NBA Power Rankings: Highs and lows for the Toronto Raptors

By Ian Levy | Jan 8, 2019

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 6: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors looks on with Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 6, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 4: JaVale McGee #7 and Brandon Ingram #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five against the New York Knicks on January 4, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Lakers. 14. team. 20. . 22-19. Previous: 9th

The Lakers have been exposed a bit since losing LeBron James to a groin injury in their Christmas Day matchup with the Golden State Warriors. They escaped that game with a win but are just 2-5 since with double-digit losses to the Timberwolves and Clippers, and an embarrassing loss to the Knicks.

As you would expect, LeBron’s absence seems to be felt most strongly by the team’s complementary scorers. Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart have averaged 18.4 and 12.4 points per game, respectively, over this seven-game stretch, but both are shooting below 40 percent from the field and below 30 percent on 3-pointers. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram have had some strong moments but without LeBron, the Lakers are just what they were last season — a young team struggling to find an identity,

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