5 storylines to note as In-Season champs LeBron James and Lakers resume regular season on TNT
Over the weekend, LeBron James and the LA Lakers won the first NBA in-season tournament. Coming off the historic vicotry, the team now shifts its focus back to the regular season.
The Lakers will be back in action for the first time since the championship on Monday. They face off against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Heading into the game, LA is 14-9 on the year, with the Mavs in a similar position at 14-8.
As LeBron James and Co. prepare for their return to action, here are some of the main storylines to follow as the regular season rages on.
Key storylines for LeBron James and LA Lakers moving forward
1) Can Anthony Davis maintain this level of dominance?
One of the biggest storylines from the Lakers' win over the Indiana Pacers was the play of Anthony Davis. He was dominant on both ends of the floor, finishing with a stat line of 41 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.
If the Lakers want to be a contender this season, they will need this level of two-way dominance from Davis. However, his availability and play will be a major storyline to follow as we approach the dog days of the regular season.
2) Can LeBron James keep up his stellar play as his 39th birthday approaches?
As the biggest name on the Lakers, LeBron James is by far one of the team's main storylines. With a quarter of the season gone, how he handles himself the rest of the way will be something to monitor.
In a few weeks, LeBron James will celebrate his 39th birthday. A handful of players have made to this age in their career, but none have been as dominant. Through his first 22 games, LeBron is averaging 25.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
With LA having their sights set on another deep playoff run, they will need LeBron to keep Father Time at bay.
3) Will the LA Lakers make a big move before the deadline?
With the in-season tournament over, one of the next major dates for the season is the trade deadline. As a team with big aspirations, the Lakers will be a team to monitor, as all players become available to be traded.
One of the biggest names on the market is Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine. DeMar DeRozan has also been a name linked to LA in rumors. Armed with multiple sizable contracts, the Lakers have the assets to put another high-level player next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
4) Can Austin Reaves continue to be a spark plug for the second unit?
Last year, Austin Reaves had a breakout season for the Lakers. Following a slow start to the current season, coach Darvin Ham decided to move him to the bench. Since then, he has thrived as the sixth man.
Depth is a crucial factor for contending teams, and Reaves is providing that for the Lakers. In 15 games as a reserve, he's averaging 14.7 points and 5.1 assists while shooting close to 50%.
If Reaves can keep that up, it will make life easier for the Lakers during the stretches when one or both their stars are on the bench.
5) Can the Lakers overcome their injury woes?
When the Lakers made a flurry of signings in the offseason, they looked like they'd be one of the deepest teams this season. However, injuries have derailed them from deploying a fully healthy rotation.
Through 23 games, only Austin Reaves and D'Angelo Russell have played in every game. Others have missed a couple games, while some have been out for extended periods.
Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent have been two of their top acquisitions in the last year but have only played seven games between them. Rui Hachimura is another key name who has missed time early in the regular season.
Staying healthy is a key factor in contending for a title. Considering that, how the Lakers stay afloat as they continue to battle the injury bug will be one of their biggest storylines as the season wears on.