2022 has been a very difficult year for Los Angeles Lakers, plagued by disappointments in sport. Below we break down what would need to happen to the top players on the Los Angeles roster for their sporting performance to come to the fore in 2023. Of course, everyone expects Rob Pelinka hurry up and take another look at the team before the NBA transfer window closes on February 6, but in the meantime we’ll see what the players currently on the roster can offer.
LeBron James
– Stay healthy, rest a little more
– James had an incredible December, but he played 36.4 minutes per game that month, and overall is averaging 35.9 minutes per game for the season.
Anthony Davis
– Get well soon and stay healthy
– Staying healthy is at least 80% of the battle for Davis. He has missed 11 games so far, mostly due to that foot injury. Before that injury, he was playing perhaps the best game of his life and looked like the best player in the world.
Lonnie Walker IV
– Recover your level
Walker did very well in his first 23 games, averaging 16.0 points per game while shooting 47.8% overall and 39.0% from 3-point range, showing the kind of consistency that he was unable to show in the previous four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. But since then, those numbers have dropped to 11.1 points per game, 37.6% and 36.7%, respectively.
Austin Reaves
– Keep it up, don’t go into crisis
– Reaves is having a brilliant season so far. However, his last two games have been dismal, as he shoots a total of 1-for-18 from the field.
Russell Westbrook
– Be more efficient
– Westbrook turned the tide in the fall by accepting a bench trade and igniting the Lakers by picking up the pace and constantly looking for his teammates.
Dennis Schroder
– Be a little more aggressive
– Schroder started the season slowly but improved in December, averaging 11.6 points per game on 45.7% shooting and 34.0% from center.
Analysis performed by colleagues Yahoo Sports.
