Few NBA experts expected the Los Angeles Lakers to achieve back-to-back Finals victories.
After winning it all in 2020, not many thought they’d have another Finals run in them for 2021.
But fewer people expected them to fall from greatness in the ways they did.
Now, just a couple of seasons removed from their last ring, the Lakers are a mess even with the power of their two biggest stars.
Finals Bron and AD were something else 🔥 pic.twitter.com/p4CaITy0bR
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) August 30, 2022
LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who are both the most important members of the team, were monsters during the Finals of 2020.
In Game 1, they combined for 59 points.
That was just the start of their wonderful Finals run that resulted in James’ fourth championship and Davis’ first.
Now the question is this: will that Finals be their last?
Time Ticks Away
When the 2022-23 season begins, James and Davis will again be the central duo at the core of the Lakers, for better or for worse.
While they are both insanely talented men, they have been suffering their fair share of injuries lately.
When that happens, the team falls into a sort of dysfunction they can’t seem to shake.
Things weren’t made any better last season with the inclusion of Russell Westbrook, who didn’t quite fit with the team, even when both James and Davis were on the bench.
If James and Davis can stay healthy and if Westbrook is able to figure out how to fit into the squad, the Lakers truly could be terrific once again.
But last season proved that those are pretty big “ifs.”
Not a lot of time has passed since their last Finals triumph so one would think LA could be on the verge of going all the way again.
Sadly, it’s far more complicated than that.
