This season was been a frustrating disappointment for the Los Angeles Lakers, but even though they hold a mediocre 28-26 record, they have had some moments of scattered excellence.
They won the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament with plenty of ease, and lately, they may be perking up again. They have won four of their last five games, and their offense has been putting up big numbers, both in terms of points and efficiency, over the last few weeks.
The team has signed veteran guard Spencer Dinwiddie after he was waived by the Toronto Raptors. While Dinwiddie has his flaws, he could also make a noticeable impact if he’s used properly.
He said L.A. is capable of rising “to a level that no other team can get to,” something which has happened at times this year (h/t Lakers Daily).
Spencer Dinwiddie on how he has viewed the Lakers from afar: pic.twitter.com/emG18gkWAg
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) February 12, 2024
While the Lakers have lost many games to seemingly inferior teams, usually in blowout fashion, they have also defeated many teams with better records, including the Boston Celtics (without LeBron James and Anthony Davis), Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks.
That type of team has to be taken seriously as long as it manages to get hot down the stretch and make it to the playoffs in one piece, as the Lakers did last year. In fact, if it happens again, no one will want to face them in the postseason.
Via ESPN:
“I don’t want any piece of them in the playoffs,” a Western Conference executive told ESPN this week.
Between now and late March, only four of the Lakers’ next 17 games will take place away from Crypto.com Arena.