NBA Power Rankings: The Raptors are having a December to remember

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 01: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors brings the ball down the court against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center on November 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 18: Kobe Bryant looks on during the Los Angeles Lakers vs Golden State Warriors game on December 18, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Lakers

This is the end of the teams that are quite poor. Without Brook Lopez, the Lakers don’t have the ability to be competitive in each game. They played hard against the Warriors on the night Kobe Bryant had both his jerseys retired, but lost in overtime. They had a surprising win over the Rockets, enabled by Kyle Kuzma scoring 38 points on 17 shots to overcome James Harden’s 51 points. They lost to the Warriors in Oakland in a game the Warriors never seemed too concerned about, on an evening where Kuzma played a ridiculous 43 minutes. The Lakers kept things close against the Trail Blazers, evening the score at 91 each after a 3-pointer by Lonzo Ball with 1:45 remaining, but gave up an offensive rebound to Maurice Harkless that was the deciding bucket. There’s talent on this team, but it isn’t coming together in a way that produces wins and not just exciting stat lines.

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