Lakers’ deɑdly weakness that will end their chances of winning the NBA in 2024
Last season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ top big man, Anthony Davis, was furious after his team was humiliatingly swept by the Denver Nuggets, who went on to win the NBA championship. With more than 30 points, 14 rebounds, and more than seven assists per game, Nuggets standout Nikola Jokic destroyed the Lakers.
The 2023–2024 Lakers season is anticipated to begin with great anticipation. The squad re-signed Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, D’Angelo Russell, and Jarred Vanderbilt, among other notable offseason additions.
Christian Wood, a gifted power forward with a long range of shots, agile rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino from Indiana, and Gabe Vincent, a crucial former Miami Heat playoff player, are among the offseason arrivals.
Recently, LeBron James gave credit to another team for winning a professional championship. Also, the Lakers recently made a significant roster addition that hasn’t received much attention.
In 2023–2024, the Lakers Need Better Defense
With James continuing to be a star, Davis dominating both inside and outside the court, and Reaves and other supporting cast members elevating their games to new levels, the Lakers finished the previous season as one of the top ten offensive teams in the National Basketball Association.
The Lakers might easily move up from their sixth-place NBA scoring ranking this season.
On offense, Darvin Ham’s Lakers were defeated by the Celtics, Hawks, Warriors, Kings, and Thunder last season. It’s reasonable for Lakers supporters to anticipate an even better season on the offensive end of the floor this season, given the abundance of youthful talent bursting at the seams for potential career years in 2023–2024.
Who will make the big shot in the closing minutes of games is the major question for Lakers fans.
Although James has demonstrated a willingness to do so, he isn’t quite as effective late in games when he has the ball in his hands as he was when he was playing for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. Reaves is capable of making big shots late in games since he possesses the late-game skill and scoring potential. With the game on the line, James has demonstrated his willingness to put his trust in Reaves, and Reaves has delivered.
Reaves will face the best shooters from rival teams every week leading up to the playoffs, so whether or not he has a sophomore slump this season will depend on his health.
Conversely, Davis possesses the necessary skills to succeed at crunch time.
The former Kentucky standout will need to step up his game this season because Western Conference opponents have better big man talent in the shape of Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren. It might be the inspiration he needs to perform at his peak all season long in order to get ready for a postseason showdown with Jokic and the Nuggets.
Lakers Defense Must Put in a Lot of Work
In terms of defense last season, the Lakers were only 20th in the NBA. The team of Ham conceded about 117 points each contest.
Around and after the trade deadline, the team improved significantly. However, it remains to be seen if this Lakers squad can develop into an elite defensive unit, particularly considering that James doesn’t seem to be making as many impact plays on the defensive end of the court and seems to have lost a half stride in speed.
The Lakers can develop into a top defensive team if players like Davis, James, Reaves, Vanderbilt, Hachimura, and others put in the effort and make defense their own.
If not, it might prove to be their undoing, keeping them from winning the 18 NBA titles that would represent a franchise record by the time next summer arrives.