NBA franchises are rounding up their preparations to begin the new season on Tuesday. One of the teams that seems to be on top of their preparation ahead of the 2023–2024 season is the Lakers. They’ve completed six preseason games and recorded just two wins and four defeats, but the players were impressive in the short time they’ve featured in games.
In what will trigger comments and discussions, Darvin Ham made a big announcement about LeBron spearheading a star-studded team to open the NBA season after a harsh prediction by one of the sports legends.
Lakers starting lineup packed with LeBron, Davis and Reaves
The NBA opening night is always one of the most exciting nights of the year in the league’s history. Every team is eager to make a statement, but for the NBA Champions, it’s undeniably the most thrilling night. The Denver Nuggets will celebrate their championship win on ring night, facing the Los Angeles Lakers. But the excitement might end there for Denver.
The Lakers have finalized their starting lineup and are prepared for a tough battle. The Lakers opening night starting lineup posted in a tweet @LegionHoops that posted a star-studded team with LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Taurean Prince, and Anthony Davis all starting. Coach Ham revealed that Prince would be in the starting lineup due to Jarred Vanderbilt’s heel injury. While Vanderbilt’s heel soreness is a day-to-day concern, it won’t be anything severe, but he will be absent on opening night against the Denver Nuggets.
The matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets promises to be a highly anticipated showdown on opening night. These two teams have exchanged numerous taunts since the playoffs, and it’s clear that there’s no love lost between them. The Lakers have been eager for a chance at revenge on the Denver Nuggets after sweeping them the last time out, and if they pull off a big win against the reigning champion, it would send a powerful message to other teams in the league.
Andrew Bogut predicts Lakers landing in 10th place
Andrew Bogut, the former Golden State Warriors champion, has surprisingly predicted that the Lakers, led by LeBron James, will secure the 10th seed in the highly competitive Western Conference. This prediction may raise eyebrows among fans and analysts. The Lakers, despite their early exit from the Western Conference Finals last season, remain a formidable team.
The Lakers secured the seventh spot in the Western Conference for the 2022-23 season with a 43-39 record, but were subsequently defeated by the Denver Nuggets, who went on to become the NBA champions. The team features star players LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and their offseason acquisitions, Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood, have further strengthened the roster.
While the Western Conference is undeniably competitive, prematurely discounting a team with a future Hall of Famer in LeBron James and one of the league’s most dominant big men in Anthony Davis might be hasty. The Lakers have demonstrated their ability to contend at the highest level when they are healthy and fit.
Bogut’s assessment underscores the inherent uncertainty in predicting NBA outcomes. Yet, it is imperative to take into account the Lakers’ historical performance and the influence of their key players. Although a 10th-place finish remains a possibility in the fiercely competitive Western Conference, it would require a notable underperformance from this star-studded Lakers team.
