There is some debate these days about whether the Los Angeles Lakers are a legitimate contender for this season’s NBA championship. While they have a very strong 17-7 record, some feel they’re just short of being truly able to win it all this spring and summer.
On Wednesday, they were dealt a bit of a reality check as far as their chances of winning the championship when the San Antonio Spurs, sans Victor Wembanyama, raced past them 132-119 in the quarterfinal round of the Emirates NBA Cup. San Antonio played fast-break basketball for 48 minutes and exposed the Lakers’ lack of speed, overall athleticism and high-level perimeter defenders, leading to a barrage of transition scores and made 3-pointers.
Afterward, LeBron James was asked where the team is as far as being able to contend come playoff time, and he deflected the question because of how early in the season it is.
“I can’t think about what we can do in the playoffs in December,” James said. “What I can say is that the habits that we build throughout the regular season each month [are what is important]. If we are in a position to make it to the postseason and be able to get to that point, well, we have to build it now.
“But as far as talking about what type of damage we’re going to do in the postseason in December, that’s not right for the basketball gods, not for me.”
The Lakers are still a relatively new team, since Luka Doncic arrived in February and three new major rotation players — center Deandre Ayton, guard Marcus Smart and forward Jake LaRavia — were added over the summer. Unlike a team such as the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, they’re still learning how to play well as a unit and how to react optimally to each other, especially on the defensive end.
Los Angeles could still have plenty of room for improvement between now and the arrival of spring. Like other teams across the league that can at least reach the playoffs, it will want to stay in the moment and focus on day-to-day improvement and goals.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: LeBron James doesn’t want to think about Lakers’ playoff chances
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