When the roster for the 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers was assembled, it made them one of the oldest teams in NBA history. Nine players were older than 30 and five were 35 or older.
Some on the team, including LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, its two oldest players, insisted their advanced age wouldn’t be a problem and it would actually help.
Well, it has been a problem. Multiple players, including forwards Trevor Ariza and Carmelo Anthony and center DeAndre Jordan, proved washed up or close to it.
But lately, there has been a change in Lakersland. Jordan was waived. Ariza is in the doghouse, and head coach Frank Vogel has been giving major playing time to three young players who, when the season started, looked like fringe NBA players at best.
It has taken a while, but the team as a whole has shown better energy and toughness in recent days. They defeated the Toronto Raptors, a squad that has been hot the last two months, on Friday, then beat another playoff-bound team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Monday.
Even when L.A. lost to the struggling Washington Wizards on Saturday, it looked very good for most of the first three quarters of the contest.