Power rankings system devised and compiled weekly by Stemshul. “Expert” analysis by paradroid.
This week we’ll try to figure out what’s going on with the L.A. Lakers (#19), who are really struggling this year. LeBron James had been to 9 of the last 11 Finals for 3 different teams before this year. He won 4 of them (2 with Miami, 1 with Cleveland, and 1 with L.A.), but his two years missing out have book-ended his single win with the Lakers, so it has been up and down these last several years (which just goes to show how impossibly high his own standard is to meet). This year they’ve struggled to even reach .500. Are they done? Will they find a way to get it together this year? Right now they’re stuck in 7-seed (play-in zone), so they’d better do something as we begin the second half of the season.
Their struggles could be chalked up to injuries. The big one is Anthony Davis, who can’t seem to stay healthy for a full season. He has missed significant time in each of the last 4 seasons, so it shouldn’t be a big surprise. Lebron has also missed 12 games this year with various small injuries. Another key casualty has been Kendrick Nunn, who has been out all year with a knee injury. This is a key loss for the Heat because of what Nunn can provide: shooting. Last year he hit 38% on almost 6 attempts per game. This is another issue with no Anthony Davis, who is missed for many reasons, but his ability to be a threat from deep helps open up room for the backcourt (although he’s been off from beyond the arc this year, he could still turn that around). This roster had a dearth of players who can hit the three, and James (34% career) and Russell Westbrook (30% career) are best when driving to the lane, which is very difficult without the threat of the 3 to draw defenders away from the lane. I think the real issue is roster construction. Yes, all the old jokes about this team after the off-season are well earned, with additions like DeAndre Jordan (33, which is 38 in center years), Carmelo Anthony (37), Trevor Ariza (36), Wayne Ellington (34), and Dwight Howard (36, 64 in center years). But the real problem is not enough shooting. To be at their best, Russ and LeBron need room to get into the paint. Frank Vogel will need to figure that out if he wants to keep his job.
Detroit had another week of up and down play, sandwiching two losses to #1 Phoenix and #2 Golden State between wins against #14 Toronto and #25 Sacramento. No shame in losing to the two best in the league, and that last win puts the Pistons at 6-5 in their last 11. Word got out of an offer Detroit made of Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey, Kelly Olynyk, and a first round pick, all for Ben Simmons, which was swiftly rejected by Philly. I wonder if they’d take it now if offered the same deal again. I think that’s too much to give up for a guard who can’t/won’t shoot when you already have Cade Cunningham to be your point guard and creator. You can probably make it work, but I would keep Bey as a small forward who can shoot the 3. We’ll see what happens, but it does show GM Troy Weaver is willing to deal Grant for the right player, which is extra interesting since he’s the best player available this trade deadline.
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