The NBA in Tiers: 2020-21 Preseason Edition https://t.co/yv7Ltc4chB
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) December 7, 2020
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Los Angeles Lakers
Kevin O’Connor: In order to create a dynasty in the NBA, many things must occur. Teams need at least one legendary player, a costar, a strong supporting cast, and plenty of good fortune; as the Golden State Warriors have shown, bad injury luck can rattle a team’s status as a contender. With that in mind, there is one team with all the telltale signs of a potential dynasty entering the 2020-21 season: the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.
Just weeks after steamrolling the West and beating the Miami Heat to win the Finals, the Lakers upgraded their roster. They added the Sixth Man of the Year winner and runner-up for the award, big man Montrezl Harrell and point guard Dennis Schröder; both should help cure the half-court hiccups that the Lakers sometimes experienced last season when LeBron James rested. They also brought on two smart veterans in center Marc Gasol and wing Wesley Matthews to bolster the rotation.
The Lakers put a cherry on top of their offseason by extending the contracts of James through 2022-23 and Anthony Davis through 2024-25; if they stay healthy, their presence assures the Lakers will remain in contention.
The NBA is littered with teams that have Finals hopes. But none of them have more championship qualities than the Lakers, which is why they’re in their own tier as the singular favorite to win the Finals and go back-to-back.
Good to see the experts at the Ringer recognize what a great offseason the Lakers had and set them in a tier all by themselves at the top of the NBA. Lakers on their way to another dynasty.