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Los Angeles Lakers: Two keys to winning games this year

By Lamarr Fields

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Luke Walton, laughs with the press during the Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at the UCLA Health Training Center on September 24, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Luke Walton, laughs with the press during the Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at the UCLA Health Training Center on September 24, 2018 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The NBA is officially back with all 30 teams in training camp and the preseason just around the corner. For the Los Angeles Lakers, 2018-2019 is about success.

Training camp kicked off this week for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers added a lot of new faces, the biggest one being superstar LeBron James. Adding LeBron to the mix should make the Lakers a playoff team. But there are two things the Lakers must do to be a playoff team this year.

Better defense

Last year the Lakers finished 25th in opponent points per game, giving up 109.6. That number must be better this year if the Lakers want to be a good team.

The team added some gritty defenders in the offseason. Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson will bring a hardcore defensive effort. Rondo is not the defender he once was, but he has a high IQ and knows how to play the angles. Stephenson is a total effort guy will do anything to help his team win.

The Lakers also added rim protector JaVale McGee; he adds something the Lakers did not have last year somebody to protect the rim. The two best young defenders on the Lakers team are Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram.

Ball will be an outstanding defender; i think he could be great pretty soon. He is long moves his feet and most of all he is willing. Ingram is long and athletic and proved to be a good defender; it will be hard for players to get a shot off over his long frame.

Now that brings me to LeBron James; his defense slipped over the past couple of years. I think that is due to all the ball handling responsibilities he had with the Cavs. I think this year with the many players the Lakers have to control the ball, LeBron will be great on defense once again.

Play Up Tempo

The Los Angeles Lakers have many people on the team that can push the basketball and lead the fast break. With a mixture of young and older players, i think the Lakers will look to fast break offense like the Showtime Lakers in the 1980s.

The Lakers have Lebron James, Lonzo Ball, Brandom Ingram, Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson who all can handle the ball and create offense for others. I see the Lakers getting the rebound and the rebounder outlet passing to any one of those five players to start the fast break.

Imagine Lonzo Ball pushing the ball upcourt with Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma on the wings and LeBron James, a 250 plus pound freight train, trailing or on the wing. I like the thought of that and cannot wait to see it in action.

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If the Los Angeles Lakers can do these to things effectively, I can see them making the Western Conference Finals this year. Defense is the primary key because if you play great defense, it will lead to fast break points. The defense will have to be the main focus for the Lakers this season. Remember: defense wins championships.

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