Lakers' Playoff Path: Still a Mirage for McNutt
Monica McNutt isn't buying the hype, and honestly, who can blame her? The Lakers are a fascinating case study, a team with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, yet still stuck in neutral for significant stretches. Tim MacMahon might see a path, especially with Luka Doncic in the conversation, but McNutt's skepticism hits home for a lot of us who've watched this team sputter. They finished the 2023-24 regular season 47-35, a respectable record, but one that felt earned through sheer will more than consistent dominance.
The Doncic Delusion
Let's talk about this Luka Doncic fantasy. It's a fun barstool debate, sure. Imagine Doncic, James, and Davis on the same squad. That’s a video game lineup. But it's just that – a fantasy. Doncic is locked into Dallas for the foreseeable future, having signed a five-year, $215 million supermax extension in 2021. The Mavericks aren't letting him walk, especially after their run to the Western Conference Finals this past season. So, any playoff run discussion for the Lakers *must* exclude the Slovenian superstar. It's not a factor. It never was.
The real conversation centers on the roster they *do* have. D'Angelo Russell had moments of brilliance, like his 44-point explosion against the Bucks on March 8th, but his inconsistency is a known quantity. Austin Reaves is a solid player, averaging 15.9 points and 5.5 assists in April, but he's not a primary creator for a championship contender. And the depth? It's been a revolving door of role players, some who fit, some who don't. That’s been the story for years.
LeBron's Unfair Burden
Here's the thing: LeBron James, at 39, is still playing at an elite level. He averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists last season. Those are MVP-caliber numbers for a player a decade younger. But expecting him to carry the offensive and defensive load for 40 minutes a night through four grueling playoff rounds is just unfair. We saw it in the 2023 Western Conference Finals when the Nuggets swept them. James was gassed. He put up 40 points in Game 4 but couldn't drag them across the finish line.
Anthony Davis is another piece of this puzzle. When he's healthy and engaged, he's a top-five player in the league. His 2023-24 season saw him average 24.7 points and 12.6 rebounds, a dominant force. But the "when he's healthy" caveat has plagued his entire Lakers tenure. He missed 26 games in 2021-22 and 20 games in 2022-23. Can he stay on the court for 20-25 playoff games? That's a huge question mark that McNutt, and many others, are rightly concerned about. His durability is the team's Achilles' heel.
The Coaching Carousel
And then there's the coaching. Darvin Ham was fired after two seasons, a 90-74 record, and two playoff appearances. Now it's JJ Redick, a former player with zero head coaching experience. This isn't a slight against Redick, who is clearly smart and understands the game. But taking the reins of a team with championship aspirations, an aging superstar, and immense pressure is a massive undertaking for a rookie coach. The Lakers need a strong, steady hand to navigate the inevitable turbulence of a deep playoff run. Redick has to prove he’s that guy.
My hot take? The Lakers, even with LeBron and AD playing at their peak, will not make it past the second round of the playoffs next season. They simply lack the consistent secondary scoring and defensive cohesion required to beat the top-tier Western Conference teams like Denver or Oklahoma City.