Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Broussard shreds Lakers after loss to Rockets

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 11/9/23

The Los Angeles Lakers have endured a slow start to the new season.

Rob Pelinka spent the summer upgrading the team's bench, but those upgrades have failed to hit the ground running. The Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, falling to 3-5 in their first eight games.

According to Chris Broussard, who spoke on an episode of Fox Sports' "First Things First," the Lakers don't look like a contending team.

"They look nothing like a contender right now," Broussard said. "You're two best players are likely to miss roughly a quarter of the season... They can't really beat a lot of teams, or play significantly good basketball for a long stretch without LeBron or Anthony Davis. They're the worst three-point shooting team in the league right now. It will definitely get a little better, but they will still be bottom five, or bottom 10. So, they've got a lot of issues."

Worried about the 3-5 Lakers?

"Yes. They're a L.O.B.O.B. team (Larry O'Brien or Bust team). They look nothing like a contender right now. They have a lot of issues." — @Chris_Broussard pic.twitter.com/xi8zw5sF5a
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) November 9, 2023

Every move the Lakers have made in recent years has been geared toward winning a championship. The franchise has spent almost every trade asset it has available. The roster is supposed to lighten the load on LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but no one has stepped up to offer significant contributions at this point.

The Lakers' slow start has undoubtedly raised concerns. LeBron is in the final stretch of his career. He wants to win another championship. It's looking increasingly unlikely that will happen with the Lakers. For all the upside of Davis, his health issues are limiting the team.

However, it's worth remembering the Lakers struggled during the early part of last season, too. They ended up making the Western Conference Finals. Eight games is far too soon to hit the panic button, but being concerned about an aging roster's inability to figure things out is fair.

Darvin Ham has his work cut out.

Still, if LeBron has taught us anything over the last 20 years, it's that he and his teams should never be counted out. Not even at this stage of his career.

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