Entering the 2021/22 season, the Lakers and Nets were widely viewed as the frontrunners to reach the NBA Finals. When ESPN polled 16 of its NBA experts on predictions for the coming season, 10 picked the Lakers to win the West and 10 chose the Nets to win the East.
So far though, Los Angeles and Brooklyn have been inconsistent and underwhelming, posting matching 2-3 records. The Lakers lost two home games to open the season, then blew a 26-point lead in Oklahoma City on Wednesday against the winless Thunder. The Nets, meanwhile, have lost three games by double-digits — one in Milwaukee and two at home, vs. the Hornets and Heat.
It’s far, far too early for either team to panic. LeBron James has missed two games for the Lakers and James Harden is still working his way back from a hamstring injury for the Nets. And with the exception of the Lakers’ disaster in OKC, both teams’ losses so far have come against pretty tough opponents.
Still, the early-season results can’t be written off entirely. James has been increasingly affected by injuries in recent years — if that trend continues this season, it’ll have a significant impact on a top-heavy Lakers team. The club acquired Russell Westbrook over the summer in part to have another star available when James or Anthony Davis miss time, but Westbrook has gotten off to a shaky start in L.A., averaging just 17.8 PPG (his lowest mark since 2009/10) and turning the ball over six times per game. His fit on this Lakers roster was an open question entering the season, and it doesn’t seem as if the team has fully figured it out.
As for the Nets, the impact of Kyrie Irving‘s absence shouldn’t be understated. Brooklyn is supposed to have one of the best offenses in league history, but through five games, the club’s offensive rating is an ugly 100.6 — only Detroit and New Orleans have been worse. Harden expects to be back to his old self soon, but he’s certainly not benefiting from the NBA’s reduction on foul calls when offensive players go out of their way to initiate contact.
Again, it’s too early for a sub-.500 record to be a major concern for either of these teams, whose rosters are heavy on star power and veteran experience. But the expectations in Los Angeles and Brooklyn are high. Anything less than an NBA Finals appearance will be a letdown, so there’s not much room for error.
Many of the NBA’s other sub-.500 teams aren’t surprising, but the Celtics (2-3), Pacers (1-4), Suns (1-3), and Clippers (1-3) certainly would’ve hoped for better starts.
We want to know what you think. Is it still too early to draw any conclusions about any of this season’s slow starters? Or has some of what you’ve seen from the Lakers, the Nets, or other sub-.500 clubs made you skeptical of their ability to meet preseason expectations?
Well good thing lakers sacrificed defense for shooters!
Depth too. At least they can probably trade Westbrick for Wall again…
I expect they will be able to make the playoffs, and will rework the roster till its a better makeup. They will be entirely dependent on LBJ/AD being healthy to make any noise.
The bonus of everyone being on nothing one year deals is you can jettison all of them at any point. They do look pretty dumb for trading all that depth to WAS. I guess since Lebron made the call its on him to own the outcome.
I don’t see them trading Westbrook at all. Unless a injury happens and a team need instant offense for the playoffs the Lakers are stuck with him. His defense is very poor. At this point Lakers would need to upgrade for Wall trade with Horton or draft picks.
Yeah I’m assuming Westbrook for Wall was a joke (I hope…)
Westbrook had a similarly terrible start last year and he ended the year near All NBA territory, so I’m hesitant to write him off this quickly. But he is solidly in his 30’s now so eventually we know where this going …
Houston would laugh at the Lakers if they offered Westbrook for Wall. LA got lucky back in 2020 when LeBron and AD both had so much time to rest up before going to the bubble in Orlando. Adding someone like Westbrook won’t make the team a more legitimate contender than they were last season.
Re -work the roster?
It helps to actually have knowledge about what your talking about before posting …don’t worry your not the first
Tht is the only player the Lakers have that’s tradeable that has any kind of salary to work with
The Lakers are screwed. I’ve been saying from the get go that this team is overhyped and that Russ is an awful fit. They will be lucky to sniff the 2nd round. The Nets will be fine, especially if they get Kyrie back eventually.
The new reduction in foul calls, which is amazing and makes nba basketball so much better and flow better, has really hurt harden, but once retro harden starts driving again they will be fine, it’s just beyond the big 3 on both the lakers and nets rosters it’s a bunch of horrendous or retirement players, I just think this year is a real welcome to a new era of nba and all of the guys from the lebron super team era are on the same 2 teams and it’s over, Memphis is built phenomenally well, the heat are built perfect, Milwaukee has a bunch of pieces that fit awesome together, the lakers and nets are tryin to fit square blocks in round holes
But I also wouldn’t panic on either team, KD and harden and lebron and AD are still all the same guys, im just glad im not a fan with hopes for either team
It’s way too soon to draw any conclusions yet. I’d say give it 25-30 games to let these teams and players figure it out. They just have to stay near .500 and they’ll be fine to make the playoffs.
Westbrook makes any team worse. Everyone knew the lakers were doomed the moment they agreed to that trade
WAY too early to draw any conclusions.
Agree that there should be no panic. Sort of silly this early in the season. But the physical condition of LBJ and Harden, while it may be one of many reasons to shrug off the slow starts, each, to me, would be a concern in and of itself.
LBJ is a freak, but it seems inevitable that he’ll be missing games and the days of bouncing back within a few games from minor injuries be over. It’s probably the best reason to have acquired RW. They were pedestrian without LBJ the past 3 seasons.
I’ve always liked Harden as a player, but he seems to put on weight whenever he has an excuse. These things matter more as a player ages. For any NBA guard, he’s fat.
They still looked very pedestrian against OKC without LeBron.
LA Gravetrotters look like a strong play-in team.
LBJ is the worst GM in the NBA. Can’t wait for them to figure out Westbrook is just their 6th man.
They’d be better off making Westbrook the bench warmer. Let’s hear it for his 6th career quad double (points, assists, rebounds, TURNOVERS)
Given how well Harden played last season it seems reasonable to assume he’s just playing his way back into shape off his injury. I wouldn’t be too concerned yet … if Harden can return to form and Durant stays healthy the Nets are still the front runner for the title, regardless of Kyrie.
Lakers are more of a concern, even if it’s not much of a surprise. This team has a litany of fit issues — whether it’s the age of their bench, AD at the 5 (or not…), and the Russ-Bron pairing.
But the biggest concern might just be with the physical status of both Westbrook and James. RWB bounced back last year after a slow start but athletic points who never developed jumpers generally don’t last long into their 30s.
And James will be 37 in a matter of weeks. Even if he’a 85% of his peak (which is still amazing) that’s still enough of a dip that LA will need both Russ and AD to be in top form in order to contend.
People love to conveniently forget after James Harden got into shape last year he was the best player in the NBA for about 40~50% of the regular season
* Westbrook – I don’t fear regular season Westbrook, he will help get wins while preserving Lebron. Lakers should suck all the juice from the lemon they can these next 2 years – ….Now playoffs….yea …there’s some concerns when the game slows down and every possession counts.
It’s fruitless trying to project how he will or won’t adapt right now, but yes he will have to play a different game than he’s been accustomed to for his 32 years on this planet. Will he make it all work come June…I have zero clue….but it should bea fun experiment for everyone to watch regardless
I worry too much defensive responsibility will be put on AD this year
Guards are getting blown by constantly
Ive said all along, its not going to be age or shooting that derails this team its going to be defending the 1-3
If you want to get critical on the Lakers at least point your noses in the right direction and that would be the Caruso v Tht call they made over the summer….even tho it didn’t have to be a call at all if Genie dug down in the purse a little more
Caruso could adapt to LJ, or anyone else, but I don’t think RW can. He needs a fast-paced game to blow past people but LJ prefers a look. You’re right, bad call there, but they may have needed to play Caruso more earlier so he would have more resistance to moving on.
In all honesty Caruso probably plays too hard/fast to play more than 25 mins per
Sure. I thought they shoulda bumped his mins from time to time but he’s never going to be that 33~34 min guy imo…..he takes a ton of bumps and bruises along the way due to playing style ….he does also have some fleas that get exposed less under a hard 25 mins compared to a drawn out 34…but yea Im glad he’s going to get a little more “air” time in Chi to showcase, and dispell any silly notion he was just a LBJ made product …dudes baller no doubt
*Really looking forward to watching the Cavs tonight v Lal …Haven’t got a chance to peep them yet, love the Allen/Mobley base that’s being cemented currently over there