There is plenty of hype surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers going into the 2018-19 NBA season. However, head coach Luke Walton is not even looking as far ahead as the postseason.
In fact, he insists none of the players have brought it up. According to Anthony Irwin of Silver Screen And Roll, Walton feels it is far too early to start discussing playoff expectations:
“The playoffs?” Walton asked, bemusedly. “You want me talking about what? … We are so far from the playoffs. We’re not even talking about the playoffs at all. We’re just talking about what we need to do now and the habits we need to build.”
Walton's response should come as no surprise. He is understandably taking things one day at a time, as is the case with any new team. However, it is clear that this is no ordinary squad.
The arrival of star forward LeBron James has turned the Lakers from a rebuilding franchise to a potential Western Conference powerhouse. Furthermore, it is a known fact that the team with James has a chance of competing for a championship. Just ask any team in the Eastern Conference over the last eight years.
Regardless, it is safe to say that the Lakers are in a unique position. It could take some time for their unique blend of personnel to get on the same page. This could be why Walton seems to be taking a rather patient approach to the season. However, this will likely not prevent him or the players from receiving questions about playoff expectations in the near future.
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