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Los Angeles Lakers 2015 NBA Season Preview

By Cody Williams

Oct 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and coach Byron Scott react during the game against the Sacramento Kings at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) and coach Byron Scott react during the game against the Sacramento Kings at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 22, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves the ball against the defense of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
October 22, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) moves the ball against the defense of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Offensive Breakdown

Trying to break down the Lakers offense for the 2015-16 season is nigh impossible as of right now. For one, we don’t yet know what Kobe Bryant is going to look like this season after all his injuries and given his age. We also aren’t unsure who the offense is going to run through between Kobe, D’Angelo Russell, and Lou Williams all being more than capable of running an offense and with Kobe and Williams being largely ball-dominant players. The fact that there’s only one basketball on the floor at a time could prove to be an issue for the Lakers.

If there’s a sign for optimism, though, it’s Russell and Julius Randle working in the two-man game. From what we’ve seen this summer and in preseason, these two have developed an instant rapport on the floor and could be devastating as an offensive combo. They might have growing pains with such little experience at this level, but it’s going to be fun to watch them pick up the nuances of the NBA, learn, and grow together this season.

Defensive Breakdown

Not that the Lakers did much particularly well last season, but they were absolutely atrocious on the defensive end of the floor. Per NBA.com, the Lakers allowed 108 points per 100 possessions last season, which was the second worst defensive efficiency rating in the league for the 2014-15 season. Bad almost doesn’t even begin to describe their defense as they had young, inexperienced wings and no true rim-protector.

The addition of Roy Hibbert this summer is huge for this team because he gives them that desperately needed rim-protector. The only issue is that he can’t do everything. Having a young frontcourt mate in Julius Randle, a past-his-prime Kobe coming off a slew of lower-body injuries, a saloon door in Lou Williams, and another young piece in D’Angelo Russell ultimately puts a ton of pressure on Hibbert defensively. He can be great defensively, but that’s asking an awful lot.

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