Lakers Prediction Hot Takes: 2024-2025 Season

Maybe we should make a poll about expectations for the season. No. of wins, PO or no PO, championship chances? On th surface it seems most of the fan base is pretty pessimistic, but a few of us still believe this doesn't have to be a completely lost season, no?

BTW, most of the most popular Lakers related podcasters also seem to be more optimistic about the team than the fans. I can't wait for any kind of Cranjis' season outlook pod.

 

Without any major upgrades via trade this roster will miss the PO's as is, IMO.

Changed my stance after tonight and watching this team. Sad. So be it.

 

i pretty much agree with all this. another 44-48 win season where the top seeds would rather avoid us but we somehow draw denver again lol. i just don't see an easy path out of where we've been since the second russ trade. that said, it's pretty miraculous we're here, because the russ trade would have bombed most franchises into the stone age. bkn still hasn't recovered.

 

If there is one injury to Lebron or AD this year that exceeds 2 weeks, the Lakers will not make the playoffs. Unless there is a trade for a bonified 3rd starish guy that doesn't deplete what little depth they already have. That could weather the storm in case of injuries to AD or Lebron or anyone else for that matter.

 

i think we can weather two weeks without one of them. but not a month. west is too competitive.

 

We finish 10th with no real upgrades.
With a few good trades, including a real Big, we finish 8th.
With a healthy LeBron, AD, and Vando for the majority of the games AND a good trade for a real Big, we finish 6th.

 

Let’s reserve judgment after 10 games… JJ has set his starters in the off-season unlike our previous idiot coaches

 

i'm a 20-game sample guy. historically, i feel like you generally know what's happening at that point. but this is the hot takes thread.

i like that jj has the rotation set already--this was a HUGE issue early last year, imo, and a big reason why ham lost the team almost immediately.

i'm concerned, though, that it's going to take a while to get the full offense put in. that means you have to hang your hat on defense early, and we don't have great personnel for that.

 

First 10 games? The first 5 won't be easy. Pitchforks will be coming if we're 2-3 or 1-4, which is a possibility.

 

The preseason predictions are varied as for as the top Western Conference teams. We aren't getting a lot of love in general. At least Bleacher Report is pegging us as an 8th seed. Damn shame when we have 2 All NBA players


https://deadspin.com/2024-nba-weste...r-nuggets-no-1-seed-dallas-mavericks-regress/


https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/...24-25-thunder-on-top-of-very-tight-conference

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...-nba-playoff-bracket-before-the-season-starts

 

Why do we have to play 11 back to back games between now and April?

Some of the scheduling is terrible

 

We have the least back 2 backs in the league. Most teams have like 15.

I would guess teams and players would prefer to have a 2 week longer schedule and no back to backs (as they don't want to have less games)

 

if Knecht somehow turns into at least a Tyler Herro-type in his first season in terms of production and we make a trade to address our bigs situation, it's possible we make a splash in the playoffs.

otherwise, nah.

 

Knecht. That's all I'm going to say.

 

Knecht is the second coming but I wish hope desire pray that with all my heart

 

If you haven't yet, go and listen to the last episode of the Lakers Exceptionalism Podcast. I like them in general and they don't sugarcoat the Lakers' state and can be very harsh at times. Their summary on our coaching staff was pretty depressing just to give you an example if you're not a follower. That being said, on their most recent pod they summarised the "scheme" and I find myself in a much better mood after having listened to it haha.