Lakers Rolling, But Still Looking To Find Another Gear Amid Streak

November 20, 2024

Are the Lakers worth the hype? It’s easy to wonder. At the very least, they find themselves in an intriguing position.

At 10-4, they’re sitting comfortably in third place in the Western Conference standings and boast an undefeated record at home. They’ve won six straight after back-to-back road losses to the Pistons and Grizzlies. That’s the good news.

The not-so-good news? Despite their record, the Lakers have yet to show they can consistently dominate opponents. They’ve faced just four playoff teams from last season in their first 14 games — the Timberwolves, Suns (twice), 76ers, Pelicans. And the Sixers and Pelicans are a shell of themselves.

Anthony Davis has been a revelation under first-year head coach JJ Redick. Davis is playing some of the best basketball of his career, leading the charge on both ends of the floor.

Meanwhile, LeBron James has taken a step back in usage — though not in impact. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer is thriving in a role that emphasizes his elite playmaking. Still, questions remain about this team’s ability to deliver knockout blows.

Through 14 games, the Lakers have just one win by more than 10 points, but three losses of at least that margin. That inconsistency has led to a pedestrian plus-1.3 point differential, ninth-best in the West and far from elite territory.

Sure, part of that can be attributed to the early-season adjustments under Redick and some favorable scheduling. But if the Lakers want to elevate into the true contender conversation, they’ll need to find another gear.

Right now, they look solid, but not quite scary. In a conference loaded with potential powerhouses such as Denver, Dallas, and Phoenix, it’s fair to wonder if the Lakers are really built for a deep playoff run — or just a good regular season.