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Lakers’ 11-2 start hasn’t convinced everyone they’re title contenders
The Los Angeles Lakers have started the NBA season 11-2 and rank among its top teams, but former champion and analyst Kendrick Perkins says they have not yet proved they are genuine title contenders. He argues that a strong record needs to be backed by a defining win over a leading opponent.
Perkins pointed to the Lakers’ lack of wins against Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio and New York, while their toughest games so far have been against Portland, Golden State and Detroit. Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic both left Wednesday’s game injured, but the team shared positive updates at Friday’s practice; Doncic’s health remains especially important to the Lakers’ prospects.
In short
- The Lakers are 11-2, but Perkins wants a signature win.
- Their toughest opponents so far have included Portland, Golden State and Detroit.
- Positive injury updates came for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
An 11-2 start is strong evidence that the Lakers are playing at an elite level, and a title contender should be judged on its overall performance rather than a handful of match-ups. Injuries to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic may also have affected what the team could show in its toughest games, so there is reason to wait for a fuller test before drawing conclusions.
The case against
A strong record alone may not establish that the Lakers can beat the best teams when the stakes are highest. Their schedule has yet to include wins over leading opponents such as Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio or New York, so requiring a defining victory before calling them genuine title contenders is a reasonable standard.
Explained simply
The NBA is the top professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. Teams play a long regular season before the play-offs, where they compete to become champions; a strong start can help a team qualify, but does not guarantee success.
The Lakers are a Los Angeles team with a long history of NBA titles. Their season depends on a squad of players, including star guard Luka Doncic and guard Austin Reaves, while former player Kendrick Perkins now comments on the league as an analyst. Assessments of a team’s title chances often look at both its results and how it fares against other leading teams.
Injuries can affect a team’s form and prospects, especially when key players are unavailable. Doncic’s fitness is therefore one factor in judging how the Lakers might perform over the rest of the season.
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