The case for the Lakers

Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the world, Austin Reaves is a brilliant No. 2 scorer, LeBron has seen everything twice and the defense is perking up. There's a path.

Good morning. The sun is still rising every day, despite everything. Let's basketball.

Please know that it pains me to write this, but: there is a case that the Los Angeles Lakers will have a role in determining the NBA champion, and there's even a case that the NBA champion could be them.

Many analysts have remained skeptical all season for good reason. The defense has been atrocious for most of the year. The chemistry between Luka Doncic, the team's obvious best player, and LeBron James, the team's obvious leader and one of the greatest ever, clearly does not exist. It's not oil and water – there isn't this crazy polarity that rejects synthesis. But there's no positive reaction when the forces are combined, at least at this point. Deandre Ayton has been exactly what you'd expect Deandre Ayton to be. None of the supplementary pieces have really stood out, with the possible exception of Rui Hachimura, who is always better than you'd think.

But L.A.'s on a heater, having won eight of nine with victories over the Wolves, Knicks and Nuggets in that stretch. (The loss was also to the Nuggets.) The defense is No. 12 in the league since the All-Star break and the offense is No. 5. Luka looks as good as he has since the trade, and really since the Mavericks' 2024 Finals run. He's playing like an MVP candidate. And the chemistry with Austin Reaves is real. Reaves isn't totally similar to Kyrie Irving, Luka's last great running mate. Reaves is actually a bit more like Jalen Brunson, Doncic's prior high-level backcourt partner. Whatever the case: it works. The dual pressure Luka and Reaves put on defenses is totally cracking them, even given a lack of many other options.