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The 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers have some of the best basketball talents in the world. With LeBron James leading the way and Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook supporting him, they really look good on paper. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case and they continue to struggle with the season in its final stretch.
If that story looks familiar to you, though, you are not alone. NBA fans can probably still remember the disastrous 2012-12 Lakers roster. Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard teamed up to form one of the scariest Big 3 in the NBA, and like the 2021-22 LA squad, they appeared like legitimate threats on paper.
Former NBA star JJ Redick surely still remembers that team clearly, and he sees the similarity between the two Lakers rosters. In fact, in his latest appearance on ESPN's First Take, he didn't hold back in sharing his thoughts about them.
“There are some comparisons between that Lakers team in 2012-2013 and this year’s Lakers team. That was the Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Kobe Lakers team that never figured it out. And this team, again, has never figured it out. Some of that, of course, is [because] LeBron’s had some injuries, AD has some injuries, but both of these teams have just completely underperformed relative to expectations,” Redick shared.
Redick certainly makes a good point. The fact of the matter is the 2021-22 Lakers, just like the 2012-13 one, had massive expectations on them. They have all-time greats on the roster, so it should have worked out.
Unfortunately, there have been a lot of factors that went against the current Lakers team. While the 2012-13 one suffered more in chemistry issues, the 2021-22 roster never really had the chance to gel together with a plethora of health issues.
Of course Westbrook is suspect with his performances, but he has definitely shown flashes of his old brilliant self and what he can do for the Lakers.
For what it's worth, Kobe's 2012-13 Lakers still made the playoffs. Meanwhile, the current LeBron-led LA squad is in real danger of totally missing out. Without the play-in, they would already have zero chance of grabbing a playoff spot.
.@jj_redick sees comparisons between this years Lakers team to the 2012-2013 Lakers.
“That was the Steve Nash/Dwight Howard/Kobe Lakers team that never figured it out. … Both of these teams have just completely underperformed relative to expectations.” pic.twitter.com/MfR9aYaytT
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 29, 2022
After Tuesday's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Purple and Gold fell to 11th in the standings. Fortunately for them, LeBron and Davis are expected to return to the lineup soon. Hopefully, it'll be enough to win them some games and get one of the lower seeds in the West.
