No. 3 team in the Pacific Division: The Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers fans are going to be very upset about this, but it’s just true.
The Lakers are not the best team in this division, and not even the best in LA.
I’m not afraid of the Russell Westbrook trade at all. It’s a terrible fit when considering the court spacing for the team.
Is Westbrook a star in this league? Absolutely, and it’s not even up for much of a debate.
Is Westbrook going to want to continue being ball-dominant and aggressive in his shooting? Again, absolutely, and it’s not even up for much of a debate.
He didn’t adjust for James Harden when he joined him in Houston, proving that he’s too stubborn to adjust when playing with another ball-dominant player.
He’s going to want the ball just as much as LeBron James, and he’s going to want to take his shots just as much as James. That’s going to keep the offense from realizing its potential.
Then, I’m apparently supposed to be afraid of the retirement party they’re going to be holding for the role players they signed in the offseason.
I’m supposed to be scared of Rajon Rondo? The guy who was so bad on our team that we had to bench him?
Carmelo Anthony? I mean, Anthony can play, but his skillset is limited in what he still brings to the floor, and couldn’t even start on a Trail Blazers team who isn’t as good as any of the top four teams in our division.
There’s also Dwight Howard, who hasn’t even played 19+ minutes a game in three years. Even then, he got hurt that year.
I could go on and on about each signing they made, but most of them have something in common.
They’re all old, and some of them are washed or border-line washed at this point. The Lakers are very over-hyped by the national media as we come into this year.