“What do you mean they’re eliminated?” This was probably the reaction of many casual basketball fans after hearing the news that the Los Angeles Lakers were officially eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. It was the Suns who eliminated the Lakers in last year’s playoffs, and it would be the Suns who would knock out the Lakers this year as well, this time, while the Lakers were vying for a play-in spot.
The Lakers came into this season projected to win 52 games. Sadly, they’ve only won 31 out of 79 games, and for most of the season, have been a complete mess. Why’d this happen? Well, many would say a slew of injuries, which saw coach Frank Vogel suit up 39 different starting lineups, absolutely zero chemistry, and just a cluster of emotions that went haywire on this roster.
So, this begs the question, where do the Los Angeles Lakers go from here? It won’t be easy, but this team needs a huge makeover, and that may even mean straying from LeBron. First off, this team needs to build around the emerging young stars on the roster. Austin Reeves, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, and Malik Monk are all solid pieces to build around for the future. Could the Lakers have used Alex Caruso as well, instead of losing him in free agency? Yes, but there’s no use crying over spilled milk.
Second, and I’ve always said this, management needs to change drastically. That goes for the owners too. Many a time a franchise has changed owners and the team has gotten better, or worse. In this case, the Lakers need a fresh start, a new identity. They are holding onto the past when really, they should be focusing on the future. How are they holding onto the past you may be asking? Well, their starting lineup consisted largely of players aged 34 and up this season. Enough said. The youth is where it’s at.
Third, the Lakers need to step bending and weaving to all of LeBron James’ demands. I get it, he’s top-five all-time, but he’s not a top-five GM. LeBron needs to trust his GM and coach, and let them do their jobs. This is the same thing that happened in Cleveland, as LeBron had his way with the management, and had a say in which coaches we were hired as well.
The Lakers are a global brand, and anything less than success is sacrilegious in a town like the City of Angels. They have a 3-Billion dollar TV contract, and people pay out gobs of money to come to see the games. There’s no knowing what changes are coming, but what I do know is that changes definitely need to be made.