Head Coach: Frank Vogel (1st Season)
Record: 49-14 (1st in Western Conference)
All-Stars: 2 (Anthony Davis – 7th, LeBron James – 16th)
Scoring Leaders: Anthony Davis (26.7 PPG), LeBron James (25.7 PPG), Kyle Kuzma (12.5 PPG)
Rebounding Leaders: Anthony Davis (9.4 RPG), LeBron James (7.9 RPG), Dwight Howard (7.4 RPG)
Assists Leaders: LeBron James (10.6 APG), Rajon Rondo (5.0 APG), Anthony Davis (3.1 APG)
Offense: 114.3 Points Scored/Game (7th)
Defense: 106.9 Points Allowed/Game (3rd)
Key Wins: Clippers (112-103, Mar. 8), Bucks (113-103, Mar. 6), Celics (114-112, Feb. 23), Rockets (124-115, Jan. 18), Heat (113-110, Dec. 13), Mavericks (119-110, OT, Nov. 1) Nuggets (120-116, OT, Feb. 12)
Season Summary: The Lakers were highly touted headed into the season. With the addition of Anthony Davis and new head coach Frank Vogel, Los Angeles took the right steps to make a championship run. The Lakers have been a dominant team in the Western Conference, putting up win streaks of seven or more games multiple times led by the tandem of Davis (26.7 PPG) and LeBron James (25.7 PPG). James, in his second season with Los Angeles, put up another All-Star season and is vying for the MVP. Not a natural point guard, he leads the NBA in assists (10.6 APG) and has logged 13 triple-doubles while having discovered an excellent balance of maintaining his energy for late-game moments. The Lakers will lose depth in the backcourt behind their stars, however as Avery Bradley has opted not to play in Orlando.
Vogel was brought in to help bolster the talent and surrounding pieces on the Lakers roster. He was a highly praised head coach for his time in Indiana, nearly advancing to the NBA Finals multiple times. Known as a defense-first coach, the Lakers have seen the results on the court. They lead the league in blocks and defensive rebounds, while also ranking in the top 5 in steals (4th), opponent 3-point percentage (4th), and opponent points per game (3rd). Los Angeles has already clinched its first playoff berth since 2013, and now shifts its focus on adding another title to its collection.
Memorable Moment: One of the key moments for the Lakers this season came from a win against the Clippers. The Lakers has lost their two previous matchups prior to the March 8 matchup, but overcame the Clippers, 112-103, to earn their first win against their in-arena rivals. In what many believe to be the top two teams in the Western Conference, the Lakers and Clippers battles have provided must-watch basketball as they both prepare for the playoffs, and a potential NBA Finals run. Anthony Davis was the leading scorer in the game for the Lakers, registering 30 points. LeBron James was right behind, adding 28 points of his own.
Player To Watch: Anthony Davis – He’s been the key ingredient to the Lakers’ offense. Coupled with his great ability as a scorer and leader, Davis’ win share this season is 10.3. The key will be whether or not he is ready to make an impact come playoff time. LeBron James has a long history of playoff excellence but will need Davis firing on all cylinders to take some pressure off of him in crunch time. With limited playoff experience prior to joining the Lakers, Davis will be alongside a veteran teammates and coaches. He has put together an impressive season, averaging 26.7 PTS and 9.4 REB. The All-Star selection has elevated his game, making the Lakers a major threat to win the NBA Finals.
