Are the Lakers as Average as Their Record?

If the playoffs were held today, the Lakers would cop the sixth spot in the Western Conference and avoid having to compete in the play-in tournament reserved for teams seven through ten. But that is a small consolation for a team that was predicted to do damage this season and rebound from a disappointing 2020-2021 campaign last year that ended in a first-round exit to the Phoenix Suns. 

And many are wondering why LeBron’s Lakers are so lackadaisical? It’s similar to what happened last year as they seemed to meander through the truncated season without a care in the world. They ended in seventh place and had to expend energy in the play-in before drawing the Suns in the opening round. It appeared as though the regular season was treated as an afterthought and it was all about staying as healthy as possible for the postseason. But when it did arrive, they still weren’t able to stay healthy.

Is it happening all over again? At 13-12, this is not the team that their opponents fear and the deal that brought former MVP, Russell Westbrook, to Los Angeles hasn’t really worked out – so far anyway. And while no one is expecting the Lakers to win every night, what fans do expect is that they will blow out, or at least beat, low-level teams like Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and Sacramento. 

Well, the stunner is that LA has lost to all of those teams already this season and Oklahoma City twice! Those clubs bring a combined record of 30-44 to the table and yet the Lakers lost four times to those three bottom-tier squads. But yet, they eyed the Celtics coming to town, another underachieving club but one that had already defeated the Lakers, 130-108, in Boston, and they were loaded for leprechauns, sending the boys from Beantown home with a 117-102 loss. 

Perhaps that December 7th beatdown of Boston will be a turning point for Los Angeles. Those who like to put their money where their mouth is will be interested to note the NBA betting lines in that Celtics versus Lakers game at the Staples Center opened with LA as 2.5 point favorites but that rose to LA -4 by the time the game tipped. That line shift reflected plenty of sharp money on the Lakers and it proved to be accurate after they defeated the Green by 15 points. 

Speaking of betting basketball, the Lakers will be playing five of their next six games on the road and open as 3 ½ point favorites in Memphis on Thursday night. If you’re hoping they snap out of it and start cashing at the windows, you should note that LA owns the worst ATS (Against The Spread) record in the league entering their date with the Grizzlies.

Los Angeles has failed to cover in 9 of 16 games and are busting the bankrolls of their backers. However, over the next week, the Lakers hope to get well as they will have a couple of cupcakes on that schedule including Orlando and Oklahoma City.

Is Westbrook the Lakers Problem?

There has been plenty of speculation that LeBron is not digging his new teammate which could be the genesis of the Lakers’ issues this season. Russell Westbrook was acquired via trade in the offseason and was supposed to be the third head of the three-headed monster, along with LeBron and Anthony Davis, in Los Angeles this season. And although he is one of the most accomplished players in the game, it hasn’t been a seamless fit by any stretch.

Shaquille O’Neal commented on Westbrook’s ability to develop chemistry with LeBron and AD, “He is going to have to figure out ways to make an impact without being on the ball all the time. His whole career, he has been either number one or number two, now he is number three or four. I agree with Chuck, he has to push the pace. When they miss, he should be the first one on the court trying to get layups. When he gets the ball, he should be aggressive.”

O’Neal also commented on one of Westbrook’s earlier performances this season when he bucketed 33 points in a 125-121 overtime win against San Antonio, “The only reason why he had 33 points is ’cause he took 27 shots. Now when LeBron has the ball all the time and is throwing it to AD, he is not going to be able to get 27 shots. So again, he is going to have to find a way to make an impact on the game without having the ball all the time.”

But recently Russ has gotten into a groove and could be turning it around as the Lakers’ point guard who is supposed to be effectuating ball transition and quarterbacking the offense. In LA’s most recent win, the 117-102 victory over Boston, Westbrook shot 56.3 percent from the floor with 24 points, 11 assists, and three boards to go along with one steal. 

That’s the production the Lakers were anticipating when they made the deal for him and if he keeps on doing that, the Lakers will be rapidly climbing the standings and could be contending for an NBA title in June.