Former lottery pick proclaims current LA Lakers can win a title - "Mark it down"
Former NBA player Jay Williams believes the LA Lakers can still go on to win the NBA championship.
The Lakers started the season with a powerful trio of Russel Westbrook, Anthony Davis and LeBron James. However, a poor start to the season and dimming playoff hopes saw them change things around. Rui Hachimura and D’Angelo Russel have emerged as important players, while Austin Reeves has also recently moved into the starting lineup.
The LA Lakers have responded with a 4-1 record in their last 5 games and will have a better than 50% record if they can beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the next game. That will also help in the race for the 6th seed in the Western Conference and automatic playoff qualification.
Jay Williams was so impressed with their 121-110 victory, which saw Anthony Davis produce 38 points and 10 rebounds, that he ended up proclaiming them as title contenders. He said:
“Negativity goes viral. Today, they win positively, it is going to go viral. You know why, because since his first season with the Lakers, Anthony Davis has been averaging 26 points per game, it matches his first season with the Lakers. Field goal percentage, career best, rebounds percentage, career best, 48% of shots were at the rim, matches his career-best.”
He added:
“When you tell me that the team is healthy, with LeBron James, like he was yesterday, he smells blood in the water, because of everybody being injured on the west, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reeves, D’Angelo Russel, this team defensively, the way they blended, last night. That is a team last night, that can win a Championship. Mark it down.”
.@RealJayWilliams on the Lakers:
"That is a team last night that can win a world championship. Mark it down." ✍️ https://t.co/JAl7OVotvN
Can LA Lakers emerge as NBA champions?
The LA Lakers potentially winning the championship seemed like a far-fetched idea just a few weeks ago. Kevin Durant’s move to the Phoenix Suns has seen them become most people’s favorites for this season. However, Durant has not yet gotten going and has been injured in all but 3 games.
The Western Conference also sees a host of injured players, which has helped the LA Lakers find momentum at the right time. LeBron James recently returned to the starting lineup and looked close to his best in the return matchup against the Bulls.
Anthony Davis produced a 38-point double-double, while Austin Reeves finished with 19 points and 5 assists.
LeBron on Austin Reaves doing the "too small" gesture to Pat Bev:
“AR always got my back. Even though he loved Kobe back in the day more than me. I forgive him.”
https://t.co/uj1WbTrtTB
With the new-look starting lineup, the LA Lakers have been able to defend better as a unit and have been flexible in allowing their stars to focus on their offensive games.
The LA Lakers are currently 8th with a .5 record for only the second time in the NBA this season. They need to keep winning, but look set to make the Play-in tournament as things stand.