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The LA Lakers are one of the favorites to win the 2021-22 NBA championship. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are entering the season with a clean bill of health, and the Lakers added a third superstar in Russell Westbrook.
After an early exit against the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, the LA Lakers overhauled their roster. In addition to Westbrook, the Lakers also added former All-Stars Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan and Rajon Rondo.
The Lakers' front office also retained Talen Horton-Tucker by giving him a three-year, $32-million extension. The team also added a mix of veteran role players in Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore and Wayne Ellington, with a couple of young guns like Malik Monk and Kendrick Nunn.
Despite making a plethora of changes, the LA Lakers are still championship contenders. There are several plots to follow as the Lakers hunt for title number 18. Here are the five most interesting storylines you need to know:
#5 Can the LA Lakers survive the early-season injury crisis?
Talen Horton-Tucker is one of the few players the LA Lakers retained during their roster overhaul. The Lakers signed him to a new contract, and it is expected that he'll have a bigger role to play in the upcoming season.
However, Horton-Tucker underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. The LA Lakers have ruled him out for four weeks. In addition to Horton-Tucker, the Lakers will be without Trevor Ariza for two months due to ankle surgery.
Injuries, especially to superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, plagued the LA Lakers last season. So it is important for the Lakers to find a way to win as many games as possible in the first month of the season, as they battle a lack of depth due to injuries.
It should be noted that Wayne Ellington, Malik Monk and Kendrick Nunn are all nursing minor injuries heading into opening night. Ellington has a Grade 1 left hamstring strain; Monk has a strained groin, while Nunn is dealing with a sprained right ankle.
#4 How long before Russell Westbrook fits in?
As part of the LA Lakers' overhaul this offseason, Russell Westbrook was acquired via trade from the Washington Wizards. The Lakers sent Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson to Washington for the former MVP and two future second-round picks.
The trade divided the LA Lakers' fanbase, as there are questions about Westbrook's fit alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Westbrook is still an elite slasher, but his shooting, or lack thereof, could be a source of problem.
As was seen in the preseason, Westbrook is going to need some time to adjust to Frank Vogel's system. He already has 15 turnovers in two games while scoring just ten points and dishing out nine assists.
Vogel would have to address the Westbrook issue immediately, or the LA Lakers could endure a tough start to the season. But considering that he's a former MVP and entering his 14th season in the NBA, do not be surprised if Westbrook quickly fits in with the 17-time champions.
#3 Will the lack of shooting and spacing haunt the LA Lakers?
The LA Lakers were one of the worst shooting teams in the NBA last season. They ranked 21st out of 30 teams on three-point shooting, at 35.4%. Their shooting woes continued in the 2021 NBA playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in six games.
Now with Russell Westbrook in the starting five, the Lakers could also have problems with their spacing. Westbrook and his lack of shooting may allow opposing defenses to clog the lane when he is off the ball. Opponents could then turn their attention to either Anthony Davis or LeBron James.
Meanwhile, in their shooting department, Wayne Ellington is the LA Lakers' only natural three-point specialist. Trevor Ariza, Carmelo Anthony, Kendrick Nunn and Malik Monk can make threes, but not on a regular basis. So Frank Vogel has to devise a plan to not just fit in Westbrook, but also improve his team's shooting.
#2 Can Anthony Davis stay healthy for the entire season?
The LA Lakers' Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the world, but he has never been able to play a full season during his career. Davis' career-high in games played in a season is 75, which he has done so twice (in 2017 and 2018) while with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Last season, Davis missed a ton of games for the LA Lakers midway through the season due to calf and heel injuries. He returned just in time for the playoffs, but suffered a strained groin in Game 4 of their first-round matchup against the Phoenix Suns. Davis returned in Game 6, but aggravated the injury and played only six minutes.
It was clear, especially in the playoffs, that the LA Lakers need a fully healthy Anthony Davis to have a shot at winning the championship. There was chatter that Davis added a few muscles in the offseason to make his body stronger. However, it remains to be seen if he can stay healthy for the entire season.
#1 How will LeBron James fare in Year 19 in the NBA?
It is a given that the LA Lakers' hunt for championship number 18 will be followed by a lot of people. However, a more interesting storyline that not many is paying attention to is: how will LeBron James fare in Year 19.
LeBron James is already 36, and he will be 37 when the 2022 NBA playoffs commence. He still had an amazing season last year, and could have been in the top three in MVP voting had he not missed games due to injury.
Father Time cannot be beaten, but LeBron has found a way to at least delay the inevitable. The injuries James has sustained in two of the past three NBA seasons with the LA Lakers are signs that his body is no longer what it once used to be.
Nevertheless, LeBron James is in much better shape than those who come before him and managed to play for 19 or more seasons in the NBA. James is a freak of nature and an all-time great athlete.
With Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook by his side, LeBron James does not need to go hard every night for the LA Lakers. He just has to show up for the most important moments of the season as he tries to earn his fifth championship ring.
Guess the Lakers players!
