It's time to be honest - the Lakers look great and are bonafide contenders

ScrantonBulls · Post #1 » by **ScrantonBulls** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 5:50 am

This Lakers team has been winning games where they are missing Luka + LeBron or Reeves + LeBron. They're going toe-to-toe with the 5-1 Spurs while missing Reaves and LeBron.

- Luka looks like he's in the best shape of his life and is killing it.
- Reaves has taken another step and looks like a true all-star.
- LaRavia came out of nowhere and has been putting up REALLY good numbers.
- Rui is still playing well and is a great complementary piece.
- Ayton has been a complete steal so far and filled their huge hole at the C.
- Smart appears to not be completely washed. He's a piece they really needed.
- Bronny makes people lose their minds.

This team has so much talent. LeBron will finally be able to get some breaks and take a backseat offensively. He's got all this talent around him to take the load off him.

This team looks DANGEROUS. If they can improve their defense, they'll be giving OKC a run for their money.

Dr Aki · Post #2 » by **Dr Aki** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 5:51 am

Lakers still a bunch of LeFrauds

HiDef · Post #3 » by **HiDef** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 5:53 am

Their defense isn't up to the task, IMO. They don't look like title contenders, just a good solid team.

Effigy · Post #4 » by **Effigy** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 5:54 am

Thanks Adam.

Caneman786 · Post #5 » by **Caneman786** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:01 am

I don't believe it. They won't make the playoffs, maybe not the play in.

Suns also were 9-1 last season

Maxthirty · Post #6 » by **Maxthirty** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:06 am

They’ll obviously get worse when their all nba/allstar level players are healthy and playing together.

DusterBuster · Post #7 » by **DusterBuster** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:08 am

They're gonna be a Top 4 team in the West, not ready to go to contender yet.

theforumblue · Post #8 » by **theforumblue** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:10 am

dangerously dumb anyway.

SlimShady83 · Post #9 » by **SlimShady83** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:13 am

Stop talking about Lebron, don't even need him. But yeh great win vs Spurs, but the REFS made it hard to watch.

Next team to beat OKC, bring it on Clav!

Let's go Lakers!

Emotions are high

SlimShady83 · Post #10 » by **SlimShady83** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:14 am

DusterBuster wrote:They're gonna be a Top 4 team in the West, not ready to go to contender yet.

Top3 where I want them :nod:

Maverick41 · Post #11 » by **Maverick41** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:15 am

They should call up NOP about Herb Jones. If they can somehow get him to add on top of the current roster, they can be legit contenders.

Post #12 » by **Mavrelous** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:18 am

They are gelling and they are winning close games, but theybaren't really an elite team in a convincing way.
They are however setting themselves up to be in great position once 3&D player become available, then they can become elite.

ball_takes23 · Post #13 » by **ball_takes23** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:22 am

If the refs continue to call these 60 foul 90 FT unwatchable games for the entire season then yes they are a strong contender. If the refs tighten up the whistle after the all-star break like they did last year its hard to see the Lakers beating a physical team like Houston or OKC in a 7 game series.

ScrantonBulls · Post #14 » by **ScrantonBulls** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:22 am

SlimShady83 wrote:Stop talking about Lebron, don't even need him. But yeh great win vs Spurs, but the REFS made it hard to watch.

Next team to beat OKC, bring it on Clav!

Let's go Lakers!

Emotions are high

It's always funny when select "Lakers" fans constantly hate and whine about LeBron James because they still can't get over the fact that he so definitively surpassed Kobe over a decade ago. Would rather the team do it without him and suffer than playing better and contending with him in the limeup. True team fandom right there.

The High Cyde · Post #15 » by **The High Cyde** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:24 am

They’ll never go anywhere with DNP Old LeBum, addition by subtraction jettisoning him across the street to the Clips honestly, get it done Mitch!

SlimShady83 · Post #16 » by **SlimShady83** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:24 am

ScrantonBulls wrote:
SlimShady83 wrote:Stop talking about Lebron, don't even need him. But yeh great win vs Spurs, but the REFS made it hard to watch.

Next team to beat OKC, bring it on Clav!

Let's go Lakers!

Emotions are high

It's always funny when select "Lakers" fans constantly hate and whine about LeBron James because they still can't get over the fact that he so definitively surpassed Kobe over a decade ago.

And it's funny, how you think this has to do with Kobe, but yeh ok, sure. Believe what you want to beleive

OriginalRed · Post #17 » by **OriginalRed** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:24 am

They're definitely a contender no doubt. It remains to be seen whether they can win a championship as they haven't shown that championship level defense yet. If Lebron can still defend like he used too in spurts, it might be best ot let him anchor the D while Reaves and Luka run the show. The days of Lebron orchestrating the entire offense of the team should be long gone.

Berbasecks · Post #18 » by **Berbasecks** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:25 am

Now imagine if Lebron would've settled for the vet minimum

doogie_hauser · Post #19 » by **doogie_hauser** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:26 am

All it takes is one serious injury to Luka and they are cooked. Having said that, they definitely playing way above my pre season expectations so far, JJ is really developing nicely as a young, if somewhat feisty coach.

Ayton seems like to have been a very good signing for them so far.

Curious to see the chemistry of the team once Lebron returns in a week or two.

NiceLikeChrist · Post #20 » by **NiceLikeChrist** » Thu Nov 6, 2025 6:27 am

The spurs are not a great team. Nowhere close to a contender. They haven’t even played a great team yet and that includes the lakers.

Same for the lakers. They also haven’t played a great team yet and they’ve been officiated truly disgustingly so far.

Contenders is crazy talk. They aren’t even as good as the Mavs when they went to the finals and that Mavs team wasnt a legitimate contender either.