2018-2019 NBA Previews – Lakers Odds
Looking for 2018 Los Angeles Lakers Predictions? We’ve got your back. Los Angeles finished last season 35-47, finishing 11th in the NBA’s Western Conference. But if you’re looking back at the 2017-18 campaign to determine how this year is going to go for the Lakeshow, think again. That’s what happens when LeBron James come to town. Everything changes.
Los Angeles Lakers Season Preview
Head Coach: Luke Walton
2017-18 Record: 35-47
Lakers Odds to NBA Title: +20000
Lakers Odds to Win Conference: +10000
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Los Angeles Lakers Strengths:
Do we need to say it? Do we really need to say it? Fine.
LeBron James.
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You can’t sign LeBron James as a free agent and not have him be your top strength. It just isn’t possible. Maybe someday in the next few years we’ll stop considering The King the best player on the planet, but we’re not there yet (despite what Steph, KD and other stans might have to say on the matter.)
LeBron brings drama with him everywhere he goes, but he also brings an ability to win on the highest stage. He’s going to get the young guys open looks and he’s going to be the locker room presence this team had been missing for quite some time.
Along with LeBron came plenty of veteran pieces, as per usual when he switches jerseys. Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley and JaVale McGee will be (mostly) positive presences for the youngsters on the roster.
And speaking of the kids, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram ain’t no scrubs. The only core piece from last year’s team that had to be sacrificed was Julius Randle, who now plays with the New Orleans Pelicans.
This young core may not all be here next season when the highly anticipated 2019 free agency class begins looking at L.A. But for now, there’s a lot of energy on this roster.
Los Angeles Lakers Weaknesses:
All those veteran players we mentioned who committed to the Lakers after James signed? You read those names right. And yes, we agree.
That is one weird, totally bizarre, misfit group of veterans.
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Literally all four of Rondo, Stephenson, McGee and Beasley have been known throughout their careers for two things: positive play and wild and crazy antics. For guys like Beasley and McGee, it’s been more the latter.
The concern here is that A) they could end up being bad influences for the young guys trying to develop a winning culture—or at least trying to get used to it for the first time in their professional careers. But then there’s B) They are not Kawhi Leonard.
The Lakers had serious eyes for Kawhi this summer, who was ultimately dealt to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan.
If this team had any intention of winning a championship in year 1 of the LeBron experiment, it likely blew it when it failed to bring on Kawhi Leonard, who made his disdain for the San Antonio Spurs very clear all this last season.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Prediction: 44-38
Vegas has set the Lakers’ Over/Under win projection at 48.5. That right there, is the LeBron Effect.
Simply put: There’s no way this Lakers squad wins better than 48 games without making a midseason trade for a true second star (Jimmy Butler, anyone?) or develops a No. 2 option at rapid speed among the young core pieces.
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Could Kuzma, Ball, Ingram or even Hart become LeBron’s championship co-star? You bet. But it’s not happening in Year 1, and while any team with James should be considered a lock for the playoffs, assuming home-court advantage is also a guarantee would be a mistake at this point in the process.
2018 NBA Gambling
What do you think about our 2018 Los Angeles Lakers predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in the 2018-2019 NBA Season!
The 2018 NBA futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on NBA hoops, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NBA odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find weekly NBA basketball lines up for early games as well.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds today! Click to view more 2018/19 NBA Predictions.
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