【湖人国度】洛杉矶湖人:2018-19赛季总冠军的有力竞争者
作者：Gil Alcaraz IV
译者：Gavin
校对：Shiro&FangSir
如果湖人真的能在本赛季向队史第17次总冠军发起冲击，以下三个关键因素将引领他们走向成功。
信不信由你，洛杉矶湖人就是2018-19赛季NBA总冠军的有力争夺者。也许目前看起来希望不大，而且几乎每一个人都会告诉你湖人夺冠机会渺茫，但是如果你继续阅读这篇文章，我会为你描绘出一个比你在大多数博客专栏中看到的都要精彩的未来。
毫无疑问，湖人会面临一些阻碍，在西部季后赛中杀出重围将会是一个很大的挑战。但是，在此之前，仅仅是努力拿到16张季后赛门票中的一张这一项，就足以考验这支球队的意志。因此我并不是说湖人队将会在下个赛季中横行霸道，碾压在联盟中的其他球队。
竞争总冠军需要全队倾尽所有，也许这还不够。也许勒布朗·詹姆斯需要奉献出他最出色的表现。但即便如此，我依然相信湖人有机会冲击总冠军。
你是否赞同我的观点完全取决于你自己。我在此只是想向大家展现一些能将这支被忽视的球队转变成一支令对手畏惧的球队的关键因素。这些因素能否湖人带来总冠军还未可知，但我现在想告诉你的是，湖人的夺冠机会远超过大多数人的想象。
话不多说，我们接下来进入正题。以下是我认为湖人是2018-19赛季NBA总冠军有力争夺者的三大关键因素。
3. 他们的年轻核心在持续进步
湖人队所谓的“年轻核心”，包括布兰登·英格拉姆、朗佐·鲍尔、凯尔·库兹玛和约什·哈特在内，年纪都很小，分别只有20岁、20岁、23岁和23岁。一般来说，大多数NBA球员往往在25岁左右达到职业生涯的巅峰。我只想说，这四名年轻球员还有很大的成长空间。
我们已经看到了这四名球员令人印象深刻的进步。英格拉姆在上赛季前成长显著，很可能在2018-19赛季中成为一名新星。作为一名新秀，鲍尔的投篮也许陷入了瓶颈，但他是一名精英级别的组织者和一名出色的防守者。库兹马有着不可思议的从替补席中站出来得分的能力，哈特在夏季联赛中展现出了足以竞争最佳第六人的潜力。
我想说的是，这些年轻的湖人前途无量。随着他们逐渐适应NBA赛场，他们的技术也会随之愈加娴熟起来。也许他们中的一两个人最终达到上限，但每个人都至少还有一到两年的上升期。
英格拉姆已经展现出攻防两端都有影响力的侧翼的风采，2018-19赛季他在这方面一定会取得更多进步；鲍尔的投射能力会越来越好；库兹马已经是球队进攻中不可或缺的力量，不过仍然需要改进他在防守端的表现；哈特可能成为这些球员中意外取得成功的球员，下赛季他有能力为替补席带来活力（或者首发出场）。
同时，我们也不能忘记莫里茨·瓦格纳、伊维卡·祖巴茨和斯维亚托斯拉夫·米哈伊柳克等球员，他们都有一技之长。如果这三名球员中的一名能在2018-19赛季初证明自己在场上有所贡献，那么他将会为湖人年轻出众的天才球员们锦上添花。
他们可能不是老练的季后赛老将，但接下来我就要讨论湖人队中的这类球员。
2. “造梗之队”可以奉献高效率的表现
人们很可能会嘲笑湖人在这个休赛期签下勒布朗后的一系列签约。这帮古怪的家伙：兰斯·斯特芬森，拉简·朗多，贾维尔·麦基和迈克尔·比斯利，肯定会让很多人百思不得其解。
然而，我倾向于相信魔术师约翰逊和他做出的决定。到目前为止，他还从没有将湖人引入歧途。在上任的一年半时间里，他把湖人队从NBA的笑柄变成了一个有力竞争者。所以让我们姑且信任他，即使这些球员看起来并不相互契合。
事实上，如果湖人能激发出以上这四名球员所具有的哪怕80%的潜力，他们的阵容就将十分强大。
史蒂芬森在遵循球队战术时是一个危险的辅助性进攻利器；多年来，隆多始终是一名多面手，但同时他仍是一个高效的组织者，并时不时展示出值得人们反复谈论的防守技巧；麦基是一名被低估的球员，他可以在球场两端都奉献出引人注目的表现；再看看比斯利去年在纽约尼克斯队的表现吧——他是替补席上狡猾、优秀的射手。
在勒布朗身边打球需要相当高的水准。看起来做出这个判断并非基于克利夫兰骑士队在2018年季后赛中的艰难表现，但这确实是真的。你最好相信詹皇会在这个赛季中激发出他队友的全部潜能。
不要低估湖人和他们这些不合群的球员。他们会惊艳到你，尤其是当季后赛来临的时候。
1. 勒布朗·詹姆斯
如果你期待的榜单榜之首与此不同，那你真的需要多看看篮球了。
世界上最伟大的球员现在是一名湖人了，而且他单枪匹马地扭转了球队的短期前景。大多数人似乎达成了共识，认为他不能在第一年就带领球队登顶。但我坚信，在谈论到NBA总决赛中，你永远不能将勒布朗排除在外。德韦恩·韦德一定很同意这个说法（来自ESPN的Ohm Youngmisuk的报道）
要记得，在过去八年里，詹姆斯都带领球队进入了总决赛。虽然他只赢得了三次总冠军，但我们不能忽视勒布朗明白如何带领球队成为顶尖的事实。
是的，他现在身处西部了。是的，他需要面对金州勇士队和休斯顿火箭队。虽然从西部突围会是一条更艰难的道路，但对于詹皇而言，这并不等同于不可能。詹姆斯以前就经历过逆境，而且这也绝对不会是他的最后一次。
我还认为詹姆斯在洛杉矶能比他上赛季在克利夫兰获得更多队友的帮助。特别是如果像鲍尔和英格拉姆这样的年轻球员能够提升他们的比赛水平，这个赛季临近结束时，他身边的天赋相比上赛季将会呈指数增长。这将使他在西部季后赛中的战斗更加有趣。
现在有太多人诋毁勒布朗。他不再在东部顺风顺水，他现在太老了，他不再在乎总冠军了……等等等等。这些都是无稽之谈。勒布朗·詹姆斯仍然是世界上最伟大的球员，而且下赛季他将会在湖人队证明这一点。
Los Angeles Lakers: 3 keys to being legitimate contenders in 2018-19
Gil Alcaraz IV
If the Los Angeles Lakers actually make a legitimate run at their 17th NBA Finals victory this season, these three key factors will be what gets them there.
Believe it or not, the Los Angeles Lakers are contenders for the 2018-19 NBA title. It may not seem like it right now, and nearly everyone is going to try to convince you otherwise. If you keep reading, though, I’ll paint you a prettier picture than you’ll find in most corners of the blogosphere.
There are undoubtedly going to be some hurdles. Finding their way through the Western Conference playoffs will be quite the challenge. Then again, just earning one of those 16 tickets to the postseason is going to be a test of this team’s will all by itself. I’m not saying the Lakers are just going to stride into this season and run roughshod on the rest of the league.
It’s going to take everything this roster has and then some. LeBron James may need to play some of his best basketball to get them there. And yet, when all is said and done, I believe there’s a legitimate chance the Lakers can make a run.
Whether or not you agree is up to you. I’m only here to try and shine some light on a few of the key aspects that could turn this overlooked squad into one worth being feared. Whether or not it leads to a title is still to be determined, but I’m telling you now that it’s more likely than most assume.
And with that said, let’s get into it. The following are what I believe to be the three keys to the Lakers emerging as legitimate contenders during the 2018-19 NBA season.
3. The continued development of their young core
The ages of the Lakers’ so-called “young core,” including Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart: 20, 20, 23 and 23, respectively. In general, most NBA players tend to reach their peak in their mid-to-late 20s. Suffice it to say there’s still plenty more growing up to do for this group.
And yet, we’ve already seen impressive development from these four. Ingram took a huge step forward a season ago, and appears on pace to emerge as a legitimate star in 2018-19. Ball may have struggled to shoot as a rookie, but was an elite playmaker and solid defender. Kuzma brings uncanny scoring skills off the bench, and Hart proved he’s dripping with Sixth Man of the Year potential during Summer League.
The point I’m trying to make here is that the sky is the limit for these young Lakers. As their careers mature, their talents will mature right along with them. One or two may hit a ceiling eventually, but each one has at least another year or two of considerable upward movement.
Ingram has already flashed potential as a disruptive two-way wing, and should make more progress in that regard in 2018-19. Ball is going to get better at shooting. Kuzma is already an offensive force, and should undergo defensive improvement. Hart could be the sleeper of the bunch, with the potential to emerge as a dynamic presence off the bench (or as a starter) this season.
We also mustn’t forget players like Moritz Wagner, Ivica Zubac and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, who all possess some semblance of upside. If another one of those three names can prove themselves as a quality contributor early in 2018-19, it’ll put a pretty little bow atop this package of young, tantalizing talent.
They may not be a bunch of seasoned, playoff-hardened veterans, but that’s what the next group I’m going to discuss is for.
2. Getting efficient play from the “Meme Team”
It’s very easy to poke fun at the post-LeBron signings the Lakers put together this offseason. The oddball bunch of Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Michael Beasley certainly had plenty of people scratching their heads.
However, I’m in the club that tends to trust Magic Johnson and his decision-making. He hasn’t led the Lakers astray thus far, taking them from one of the NBA’s laughingstocks to a legitimate contender in about a year and a half. So let’s give the guy the benefit of the doubt, even if the pieces don’t seem to fit.
Realistically, if the Lakers get even 80 percent of the potential possessed by the four aforementioned players, they’ll be in good shape.
Stephenson can be a dangerous, complementary offensive weapon when he plays under control. It’s been years since Rondo was a consistent two-way player, but he’s still an effective facilitator who has shown spurts of the defensive prowess people talk about from time to time. McGee is an underrated asset who can make splashy plays on both ends of the floor. And just look at what Beasley did with the New York Knicks last year — he’s a sneaky-good shooter off the bench.
Playing alongside LeBron demands a certain level of play. It may not seem that way based on the way the Cleveland Cavaliers limped through the 2018 NBA Playoffs, but it’s true. You better believe the King will bring out the best in his teammates this season.
Don’t discount the Lakers and their band of misfits. They may just surprise you, especially once the playoffs roll around.
1. LeBron James
If you were expecting anything different atop this list, then you need to watch more basketball.
The greatest player in the world is now a Laker, and he’s single-handedly turned this team’s short-term outlook around. The general consensus seems to be that he can’t take this team to the top in his first year, but I’m a firm believer that there’s no counting out LeBron when it comes to the NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade would agree with that assertion (via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk).
We must remember that, for the last eight years, James has led his team to the Finals. Although he’s only won three times, we simply can’t ignore the fact that LeBron knows how to make it the top.
Yes, he’s in the West now. Yes, he has the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets to go through. While the West will prove to be a more treacherous path for the King, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. James has certainly overcome adversity before, and this absolutely won’t be the last time.
I would also make the argument that James has a better supporting cast in Los Angeles than he did a season ago in Cleveland. Especially if youngsters like Ball and Ingram can up their game, the amount of talent around him could be exponentially better by season’s end than it was a year ago. That’ll make his battle through the Western Conference playoffs all the more interesting.
Too many people are writing off LeBron right now. He isn’t being babied in the East anymore, he’s getting too old, he doesn’t care about winning championships anymore… Blah, blah, blah. Enough with the nonsense. LeBron James is still the greatest player in the world, and he’s going to provide more evidence of that during his upcoming campaign with the Lakers.
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