It’s safe to say the season has gone the opposite of what the Lakers were seeking with a new coach and some roster changes.
Aside from the new faces, everything else has remained the same — or worse. Russell Westbrook is still a questionable fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Starting, coming off the bench … it doesn’t seem to matter. Westbrook and the Lakers look miserable together.
Many in the NBA seem to think the only way for the Lakers to return to prominence is to deal Westbrook and, yes, give up their next two trade-eligible first-rounders (2027 and ’29) to do so. So far, they have resisted.
More pressing than that, of course, is winning an actual game. Entering Sunday, they were the only team in the entire NBA without having done it.
And despite being at home, things aren’t about to get any easier, not with the likes of Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets as the opponent. The Nuggets have the look of true West contenders. Right now, the Lakers aren’t even pretenders.
As an aside, the Lakers will retire the No. 99 belonging to legendary center George Mikan prior to tipoff. Perhaps his memory will give them a little extra motivation. Something’s gotta here real soon, or the season will be lost for good.
Cavs vs. Knicks
- RECORDS: Lakers 0-5; Nuggets 4-2
- TIPOFF: 9:30 p.m. EST/6:30 PST
- LOCATION: Crypto.com Arena
- TV: Spectrum SportsNet
- INJURIES: Lakers – Davis (back) questionable; James (foot) probable; Dennis Schroder (knee) out; Juan Toscano-Anderson (foot) out; Thomas Bryant (ankle) out. Nuggets – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ankle) questionable; Davon Reed (personal) questionable
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