Determining whether the Los Angeles Lakers are legitimate title contenders this season remains challenging, writes Law Murray of The Athletic.
Los Angeles entered the All-Star break with a 33-21 record, but the team has rarely been at full strength, as Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves have shared the court in only 10 games.
All three stars have missed extended time due to injuries, with Doncic sidelined for 12 games, James for 18, and Reaves for 26.
The lack of continuity has made it difficult to fully evaluate the team’s ceiling despite its strong position in the standings.
Although the Lakers sit 12 games above .500, underlying numbers raise some questions about their sustainability.
The team owns a negative point differential and has relied heavily on late-game execution, compiling a league-best 15-3 record in clutch situations to build its winning record.
Lakers Notes: Doncic, Injuries, Ayton, Front Office https://t.co/S6gAGNUa1V pic.twitter.com/IvPoYcPdod
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