The 72nd season of the National Basketball Association has officially kicked off. That’s right boys and girls basketball is back. Across the league, many blockbuster trades, free agent signings, and changes in coaching have occurred over the summer. Now is the time to see if it all pans out. The legendary Laker organization has redesigned their team with a blend of youthful talent and elderly experience. The addition of superstar LeBron James has immediately made them a playoff team but the influx of veterans like Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, Rajon Rondo, and Michael Beasley is what will take them to the next level. Every great team in history has two things in common, an identity and a team culture. For an example, the Boston Celtics in the 1980s, their identity was “blue collar, fundamental basketball” and their team culture was centered around hard work and discipline. The Spurs team throughout the decade of the 2000s were identified as the “share the ball, international team” and their culture centered around essentially who they were as people and putting everything aside to win a championship. Both these teams did very well for themselves and I can guarantee you that this Laker team will be up there with the greatest teams of the modern era.
What is obvious is the number of young ballplayers this club has. Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Ivica Zubac are the hungry and inexperienced young men who will thrive on this team. They provide the fresh legs that this group will need in their quest for the Larry O’Brien trophy. Throughout last year we saw the dynamic passing, scoring, and defense that these players possess and combining it with the veterans will prove a deadly combination. Identifying as a “flashy and lovable” team and having their culture set on sacrificing for each other, the Lakers are on their way to
I can go on and on about how the Laker organization is back and here to stay but that would do no one any good. Only their performance this year will serve as proof to my statements. Their multifaceted approach to the game armed with the greatest player on the planet, they are sure to make more than just “some noise”. All anyone can do now is just wait and see.
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