Best-Case Scenario: Championship
Everyone outside the Los Angeles Lakers' fanbase may meet this with a collective eye roll. Every year, regardless of the Lakers' level of play, the media seems intent on making them a contender. Every signing, trade and individual performance is overhyped.
At times, it almost sounds like some of the mainstream voices are trying to Secret the Lakers to a championship.
But this season, there really is a chance.
It took coach Darvin Ham way too long to get to this roster's most obvious starting five, but he's finally there. And L.A. is plus-6.6 points per 100 possessions with a 99th percentile effective field-goal percentage when D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Anthony Davis are all on the floor.
With two top-10 players in LeBron and AD surrounded by plenty of shooting and playmaking, the Lakers offense is good enough for another deep playoff run. And unlike last year, they get the Nuggets in the first round, when the two superstars are likely fresher than they were for the 2023 conference finals.
Worst-Case Scenario: First-Round Exit
Of course, the Lakers are playing the Denver Nuggets in the first round. The team that swept them in the conference finals last year also went 3-0 against L.A. this regular season.
Even with AD on the roster, the Lakers just don't seem to have a single good answer for Nikola Jokić (something they have in common with every other team in the league). And Jamal Murray always seems to find an extra gear when he faces L.A.
There's a reason Denver is a pretty overwhelming favorite to advance, and the Lakers' postseason could very well end in Round 1.
