Can The Lakers Compete With The Warriors?

At this point, it’s quite obvious that the Golden State Warriors are currently far better than the Los Angeles Lakers.

That’s a bit surprising considering many people expected the Warriors and Lakers to be competing for first place in the Western Conference this year.

However, right now the Warriors are number one with a 27-6 record and the Lakers are ninth at 16-18.

The Lakers are fighting for their lives while the Warriors are playing some of the best basketball in history and cruising to the playoffs.

However, there is still a lot of the season left and Lakers fans are hoping for a turnaround that leads to these two teams once again battling it out for Western Conference supremacy.

But is that really even possible?

Can Anyone Stop Curry?

Stopping the Warriors during any season is a tough task but this year it’s even harder because Stephen Curry is on fire.

Curry is the frontrunner for the MVP trophy and is playing simply amazing basketball.

Aside from making history by becoming the three-point champ of the NBA, Curry is also creating 27.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists a game.

LeBron James is no slouch though: he’s doing 27.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists a game.

However, both the Warriors and Lakers are more than just Curry and James and that’s both helping and hurting each team.

The rest of the Warriors’ roster and bench is just far more reliable than the Lakers’.

There are times when it feels like James is the only player on his team, even though he’s playing alongside some of the biggest names in the game.

Spurs at Lakers: 5 on LeBron pic.twitter.com/9XiMOf07Uo

— 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣’ 𝙉𝘽𝘼 🗣️ (@_Talkin_NBA) December 24, 2021

Some might say that James is actually playing better basketball than Curry – at least when you look at the numbers.

But that can’t be said for the rest of the Lakers, who don’t come even close to the Warriors.

Defense Disappointment

If the Lakers want to exist in the same realm as the Warriors, they need to step up their defense.

A few seasons ago, they were one of the best defensive squads in the league – but that’s definitely not true anymore.

LA will need to step it up to compete with the Warriors, who pose from all over the court.

This task is even more complicated now that the best defender for the Lakers, Anthony Davis, is once again out with an injury.

How can they create the sort of defense that stops Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green?

Fast & Furious

There are times when you forget that the Lakers consist of the oldest players in the league.

Then they play against the Warriors and you are harshly reminded.

When you watch LA go against Golden State, you see two teams: one that is young and fast and able to outrun their opponents…and the Lakers.

Jordan Poole with the SPEED ⚡️ and the STRENGTH 💪

(via @warriors) pic.twitter.com/MnS4T9JHEx

— The Game Day Hoops (@TheGameDayHoops) October 29, 2021

To make it deep into the postseason and claim any victories against the Warriors, the Lakers will have to somehow enhance their speed and agility.

If you want to take on the Warriors you need to be able to defend against fast breaks – and create some of your own too.

The goal of taking down the Warriors seems like a pipe dream right now for the Lakers – but it is possible.

However, it will take a lot of refinement, a lot of work, and perhaps a very smart trade or two.