The Los Angeles Lakers closed out 2021 with a loud bang, thanks to an emphatic win over the Portland Trail Blazers. They were dominant from the tip-off and never trailed in the game.

Los Angeles was firing on all facets of the game, bringing defensive intensity and effort. Offensively, there was more motion and fluidity, making them hard to stop. This led to their 139-106 victory, which was their best performance so far this campaign.

While the Lakers are 18-19 on the season, they are only one game behind the fifth seed in the Western Conference. With that said, a complete turnaround is very much likely, especially after their big win over the Blazers.

Here are three reasons for that:

3. Russell Westbrook Is Finding His Groove

Russell Westbrook has picked up his game following a disappointing Christmas Day performance. Westbrook is averaging 19.5 points per game, along with 8.2 rebounds and 8.4 assists. He has accumulated four straight triple-doubles and contributed to winning basketball.

Against the Blazers, he had 15 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists and two steals. His effort on the boards has been vital, especially with the Lakers running LeBron James at center. Many have disputed whether the Westbrook trade was worth it, but if he keeps playing like this, those talks should disappear soon.

2. Lakers Are Almost Fully Healthy

The Lakers are now almost fully healthy with everyone out of health and safety protocols. Head coach Frank Vogel returned against the Blazers along with Trevor Ariza and Austin Reaves. With all of their role players back, Los Angeles looked way better on both ends of the court.

“We're getting our glue guys back. Our glue guys like Austin Reaves, Avery Bradley, Trevor Ariza, all our guys that kind of like, they do the dirty work for us, and that's something we was missing when those guys were in protocol,” LeBron commended on the importance of key players returning, via LA Times.

James went on to highlight how Stanley Johnson has brought defensive toughness to the wing position. Johnson has played well and may have earned himself a roster spot with his 10-day contract set to expire in the next few days.

LeBron at center allows the Lakers to switch defensively, and with their wing defenders healthy, the defense can be very effective. The Purple and Gold will be even more dynamic when Anthony Davis returns from his injury.

They are also expected to soon get guard Kendrick Nunn, who has yet to play this season. Nunn is expected to be a sparkplug scorer for the team. Last season with the Miami Heat, the 26-year-old guard averaged 14.6 points per game while shooting 38.1 percent from behind the arc.

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It is also worth noting that chemistry between Malik Monk and LeBron has been tremendous, with the former bringing another scoring element to the team.

With the way things are trending, the Lakers will be tough to beat when they get even more healthy.

1. LeBron James' MVP Play

LeBron is one of the greatest players of all time, and he is having another fantastic campaign. Following his 37th birthday on Thursday, LeBron went out and dominated. He finished with 43 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals, two blocks and zero turnover. This stat line is even more impressive when you consider that he only played 29 minutes in the game.

James missed games earlier in the season due to injury but has been on another level since returning. He is averaging 28.6 points per game paired with 7.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists. He is the second-leading scorer in the NBA, only trailing Kevin Durant. LeBron has also picked up his defense this season, which shows in his numbers with 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game.

His shot from deep has been on fire of late, improving his shooting clip to 37.6 percent from that range on the season. The Lakers haven't been able to get in a rhythm, but LeBron has continued to play at a high level. With core pieces returning, Los Angeles has an excellent opportunity to get going.

If they get rolling and integrate Nunn and Davis into the lineup when they are healthy, the Lakers will be right back to title contention.