Top 4 reasons LA Lakers can repeat as in-season tournament champions with 2024 Emirates NBA Cup win
The LA Lakers tip off their four-game 2024 Emirates NBA Cup group play schedule on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs in West Group B. They will seek to start strong as they prepare to defend last year's inaugural in-season tournament championship.
However, LA has experienced considerable change since last season's 123-109 title matchup victory over the Indiana Pacers. Most notably, the franchise swapped coach Darvin Ham for rookie coach JJ Redick, who has re-invented his team's playstyle around superstar center Anthony Davis.
While the Lakers are tied for the league's ninth-best record (6-4), they have a few factors working in their favor that could help them prevail again.
On that note, here are four reasons LA can repeat as NBA Cup champions.
4 reasons LA Lakers can win second straight Emirates NBA Cup
#4 Key injuries in West Group B
LA appears to have caught a break ahead of its NBA Cup schedule, with its two biggest threats in West Group B sustaining key injuries.
The OKC Thunder (9-2) are set to be without rising star center Chet Holmgren (hip) for at least the next eight-to-10 weeks. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns (8-2) are expected to play in superstar forward Kevin Durant's (calf) absence for a minimum of two weeks.
Apart from OKC and Phoenix, San Antonio (5-6) and the rebuilding Utah Jazz (2-7) are the other squads in the Lakers' group. Thus, they should have a relatively soft group play schedule.
#3 JJ Redick could shorten his rotations
JJ Redick has attempted to increase LA's ball movement and 3-point shooting while getting his complementary players more involved to start the season. Nevertheless, the Lakers are tied for 27th in the league in bench scoring (23.7 points per game).
So, if Redick treats NBA Cup games like playoff contests and shortens his rotation, it should bode well for his squad.
#2 LeBron James typically thrives in high-stakes matchups
LeBron James' early season scoring average (23.2 points per game) marks his lowest since his rookie campaign (2003-04). However, the four-time MVP has a knack for elevating his play in high-stakes showdowns.
James took home MVP of last year's in-season tournament. Over seven outings, he averaged 26.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.9 3-pointers per game, shooting 56.8% and 60.6% from deep.
Moreover, the 20-time All-Star has been heating up lately, tallying two consecutive triple-doubles. He also scored a season-high 39 points during Wednesday's 131-114 road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
So, James could again reach another level during this year's NBA Cup schedule.
#1 Anthony Davis' dominant play
Anthony Davis has enjoyed a career year in his first campaign under JJ Redick, carrying LA on both ends of the floor. The nine-time All-Star is averaging a career-best 31.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.3 spg and 2.0 bpg, shooting 57.7%.
Davis has looked the part of a bona fide No. 1 option on a contender thus far, which should translate to NBA Cup play if he's healthy. Unfortunately for the Lakers, he exited Sunday's 123-103 home win over the Toronto Raptors with a left eye injury.
The severity of Davis' injury has yet to be reported. However, if he can play through it, he could spearhead another in-season tournament championship run.
Also Read: JJ Redick excited about LA's 'responsiveness', while LeBron James makes diplomatic assessment of 10-game sample size