A fiasco. The term illustrates perfectly, without any exaggeration, the catastrophic season of the Los Angeles Lakers. Perhaps the worst in the history of this glorious franchise. From an accounting point of view, the Californians have already done worse than the 31 victories amassed so far (with still 3 games to play): 17 in 26 in 2016 and 2017 and… that’s all since the move from the franchise from Minneapolis to LA in 1960.
But this season leaves a terrible sense of waste and unfinished business. Because LeBron James and his teammates arrived all dapper and full of ambition, strengthened by the arrival of former MVP Russell Westbrook, in addition to Carmelo Anthony, and determined to erase the affront of last year, when they were eliminated in the first round by the Suns despite their status as defending champions. They won’t even see the playoffs. Beaten by Phoenix last night (110-121) – as a symbol – they will not even participate in the play-in! Here they are eliminated and guaranteed to finish eleventh in the Western Conference. A heresy for a team that revolves around James, eliminated at this stage of the competition for only the fourth time in almost twenty years of career.
NBA
$133 million over 4 years: Phoenix won’t let go of Ayton
07/15/2022 At 05:27
Anthony Davis may well highlight the various injuries that have punctuated the Lakers season – a refrain he was already singing to explain the exit from the road in the first round in 2021 – it does not hold. “The most frustrating thing is not having been able to develop our full potential. We don’t know what we might have become“, he said, referring to his repeated absences (39 missed matches), but also those of the King (23). Physical glitches obviously played a role, but this is the case for most teams in the league each season. Anyway, the Hollywood team was showing a negative differential even when Davis, James and Westbrook all took their places on the court (-3.5 points on 100 possessions).
A very vague and not necessarily promising future
In the end, the stars of the Lakers never found chemistry on the field. They lacked time, of course, but the profiles are in any case too little complementary. To the point where it even seems impossible to imagine the trio returning to battle next season. It doesn’t work and it won’t work until Westbrook fully realizes that he can’t just play the way he has since the start of his career. Not in such an ambitious team and certainly not alongside James. But who is even going to want to recover a 33-year-old player on the decline and paid 47 million dollars until 2023?
Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), during a success once morest the Boston Celtics – 07/12/2021
Credit: Getty Images
The leader has an option on his contract. Either he gives up the money to free himself and look elsewhere, or he certainly finds himself stuck in Los Angeles. The Lakers don’t even have draft rounds to give away to sweeten a potential trade. They are stuck. With very little room for manoeuvre. The prospects for the future are not really encouraging. LBJ remains one of the best basketball players in the world. But he will celebrate his 38th birthday in December. He is regarding to begin his twentieth professional season. His body lets go of him much more often than before. Davis knows his share of glitch every year. For now, the Lakers can just make slight roster changes, replacing reserves with other reserves and hoping one or two manages to make an impact.
The real revolution will no doubt take place elsewhere. In the organization chart. It is very likely that Frank Vogel, the coach, will not be retained. But not sure that’s the only head that falls. The vagueness reigns at the top with an owner, Jeanie Buss, advised by several different people who do not all move in the same direction. General manager Rob Pelinka is even waging a cold war in disguise through rumors launched in the media with the Klutch Sports clan, the agency that represents LeBron James. The latter, however, denied demanding the resignation of the leader. Nevertheless, it will probably be necessary to name a culprit for this resounding failure and the (poor) construction of the workforce has been much highlighted in the press throughout the season.
LeBron James for glory, success will wait
The hypothesis of a transfer from James is a fantasy. The Lakers won’t part with such a powerful superstar. It would send the wrong message. This organization has a certain status. If she has so rarely missed the playoffs, it is also because she knows how to attract the best players in the world to make them legends. The Akron native also has no interest in asking for his departure. In any case, he will be able to decide on his future destination in a year’s time. Perhaps precisely to go and join his son Bronny, if the latter ever arrives in the NBA.
LeBron James during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards, March 19, 2022
Credit: Getty Images
A goal completely assumed by LeBron. He will then leave a franchise in tatters, completely exhausted, without draft rounds, without a real solution to revive. Many picks were sacrificed to bring Anthony Davis from the Pelicans in 2019. The Lakers will not select with their own choice until… 2025. It is precisely the interior that will have to take over as leader once LBJ retired but can he afford it? Very often injured, it is difficult to imagine him bringing the franchise to the top in the long term. He has the talent, it is undeniable, but without having the character or the shoulders to assume such a status. In the meantime, James will try to overtake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the all-time leading scorer. Achieving such a feat under the Lakers tunic would give even more weight to this historic achievement. He knows it. The battle of the rings, he has already lost it. He wants to be considered the “GOAT” but directing the debate differently. Los Angeles has not finished suffering.
NBA
Embiid is officially French
07/13/2022 At 08:45
NBA
The NBA definitively validates the “play-in”
07/13/2022 At 06:58
