lebron, and his bunch of guys, in this lifetime of that we can be sure. (Here’s more on the Bulls direction)
Getting back to the Lake Show, NBA commentators Reggie Miller and Brent Barry did a season preview conference call today.
The Lakers were one of the myriad topics discussed.
Barry on the future of the young Los Angeles Lakers:
“This team is absolutely in flux. Who knows what they are capable of doing because there are so many dynamics going on from top to bottom; from the front office, to the team, to one of the most beloved Lakers to ever put on the uniform in Kobe Bryant. It’s a real soap opera. You have to think of the future and moving forward. How can you make sure that both [rookie point guard] D’Angelo Russell and [young power forward] Julius Randle know what they need to do and focus on this year.There is always talk of what the Lakers are and what they represent. Byron Scott [needs to tell them] they are not part of that yet. They wear the uniform. If [Russell and Randle] want to be part of what they are talking about, then they have to take strides… They have to stay in a bubble and develop. That is Byron Scott’s job, to challenge them, put them in a position to succeed, build their confidence and show flashes of the Lakers ability to be competitive sooner, rather than later.”
Julius Randle suffered a broken foot on opening night last season, so this is his rookie year. Therefore, the Lakers have two rookies who were drafted in the top 7 overall to lean on this year. Most rebuilding teams only have one lottery draft pick comprising their core, so that will be fascinating to say the least. Randle will have to play some four, while D’Angelo Russell will be expected to anchor the backcourt with Jordan Clarkson. Russell is a project though to say the least.
Nick Young, who violates one of the great Seinfeldian lessons of our time (by giving himself a nickname, you just can’t do that) is still here, even though the Lakers did all they could to shop him.
Swaggy P. is emeblematic of that fact that the Lakers haven’t completed “tear down” mode yet, and are certainly only in the nascent stages of rebuilding.
Then of course, there is the swan song of Kobe Bryant. If this is indeed his final season, which we don’t have a definitive answer on yet. He might be expected to play at the four as well. The Kobe Bryant storyline overshadows everything, and we covered that in a separate article here.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.