The Los Angeles Lakers are not (yet) among the favorites this seasons, though first-year head Luke Walton has proven something Byron Scott couldn’t do – motivate and blend available resources. One of the key elements taken out from last season was Kobe Bryant.
The future NBA Hall of Famer retired and the move had many speculating a team likely to be whipping boys in the early goings. So far, the Lakers have proven otherwise.
The Lakers don’t have a certified superstar as of yet but could soon have one. Sophomore D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle have been doing great, two stars who were notably frustrated with Scott last season. But the Lakers story goes beyond that, NESN reported.
Luke Walton himself believes that the key to their success so far has been their bench support. It is a mix of old and new but the thing here is that Walton has found a way to blend in everyone. The only other team that could be sensible to compare is the Los Angeles Clippers, another team that has been on fire, the Los Angeles Times reported.
For the Lakers, Walton undoubtedly deserves much of the credit. He didn’t do much to change the roster and yet the Lakers have found a way to race to an early 7-6 record. The performance alone is appalling considering the purple and gold were below .500 at this early stage the past two years.
Lou Williams has been utilized perfectly and Nick Young has become useful once more. Jordan Clarkson is his old self while others like Larry Nance Jr., Tarik Black, and rookie Brandon Ingram have player their role to the letter. A playoff spot is the best the Los Angeles Lakers can aim for and at the rate they are going, the chances are certainly looking bright.