The Los Angeles Lakers started the season by winning more games than expected by many and were considered as overachievers. However, even if the team was not able to sustain their good start and have lost 10 of its last 14 games, its starting point guard, D'Angelo Russell, still has high expectations for their squad.

The 20-year-old Ohio State product was recently interviewed by ESPN's Baxter Holmes and told him where he wants to see the Lakers next year and that he does not want to end with a losing record again.

“I don’t want that ever again,” Russell says. “I don’t want to come in with a losing record. I don’t want to to go to a losing team and you’ve got guys going every which way after practice — the chemistry just wasn’t there. I feel like with this team and with this organization, people want to be a part of it. People want to be Lakers. There’s just so much pressure, and some guys handle it and some guys can’t. I’ve always been a guy that, I don’t know, just attacks pressure. I want to be a part of this whole thing turning back around.I’ve seen what it was to be at its lowest point. I want to be a part of a playoff run this year … next year, Finals.”

It may be considered by many as a stretch for a young, inexperienced team to go all the way to the Finals, but if Russell wants everyone to take them seriously, his team needs to show a lot of maturity beyond their years and it has to happen soon.

Most importantly, they need to prove that they can string a lot of wins together this season and not only compete, but beat the like of the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and L.A. Clippers, who are all considered favorites to win the Western Conference not just this year but in the next few seasons.