Lakers Have The Same Record As Last Year After 17 Games

The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a strangely familiar position this season, matching their 10-7 record from last year after 17 games. 

Despite the offseason changes and the optimism surrounding the team under new head coach JJ Redick, the results have mirrored those of the previous campaign under Darvin Ham. In the 2023-24 season, the Lakers started 10-7 and eventually finished with a 47-35 record, landing the seventh seed in the Western Conference. This year, fans are hoping the Lakers can avoid the pitfalls that hindered them last season and turn this promising start into sustained success.

Last season, the Lakers opened with strong performances against quality teams and even secured the inaugural NBA Cup. However, inconsistency quickly became their Achilles’ heel. They endured two separate four-game losing streaks and dipped below .500 at one point. 

Statistically, the team was middling, finishing 15th in offensive rating, 17th in defensive rating, and 19th in net rating. Their inability to find consistency was a glaring issue.

This season, the narrative appeared set to change. The Lakers started with three consecutive wins, only to falter during a five-game road trip where they went 1-4. Returning home, they found their groove with a six-game winning streak, but recent back-to-back losses to the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets have raised concerns about lingering issues.

A key difference between this year’s team and last year’s lies in their offensive and defensive metrics. While the 2023-24 Lakers were average on both ends of the floor, the 2024-25 iteration has emerged as an offensive powerhouse, boasting the league’s fourth-best offensive rating. LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Anthony Davis have all contributed significantly to their scoring success, making the team thrilling to watch on offense.

However, the defensive end tells a different story. The Lakers rank 26th in defensive rating, placing them among the league's worst defensive teams. They’ve struggled mightily in key areas, ranking 28th in points allowed in the paint, 29th in opponents’ fast-break points, and 22nd in second-chance points. 

Injuries to Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, and Jaxson Hayes have exacerbated their defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in protecting the rim and cleaning up the glass.

The Lakers’ recent losses highlight their shortcomings. Against the Magic, missed free throws late in the game proved costly, as the team let a winnable contest slip away. The Nuggets loss, on the other hand, was arguably their worst performance of the season. Nikola Jokic and Denver dismantled the Lakers, exposing their defensive flaws and leaving little room for optimism in that outing.

Despite their defensive struggles, the Lakers have shown flashes of brilliance. Their offensive system under JJ Redick is fluid and effective, and the team’s depth has kept them competitive. With Vanderbilt’s eventual return and the hope of healthier bigs, their defense could see significant improvement.

While the Lakers' 10-7 start mirrors last year, the ceiling for this team feels higher. If they can shore up their defensive issues and maintain offensive consistency, a better finish than the seventh seed is within reach. But as history shows, the road to success will require more than just talent—it will demand focus, discipline, and resilience.