Incredible but true ! After starting the season with an awful record of 2 wins for 10 losses in the first twelve games, the Lakers are now in the Western Conference finals. Behind this 180° turn and this almost unique course, there is of course the level of play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, or even the blossoming of Austin Reaves and the defensive systems of Darvin Ham, but all this would not have been possible without the gamble of Rob Pelinka ! While he was highly contested, the vice-president and GM of the Lakers pulled off a masterstroke during the “trade deadline” by transforming a team that would undoubtedly miss the “play-in” into a roster cut out for the title.
Criticized for 18 months for getting Russell Westbrook, Rob Pelinka managed, in several exchanges, to transform the workforce. First there was the arrival of Rui Hachimura, who arrived in exchange for Kendrick Nunn, then at the end, he managed to separate from Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley and Thomas Bryant, to recover D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt , Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba.
After trade, Lakers drop from 13th to 7th place
“Sometimes when you try to make a choice and it doesn’t work out, your job is to fix that bad choice” explains Rob Pelinka. “At the trade deadline, we felt that we needed to improve certain things, in particular the size of our exteriors, playmaking and shooting. Usually, at the trade deadline, you tick a box or type of profile you need, and we were able to do it. I think it shows in the way we play and win. We are simply grateful to everyone internally who has worked so hard to make these exchanges possible.”.
With a starting five retouched to 40%, Los Angeles has improved its spacing, its outside shoot and especially its defense! The Lakers thus ended the regular season in a cannonball with 18 wins for 8 losses over the last 26 meetings to move from 13th to 7th place. And this despite the absence for a month of LeBron James.
A group strengthened by hardships
Darvin Ham’s men then disposed of Wolves in the play-in, before overcoming the Grizzlies, seeded number 2, in six games in the first round of the playoffs. In the conference semi-finals, the defending champion awaited them: the Warriors. Carried by a huge Anthony Davis, the Lakers still made the difference in six games, with a remarkable home invincibility. This is also the first time under the Steve Kerr era that Golden State lost in the playoffs against a team from the West.
“It’s amazing because the Warriors are a first class franchise, with incredible players” praised Rob Pelinka. “But I think what we experienced at the start of the season really reinforced our collective determination and courage. I think in a way it brought us closer. We obviously added new players, but they just felt this unity and the competitiveness of this team..
Now, the Lakers have an appointment in the conference finals with the Nuggets. This is the same poster as in the 2020 playoffs. That year, Los Angeles won 4-1 but this time it is Denver (1st in the West) who is the favorite .
