Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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A man walks by a mural of LeBron James in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey in Venice, California on July 9, 2018. – It was originally revealed July 6, 2018, and then vandalized over the weekend, and re-touched up again with the word “of” not repainted from the original words “the King of LA”. Artists Jonas Never and Menso One painted the mural to welcome LeBron James to Los Angeles, outside the Baby Blues BBQ resturant in Venice, California. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION – TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
A man walks by a mural of LeBron James in a Los Angeles Lakers jersey in Venice, California on July 9, 2018. – It was originally revealed July 6, 2018, and then vandalized over the weekend, and re-touched up again with the word “of” not repainted from the original words “the King of LA”. Artists Jonas Never and Menso One painted the mural to welcome LeBron James to Los Angeles, outside the Baby Blues BBQ resturant in Venice, California. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION – TO ILLUSTRATE THE EVENT AS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPTION (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Lakers

For a team that has LeBron James, the Lakers strike me as a fairly high-variance team. I mean, the West is deep enough that missing the playoffs doesn’t feel out of the question. And yet…you could picture a Warriors/Lakers series going six or seven games, couldn’t you?

But how much of the Lakers success is contingent on LeBron? Well, if he either falls off considerably, or just doesn’t go full gear on a team without any fellow All-Stars (no, Rondo doesn’t count), that could cause the Lakers to hover around .500 or worse. But what’s the alternative? LeBron busts his ass like usual, and becomes a hero IN LA immediately as a result. Ingram puts it together, and looks like Giannis, Jr. Lonzo becomes a not horrible shooter, and immediately becomes a top-15 (or higher point guard). The weirdo supporting cast somehow manages to seem fun and accessible instead of a complete mess. If all that happens, I could see the Lakers wining 55-60 games, making the Western Finals, and giving the Warriors a real scare before ultimately falling in a brutal Game 7 at Oracle.