LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: There is nothing more to prove for the Lakers

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, 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 Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, 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 Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Los Angeles Lakers have been historically great thus far this season and after taking some criticism, the team no longer has to prove how good it really is.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been phenomenal thus far this season and with the NBA season over the quarter-mark, it is safe to say that we have a relatively decent idea of how the rest of the season is going to pan out.

There is going to be some variance here and there but we know the teams that have a legit shot of winning the NBA Championship and the teams that are on the outside looking in. We also know that in terms of being a regular-season team, the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks will probably be the best.

The Lakers and Bucks have been nothing short of excellent and both hold a 23-3 record through 26 games. If this trend continues, which it will eventually come down to earth, both teams will finish with 72 wins, the second-most all-time.

More from LA Sports Hub

Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ hot start, the team received criticism from the NBA community for not playing any tough games. And to be fair, the team’s early-season schedule was a bit padded and it definitely did help this new group gel together and figure out it’s footing.

However, the Lakers have had several very impressive wins this season both at home and on the road that simply cannot be ignored. They are not just beating bad teams, they are blowing out bad teams; they are not struggling against contending teams as they are beating them as well.

This was evident on Friday as the Lakers went into Miami and became the first team all season to hand the Heat a loss on their home court. Keep in mind, this is also the second game of a five-game road trip for the Lakers, who were trailing by eight points at the half.

This is the second time the Lakers have beaten the Heat with the first being a blowout and the team has also blown out the Utah Jazz and handled the Denver Nuggets on back-to-back days.

There is nothing more for this team to prove in the regular season. The story is different in the postseason and the Lakers cannot take anything for granted as the Los Angeles Clippers very well could beat the Lakers in a seven-game playoff series.

However, the Lakers have already proven that they have the best resume to be the top seed in the Western Conference and in the NBA. The duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, both of which have been two of the five best players in the league this season, has looked unstoppable.

Whether it is LeBron’s facilitating and ability to get to the rim or Davis’ consistent presence in the low post, the Lakers have been able to score and have actually improved immensely on the offensive side of the ball. An uptick in the three-point shooting has been the cause, as the Lakers went from the bottom-third to fifth in three-point percentage.

Defensively the Los Angeles Lakers are stout as well and are better than even the biggest believers anticipated. Davis is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Danny Green and Avery Bradley play great perimeter defense and LeBron James is showing more effort on the defensive end than he has in years past.

They’ve blown teams out, they’ve won overtime games, they’ve won on the road, they’ve won at home, they’ve won in back-to-backs, they’ve beaten bad teams and they have beaten great teams.

Next. Lakers have more impressive wins than the Clippers. dark

There is nothing left for the Los Angeles Lakers to prove until the playoffs roll around and we can firmly stand here today and say that the Lakers will be the top seed in the Western Conference this season.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers