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This season has been unlike anything anyone on the Los Angeles Lakers' squad or a Lakers fan could have predicted. Everyone anticipated this Lakers squad to win an NBA title coming into the year, and it appears like they will have a difficult time accomplishing that goal.
They just haven't been playing good basketball this season, and there are a variety of reasons for why. It might be because they haven't been healthy, or because their front office did a poor job bringing in players who can play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis during the last offseason. One of the biggest reasons for their struggles has been their inability to stay healthy; however, if they can stay healthy for the rest of the season, they are a squad that should be able to establish some cohesion and ultimately start playing the brand of basketball that everyone expected.
People may dispute it all they want, but with a player like LeBron James on your team, you'll be a team that no one wants to face in the playoffs, and you'll almost likely win an NBA championship.
Let's look at three reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers, while not playing very well this season, still have a chance to win an NBA championship.
Winning an NBA title is never easy. As we have seen with the past 20 champions, every team is going to need something significant to go their way. Whether that is an unfortunate injury to someone, or having guys on the roster step up more than they ever have. There is a reason why winning a championship is so hard, and a reason why we have seen crazy upsets in the past. If a team is going to win a title, they’re going to need everyone on their roster to be playing the best basketball they possibly can, and even sometimes that isn’t enough to get the job done.
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Lakers Western Conference
3. Russell Westbrook has to figure it out at some point, right?
Russell Westbrook has struggled this season. There's simply no other way to put it than he hasn't been playing very good basketball lately. He is one of those players that is undoubtedly one of the best point guards of all time, but his current brand of basketball is unacceptable.
The issue now for Russell Westbrook is whether or not he can turn things around. After the All-Star break and before the playoffs, he'll still have the second half of the season, and Los Angeles will hope that he can turn things around and be the huge contributor that he was anticipated to be for this Lakers squad.
2. They've all been there before
The Los Angeles Lakers' front office did a bad job of bringing in players that can assist LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which is one of the main reasons for their lack of success this season. Obviously, no one anticipated Russell Westbrook to be playing the caliber of basketball he is now when they signed him. He's just not performing well this season for whatever reason. There truly isn't any other way to say it.
However, given the current Lakers squad, they must put a lot of faith in individuals with a lot of postseason experience to get the job done. Yes, many of them are past their prime, but that doesn't rule out that their experience will help them in the playoffs.
Almost every player on the Lakers' roster has played in a tough playoff series before, and they know how to maintain their composure and get the job done. This might be very useful to the Lakers in the long run, and while it isn't benefiting them right now, it could in the future.
1. LeBron James is still LeBron James
Look, the Los Angeles Lakers will need LeBron James to be the best player on the planet if they want to win an NBA championship. Even if he is the best player in the world, the Lakers' chances of winning an NBA title are still slim, given how bad the season has been. If the Lakers are going to win an NBA championship, it will be because other players will step up and LeBron will be the best player on the planet.
There's no arguing that LeBron James is still a top-three player in basketball, even at his age. For his age, the way he goes out there and plays is incredible, and he'll be a key reason why the Lakers have any success in the playoffs if they make it that far.
At the end of the day, you can tell the Golden State Warriors or the Phoenix Suns that they'll be meeting the Los Angeles Lakers, and regardless of how horrible they've looked for parts this season, none of those teams will be delighted or excited to face LeBron James. LeBron is still LeBron, and if the Lakers are to have any success in the playoffs, he'll have to keep being that sort of player.
