Lakers considered title favorites after landing Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis joins forces with Lebron and Lakers 

It has happened! Anthony Davis is now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Many believe that with the addition of Davis to the roster along with other pieces, Los Angeles will once again be favorites to win a title. However, I’m not entirely convinced as others are. Are the Lakers better than they were a year ago? Yes, I’d say they probably are. Are they good enough to win an NBA Championship? I’d go as far to say as that’s doubtful. Very doubtful. Davis will certainly provide a major lift, but one thing we don’t know is how long it will take this team to gel once the season gets underway. Chemistry takes time to develop and it doesn’t happen overnight. Hollywood is usually full of great drama. After all, drama makes things interesting. There was plenty of drama on and off the court for the Lakers last season.

Will that drama continue once the 2019-2020 season kicks off? Hard to say. However, anyone expecting Los Angeles to come out like gangbusters may be sorely disappointed. As I said, chemistry takes time and practicing is nothing compared to big time moments and in-game situations.

What Davis brings to the Lakers

Pairing Lebron James and Anthony Davis together was supposed to have happened last season, but Davis’ former squad the New Orleans Pelicans, were reluctant to acquiesce his request. Time has a way of changing things apparently. Davis is a perennial all-star talent boasting a 7’6 wingspan, an average of 25 points per game along with twelve rebounds a game, while shooting 51% from the floor at the power forward position. For a team desperate to make the playoffs after a six year drought Davis is a significant improvement to the roster. Davis will be a big help to James. When Lebron is not on the floor AD will be able to sustain the offense as a second option. He’ll also provide an anchor defensively. To make a long story short the Lakers will be better than they were a year ago.

Could they be so much better they end up making the playoffs? Perhaps, perhaps not. Speaking of which, the Lakers haven’t made the playoffs in six long years. In a city like Los Angeles a city rife with expectations, six years without a playoff appearance is unacceptable. In addition, not only did they miss the postseason, but it marked just the second time in LBJ’s career he  ad missed the playoffs. The last time that happened was back during the 2004-05 season, James’ second year in the league. Also, did I forget to mention it also ended Lebron’s run of eight straight NBA Final appearances? Yeah, that happened too.

Throwing things against the wall to see what sticks

There was an idea last season when Lebron James committed to the Lakers. LA had a great young core that was slowly beginning to develop and the theory was these young players would benefit from James’ experience and leadership qualities. He could help make them better. Expectations were high and many fans envisioned a return to the “showtime” era of Laker basketball. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. While the young core showed great promise it was the rest of the roster choices that baffled many. Those choices surrounded Lebron with a bevvy of savvy veterans who would serve as play-makers. The major problem was that the team lacked shooting! Defense is great and will help you win, but if you can’t put up points in today’s NBA then you have zero chance! That’s the reality in this generation of professional basketball.

A year later not much has changed. Luke Walton did a lot of tinkering with the roster last season. Only time will tell what new head coach Frank Vogel will do with his lineup. There are a number of possibilities. Here’s the projected Lakers starting lineup for the 2019-20 campaign: Lebron James at point guard, Danny Green at shooting guard, Kyle Kuzma at small forward, Anthony Davis at power forward and DeMarcus Cousins at center. That’s a bit of change and offers the purple and gold a little more depth. While that’s all well and good trading so much of their young core may wind up biting the Lakers in the hind end when it’s all said and done.

Don’t sleep on the Clippers

While the Lakers may have gotten their man in Davis, there’s also another team in Los Angeles that made a blockbuster move. Yes, the “other” LA team the Clippers will be nothing to sneeze at. After taking Golden State to six games in the playoffs last season the Clips have improved their roster by adding both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Yes, you read that right! Not one, but two elite talents have joined an already talented roster. Perhaps, the most shocking thing is that Lebron and company thought they had a chance to land Leonard in addition to Davis. Obviously, that didn’t happen. With Leonard coming from the Raptors the team he helped guide to an NBA championship and George coming from the Thunder a wrench has certainly been thrown into the Lakers title hopes.

Lebron and Davis may be the better duo, but the Clippers are unquestionably the better team! Don’t sleep on the Clippers this season. The west is wide open and this could be a potential playoff preview. Buckle up!