Top Lakers Picks, Predictions for 2022-23 NBA Season: Lakers Ready to Run Through Davis
The Lakers finished with 33 wins in 2021-22 and finished 11th in the Western Conference. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook failed to meet expectations.
After a tumultuous offseason, how will the Lakers respond? Can Anthony Davis get back to his elite scoring ways? And can the team surpass their implied win total?
Lakers are expected to win the NBA title in 2022-23.
Davis is a dominant big man who can play the four-spot. He averaged at least 28 points per game in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Davis hasn't averaged double-digit rebounds since arriving in Los Angeles, but he posted 9.9 in 2021-22 and 9,3 in 2019-20. New head coach Darvin Ham wants the Lakers’ offense to run through Davis in 2022-23 to avoid wear and tear on LeBron James.
Lakers are underdogs. Health and cohesion will be the main roadblocks to a productive campaign in Los Angeles.
Davis has missed 78 out of a possible 154 games over the last two seasons. LeBron has sat out 53 games. It's uncertain whether Patrick Beverley can co-exist with Russell Westbrook. The team is composed of guys on short contracts and veteran-minimum deals. Los Angeles is expected to win more than 33 games in 2021-22.
James averaged 30.3 points per game in 2021-22. The Lakers finished 11th in the Western Conference and missed the play-in tournament. James averaged 26 points over seven seasons prior to his 30 points-per-game eruption.
