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#3 Less of a reliance on LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers' much-talked-about young core never clicked alongside LeBron James last season, while veterans such as Lance Stephenson and Tyson Chandler also struggled to make an impact. However, LA's supporting cast is now among the best in the NBA, and several role players have made already made a huge impression.
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Dwight Howard, Alex Caruso, and Quinn Cook have all stepped up during their limited time on the court, and the Lakers' plus/minus is just -0.6 during the 13.4 minutes per game that LeBron has spent on the bench. This is a huge improvement compared to last season when LA quickly fell apart without their superstar on the court.
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The Lakers finally have the required strength and depth to compete, and the team is firmly on course to end their wait for a title.
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