(12-01-2025, 09:11 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: I understand that N.O. is injured and is a generally bad team. I was pointing out that this Laker team can still win without major contributions from LBJ, as long as Luka and Reaves continue to play at a high level. I never saw them going 15-4 at the start of the season, with LeBron missing a huge chunk of games to injury. However, I still think they'll have trouble beating OKC, Denver, and Houston in a playoff series if it comes down to that.
While Lakers schedule at the start of the season looked difficult at the beginning, several teams they played are actually much worse than expected (LAC, Minny, Milwaukee,...). Their November has mostly been very easy, actually. OKC looks like a team from another planet so far. I also think this athletic version of Houston with Durant is probably too good for Lakers, although it will come down a lot on how Houston centers will be able to guard Luka and Reaves and if their threes will be falling. I think Lakers are better than Denver, as they will have a really hard time defending Lakers. They will attack Jokic on every single posession.
I think this season will be very important to finish second in the regular season (OKC will be first for sure). This likely gives you a tier worse opponent in the first round and you avoid OKC until the conference finals. With a bit of luck, you can get a more favorable match-up in the second round. Lakers are now entering a stretch of more difficult games with back to back back to backs. Phoenix first (second game of the first B2B after a light workout against NO), followed by B2B against Toronto and Boston on the road. After that Philly and SA before next easier game against Utah. They also have Houston and Detroit before end of the year. December will tell a lot how strong this team really is.
It is a bit surprising that so many teams imploded in the West so soon. Sacramento, NO, Memphis, Mavs, LAC were all hoping to be much better.
Edit: as for LeBron, he has voluntarily "degraded" himself into a third option, imho. Lakers are obviously extremely protecting him with the only goal to bring him into the playoffs very fresh. There everyone hopes he will raise his defensive play a lot (I think he does have reserves). I don't think he will reach the 65 games treshold to compete for any awards and I think this is intentional with both sides agreeing to the plan. I really respect him to take such a role on this team, enabling Luka and AR to shine in full. AR will be long-term star next to Luka and his play this season will earn him a very big contract (assuming he continues the way he started) that Lakers are able to pay (and they will pay).