Golden State Warriors: Pacific Division Preview

Los Angeles Lakers

Next, I’ll be talking about the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NBA. However, the Lakers have experienced some unusual down years to fans due to the loss of key pieces and injuries to one of the best players to ever step foot on the basketball court in Kobe Bryant, who just retired this past year.

The Lakers, in a way, are starting out how the Warriors were a few years ago. Awful, but getting high draft picks year after year. This year, they’ll roll out a possible lineup of D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr. Now, that’s a young starting five with a lot of potential. Russell and Clarkson are slowly showing signs they could become a fantastic backcourt if they stay healthy.

Ingram has already been dubbed as the “next KD,” so we’ll see how that turns out. Randle has been slowed by injuries in his first couple years, but he’s a solid, young player, who is a little bit like Green and Zach Randolph of the Memphis Grizzlies in terms of game and physical stature. Nance Jr. is a good, young big, who is a dirty work player and loves to rebound.

Over the past few seasons, the Warriors have took the Lakers to task, although, the Lakers showed last year in March that anything can happen and handed them one of their nine losses during the regular season. I expect the Warriors to roll over the Lakers, but not without them giving them a full game effort. The Lakers might keep a game or two close in the first half, but with the talent the Warriors have, they should cruise in the second half of the games they play.

I expect the Lakers to be 27-55 after the conclusion of the regular season and to finish 14th in the West.