NBA Power Rankings week 17: OKC Thunder and peers enter break
20. . 41-12. Previous: 2nd. Los Angeles Lakers. 2. team
Los Angeles Lakers:
Offense: (113.4) 2nd
Defense: (106.3) 5th
Net: (plus +7.2) 2nd
Results Week 17: (2-0) Won vs. Suns: 125-100, Nuggets: 120-116 (OT)
Games Week 18: (2 games) Fri vs. Grizzlies | Sun vs. Celtics
That the Lakers have settled in during an emotional time speaks to how strong the personnel on their team is. Having so many veterans no doubt helps the situation. They are one of three teams with 40 or more wins (Bucks, Raptors).
Curiously, the club hasn’t been fortunate in terms of adding players at the trade deadline or (so far) in the buyout market. Darren Collison flirted with coming out of retirement and changed his mind.
The two LA teams are waging a funny side war in which the Clippers keep adding players seemingly in an effort to block the Lakers from getting them. Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson would both fall into that category.
News this past week is DeMarcus Cousins is on schedule to return by season end. That could play a factor especially since the Lakers are long already and would bolster a deep frontcourt.
The irony, of course, is the Clippers one true need is a big man who can bang with Anthony Davis and the duo of Dwight Howard/JaVale McGee. Cousins is a walking double-double so if he’s even remotely close to his pre-injury capacity it gives the Lakers a decided frontcourt advantage.