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Los Angeles Lakers: How LA matches up against the best in the West

By Jason Reed

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Anthony Davis (left) #3 sits next to LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Anthony Davis (left) #3 sits next to LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Utah Jazz

Yes, I have the Utah Jazz on this list, which means that the Denver Nuggets did not make the cut. In fact, I think that the 2018 Western Conference’s second seed will finish with the fifth seed this season.

Pros:

The first thing that jumps off the page for the Utah Jazz is their three-point shooting. While they have some solid three-point shooters that can hold their own, the Lakers do appear to have a slight edge when it comes to shooting the basketball.

New additions Mike Conley and Bogdan Bogdanovic are good shooters but they are not above-average. The team’s best remaining three-point shooter from last season is Joe Ingles as the team lost Kyle Korver. Donovan Mitchell, too, is a 36 percent three-point shooter.

Danny Green leads the way for the Lakers in shooting with a 45.5 three-point percentage a year ago. Avery Bradley was once a big threat from three and could shoot 39 percent, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a textbook three and D guy and even Davis and LeBron can space the floor efficiently.

Cons:

The Lakers are not going to have the size advantage over the Jazz that they have over other teams. While the Lakers have slightly more size at forward, the Jazz have the two-time defending Defensive Player of the year anchoring the basket in Rudy Gobert.

Having Gobert is going to take away some of the Lakers’ inside game, which is going to be a big part of their plan with Davis and LeBron, who always drive to the basket.

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