So… Are the Lakers Just Good Now?

Before the NBA All-Star break in February, the Los Angeles Lakers just weren’t playing good basketball. The team felt awkward, like it was stuck in a transition between the Luka Dončić era and the LeBron James era.

Austin Reaves was in and out of the lineup with injury, and it just felt like the Lakers were destined for another first-round exit this spring. And honestly, that still could be the case, but Lakers fans should feel great about their team right now.

They’re currently on a seven-game win streak, sitting at 44–25 and holding the third seed in the Western Conference. During that stretch, they’ve beaten the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and the Houston Rockets (twice).

I’m writing this the night before they face the Miami Heat, which is the second night of a back-to-back on a Houston road trip. This could easily be a scheduled loss, and I’m expecting that—but with 13 games left, the Lakers have simply been a good team for most of this month, even against tough competition.

The biggest difference? The vibe and defense.

Luka Dončić is starting to look like himself again and is playing his best basketball as a Laker. He currently leads the NBA in points per game and is coming off a 40-point performance against Houston. In a playoff setting, he could very well be the best player on the floor any given night.

Austin Reaves has continued to improve, both throughout his career and this season. He’s averaging nearly 24 points and six assists per game while shooting around 50% from the field.

Then there’s LeBron. He’s been in and out of the lineup, and yes, at times he’s shown his age. He’s not the dominant force he once was, but if LeBron James is your third-best or even third-most consistent player, that should be a recipe for success.

We saw that in the last game against Houston, where he dropped 30 points on 93% shooting. That’s ridiculous for anyone, let alone a 41-year-old.

Even the role players are stepping up. Marcus Smart has stepped into the starting lineup and, while he’s not the same defensive force he once was, he’s still making impactful plays and creating turnovers in big moments. Deandre Ayton also seems to have settled into his role, and it’s showing on the defensive end.

Since the All-Star break, after defense was a major issue earlier in the season, the Lakers now rank fifth in defensive rating and sixth in opponent points per game over that stretch. More importantly, they’re just winning games against good teams.

Now, I’ll be honest, I still have concerns in a seven-game series. That’s where teams can really game plan and expose the weaknesses we saw before the All-Star break.

But at the same time, I have to take seriously a “big three” of LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Dončić. That’s a group that can take over any game at any moment in a playoff series.

If the Lakers keep playing like this, they need to be taken seriously, or at least seen as a threat in the Western Conference. A championship contender? Probably not. I’d still take teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and even the San Antonio Spurs over them.

But is there a scenario where Luka and LeBron are just too much for a team to handle? Absolutely.

Time will tell. But right now, I like what I’m seeing from this squad.