This isn’t a computer simulation, where you plug a player’s stats into an algorithm and it spits out a win/loss record. Fit, chemistry, and depth all play a role. The Lakers have not once looked like the team they will become once our injured players return.
Having Cam, Vando, and Gabe back is going to give the Lakers an obscene number of point-of-attack defenders to throw at initiators. This actually matters a ton in the Lakers’ case, because POA defenders are the best way to maximize AD’s otherworldly defense. You can hound initiators and wings on the perimeter without a care in the world if they drive by you, because you have the world’s best help defender back there. Literally our top 3 POA defenders on the wing are hurt right now.
In addition, our non-LeBron lineups are going to look way different with a lot more depth. For example, Taurean sniping off the bench for 20 minutes a game and checking bench wings is a WAY better use of him than starting and hoping he can guard starting caliber wings for 30 minutes a game.
Also, this team will become sooooo versatile once we are healthy. Need a possession at the end of a game where we need to switch absolutely everything? Cam, Vando, LeBron, AD, and Wood is insane length that wont get beat easily on the perimeter. Need to go small against a run-and-gun team? Lakers can go “small” and run with other small ball lineups while still being big enough to punish them on the glass.
Oh, and that’s another thing we’re missing. Attitude. Intensity. This is about Vando in particular, but definitely applies to the others too. You saw the difference between our defense before and after the trade deadline last year. The different personnel made a difference, but it was more than that. The team’s entire attitude shifted after that mid-season deadline. Having hustle-all-day players like Vando and Gabe that do the dirty work absolutely rubs off on their teammates. And the Lakers have been beating themselves with unmotivated play just as often as they are getting beaten by their opponents.
To be clear, this is not me saying that there is absolutely nothing to worry about. What I am saying, is that we have not seen what this Lakers team is actually going to look like yet. Let’s wait for that before we freak out over anything
Obviously we’re better with everyone healthy but this still doesn’t address the issues with Ham not actually preparing and scheming for opposing team plus his zero sense of in game adjustments. Like we’re winning games but the majority of the time it’s not because of him. We can’t go the distance if the coaching is lagging behind.