Lakers' new star trio could be unstoppable … or combustible

LOS ANGELES — In just a few plays, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook demonstrated how they can become the NBA’s most dominant trio. In just a few plays, James, Davis and Westbrook also showed how they can become the NBA’s most dysfunctional trio.

Not that any of the highlight reels and blunders mattered that much. Their first game together coincided with the Lakers’ 111-99 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday at Staples Center. Never do NBA championship teams look the same in October as they do in June. Never do their opponents for that matter considering the Warriors rested stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.

“James said, “We are patiently enduring the process, aware that we will encounter moments of frustration. We will experience times when we’re not quite there and seem to take a step backwards. Anything worth having is worth the effort it takes.””

Nevertheless, a single game is enough to expose the numerous strengths and weaknesses of James, Davis, and Westbrook.

The strengths?

Davis (20 points), James (17 points, four assists) and Westbrook (10 points, 10 rebounds, six assists) offered plenty of scoring punch, partly fueled by their offensive brilliance and partly fueled by their defensive execution.

"It's all about being patient with the process and understating that we're going to have frustrating moments." LeBron James with @LakersReporter on being patient with the #Lakers building chemistry & understanding with a largely new roster. pic.twitter.com/uYrkZVz3ir

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 13, 2021

Westbrook successfully teamed up with James during fast-breaks. He also fed the ball to Davis for straightforward baskets. Furthermore, Westbrook exhibited his capacity to both aggressively take charge during transitions and to instead pass the ball to a more open teammate. These skills significantly contributed to the Lakers’ trio’s instrumental role in driving the team’s 15-6 run in the initial 4:06 minutes of the third quarter.

“Davis said, “We observed some impressive things when Me, Bron, and Russ were in action.”

The weaknesses?

James, with six turnovers, and Westbrook, with five, committed numerous errors, due in part to their frantic playing style and their combined unfamiliarity. Westbrook made several forced passes into the post and across the court. Both he and James also lost possession of the ball following drives inside.

Westbrook did not even score until midway through the second quarter. Following the Lakers’ double-digit run to open the second half, the Warriors went on a 21-3 tear with all three of those stars on the floor.

“During the season, we’re likely to experience highs and lows, as well as adversity,” said Westbrook. “Regardless, we’ll grow together and stay united. That’s what truly counts.”

James, Davis, and Westbrook have the potential to power the Lakers to a championship for the second time in three seasons. However, they also run the risk of failing at the most critical time.

Anthony Davis tells @LakersReporter what he liked from the #Lakers Big Three in tonight's preseason matchup at Staples. pic.twitter.com/81giKoqNa2

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 13, 2021

How long will it take for the stars of the Lakers to understand how to operate their engine effectively?

“Honestly, I don’t have the answer to that,” admitted Westbrook. “It’s a question that everyone seems to be asking. There’s no definitive answer yet. We’re going to approach it like any other team and find a solution. It isn’t necessary for us to figure it out by October 18th or 19th, whenever the first game is.”

The Lakers have one more preseason game in Sacramento on Thursday (10 p.m ET, NBA TV) before their actual season opener next week. Then, the Lakers will play a Warriors team that will feature Curry’s long-range shooting skills and Green’s defensive intensity. After that, the Lakers then face the Phoenix Suns, which dropped L.A. in the first round of the playoffs en route to a Finals berth in 2021.

Despite the challenging initial games, it could be difficult to imagine the Lakers struggling with a 1-4 start as they experienced in the 2012-13 season. Following this, the Lakers have potential victories against teams in the process of rebuilding, such as in San Antonio (Oct. 26), Oklahoma City (Oct. 27), and a three-game home series against Cleveland (Oct. 29) and Houston (Oct. 31, Nov. 2).

L.A. is on track to reflect the performance of the 2012-13 team — which attempted to incorporate new stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash with established ones such as Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol — as they haven’t won any of their five exhibition games. This is similar to the 2012-13 team’s preseason record of 0-8.

"Nobody has an answer for that…we're going to play and figure it out. We have one goal in mind and that's to win a championship." Russell Westbrook on when the #Lakers stars will start to 'click'. pic.twitter.com/UUBOsZ6zr3

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 13, 2021

“Reaching our peak performance might take the entire year,” stated Lakers coach Frank Vogel prior to the match. “Ideally, we aim to be at our best as we enter the playoffs. However, we’re determined to start off on a high note, aiming to be as efficient and strong as possible right out of the gates.”

Once the game began, the Lakers certainly started off strong, but this resulted in some over-enthusiasm.

Carmelo Anthony concluded the first play by taking a 3-pointer with a mere second left on the shot clock, earning him a visit to the free-throw line. After successfully making those foul shots, Anthony missed the subsequent two plays. A Davis block was followed by Westbrook and James making turnovers on back-to-back possessions. However, nearly two minutes afterward, James managed to score six points within 30 seconds, thanks to the Lakers’ defense and Westbrook’s ability to create plays.

The Lakers are focused on making sure that the trio’s on-court performance has more successes than mistakes, clearly. They also admitted that their exhibition play might be an accurate representation of what will happen in the regular season. Riding the Lakers’ roller coaster might mean enduring frustrating errors as the price of admission for experiencing the thrilling highs.

“Expecting some early-season turbulence is reasonable,” said Vogel. “However, we faced the same expectation two years ago and yet had a strong start. That’s what we’re aiming for this time as well.”

However, the Lakers’ situation two seasons ago is starkly different from their current circumstances.

Undoubtedly, the Lakers faced a multitude of challenges throughout that season. Their training camp in China was interrupted, they grappled with the grief of losing Kobe and Gianna Bryant, and they halted their season due to a worldwide pandemic. Despite these hurdles, they resumed the season three months later in a campus bubble and clinched the NBA title.

Regarding the challenges of the X’s and O’s? Initially, the Lakers had to strategize how James and Davis would mesh with a new coach and eight new team members. However, they soon discovered that James and Davis were a perfect match. James fulfilled his promise of making Davis the main offensive player, while Davis allowed James to take control of the offense.

This season, the Lakers must strategize how James and Westbrook will divide ball handling responsibilities, the tempo at which they will play, and how frequently they will pass the ball to Davis, other teammates, or keep it for themselves.

Beyond ironing out chemistry with their three main stars, the Lakers already have some dents in their championship armor. Veteran forward Trevor Ariza (ankle) is out at least seven more weeks, third-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker (thumb) will miss another month while Wayne Ellington (left hamstring), Malik Monk (right groin) and Kendrick Nunn (right ankle) are also nursing mild injuries.

“As a leader, my primary role is to manage my own frustrations,” James stated. “I believe that if I can maintain my composure, it will have a positive influence on everyone else. I’ve never been one to settle for anything less than excellence, but I also understand that certain things take time. As long as I stay focused on our main objectives and remain calm, regardless of what’s happening with our team, I know we’ll be alright.”

Similar to the previous two seasons, the Lakers aim to rely on James and Davis to highlight their capabilities and hide their weaknesses. Despite the Lakers’ desire to develop synergy with Westbrook, they have also deliberately kept James and Davis separate from him. This arrangement allows James to continue controlling the game and scoring independently, while Davis can still catch lobs from experienced guard Rajon Rondo, who the Lakers acknowledge for his contributions in practice, film sessions, and coaching meetings.

“All of our news guys, not just Russ, will experience this,” Vogel stated, referring to James and Davis. “They know our system best and have a good understanding of each other. They will bear the brunt of this, but we need everyone to be up to speed immediately,” he added.

This underscores the dilemma faced by all rapidly assembled star teams.

“Most of this typically requires time,” stated Steve Kerr, the coach of the Warriors. “The positive aspect is, if the players desire to work as a team, they’ll dedicate themselves to each other. That appears to be the situation here. They all aspire to unite. They’ll sort it out. They are all intelligent and exceptional players.”

Hence, it’s improbable that the Lakers will relive the 2012-13 horror, when Bryant, Howard, Gasol, and Nash couldn’t seem to agree on how to harmonize their skills. This Lakers team has discussed forming a strong bond during an unofficial camp in Las Vegas, through film sessions, and group texts. However, drawing inspiration from other teams of championship quality might be a bit far-fetched.

Kerr admitted that the 2016-17 season was a learning experience for Durant and the Warriors, but their effective collaboration led to back-to-back NBA championships. Durant’s successful integration of his scoring abilities with Curry and Thompson was the key. James, on the other hand, has his own experience working with Wade and Bosh in Miami, and Irving and Love in Cleveland, but it’s important to note that neither Miami nor Cleveland won an NBA title without first losing in the Finals. This season, the Lakers may not have the luxury of such patience.

“Each challenge is unique, as is each year,” said James. “I can’t compare past teams or situations to this year. The focus this year is on the amount of effort we can put forth and our determination to continuously improve.”

This year also focuses on the degree to which James, Davis, and Westbrook can combine their skills. It could be a sight that’s both magnificent and unsightly to behold.

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Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.

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