“The Los Angeles Tankers.”
That is the name LeBron James and the Lakers must embrace for the sixth consecutive season. After a slew of injuries and front office mistakes, the Lakers find themselves 11th in the West and mathematically eliminated from the playoffs following a season-crushing loss to D'Angelo Russell and the Nets.
Top to bottom, the 2018-2019 season has to be one of the most frustrating seasons in a long time. This was the year Los Angeles was supposed to return to the top of the mountain and reclaim the Western Conference.
Laker fans were hungry for competitive basketball and the anticipation to see how far James and the young core could go in the playoffs sparked what was thought to be an undying interest.
“We have LeBron James! Of course, we are making the playoffs."
That was the general sentiment and belief from Laker fans, and the season was headed in that direction until Christmas Day. LeBron James suffered a groin injury, and the team fell from the 4th seed to completely off the radar.
The next blow came when a blooming Lonzo Ball twisted his ankle against the Houston Rockets causing him to miss the rest of the season. The final and most fatal moment came from the front office's all-out bid for Anthony Davis at the trade deadline.
What started as a race to the playoffs quickly devolved into a race to draft night when the lifeless Lakers lost to the worst team in the league, the Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers currently have the 10th best odds in landing the top pick, which would presumably be Zion Williamson. Even if they do not land Williamson, they will most likely land a top ten draft pick which would be a fair reward for such a tragic season.
The Lakers must wait, recuperate and reload.
The pressure is on for Magic Johnson and General Manager Rob Pelinka this offseason concerning the draft, free agency, and the looming head coaching decision. Changes need to be made and the right ones at that. The Lakers cannot afford to make any more wrong decisions, for theirs and the team’s sake.
preview photo credited Sportsnet
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