Are the Lakers Really Title Contenders?

Let’s take a moment to reflect. The Lakers, as of now, are not in the running for the NBA title.

At least, that’s the reality we have to face.

Please, don’t be misled. Even though there was a hope they could make a deep playoff run, it’s pretty clear they still have a long way to go.

Yes, they recently snagged a win against the Dallas Mavericks—marking their third victory in four games—boosting their record to 27-17. But, they’re still struggling within a crowded Western Conference, closely competing with several other teams.

Injuries have certainly played a role in their struggles. LeBron James missed the start of the season due to sciatica, and Austin Reeves has hardly contributed this season, appearing in just two games since mid-December due to a calf issue.

Moreover, in the 44 games they’ve played, their top three players—Reaves, James, and Luka Doncic—have only played together in eight of those games. That’s really tough luck.

Speaking of Doncic, having an MVP-caliber player like him on the roster is crucial for title contenders. Yet, despite this asset, the Lakers still aren’t there yet.

Other teams like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Spurs seem much more equipped for a title run. The lack of defensive consistency is a significant issue; currently, the Lakers sit at 25th in the league for defense, which isn’t cutting it. However, some recent performances suggest they’re starting to improve, albeit slowly.

As for their defensive play, they’re good but not great. Ranked ninth offensively, they still fall short of what you’d expect from a team with stars like Doncic and James. There simply isn’t enough balance on both ends of the court.

In terms of execution, consistency is a problem. Of their 17 losses, 15 were by double digits, highlighting their performance issues. Usually, point differentials can tell you more about a team’s quality than just the win-loss record.

So, what does it take to be a genuine contender? Well, consistency is key. The Lakers seem to be figuring themselves out still, night by night.

“Effort and execution are probably the two biggest things for the whole group,” Lakers coach JJ Redick remarked recently. “We’ve shown that we can execute on both fronts; we just need to be consistent.”

On a brighter note, while the Lakers have their share of evident flaws, they’re somewhat closer to being title contenders than it might seem.

For them to make that jump from pretender to contender, a few things must happen:

First, while Reeves is nearing a return, he won’t be starting alongside Doncic, James, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton just yet. Although he played only a small number of minutes, that lineup had a rough start earlier in the season.

Currently, the lineup featuring Marcus Smart and Jake LaRabia instead of Reaves and Hachimura has its flaws, but it’s somewhat balanced. Smart has been the best defender for the team this season, and ideally, he would take Hachimura’s starting spot when healthy.

It’s unfortunate that the lineup with Doncic, Reaves, Smart, James, and Ayton has seen so little time together.

Offensively, the Lakers need to be at an elite level. Even if the current lineup is more balanced, being just good isn’t enough for a team that struggles defensively.

If they can consistently execute their offensive sets, that’s when they’ll find their best form.

In the end, the Lakers are not as far from championship contention as many are led to believe. However, without addressing their clear shortcomings, we could be revisiting this conversation about their struggles again come May.