National Basketball Association

Lakers After The Season's First Quarter

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

With the first quarter of the season in the rearview, we check back in on the Lakers and look at what to expect going forward.

The NBA season is already about 25 percent completed, and the Lakers are probably the surprise team of the league. With a record of 10-12, they even have a chance at making the playoffs, which few people predicted.

What are the main strengths of the team so far?

What still needs to be worked on?

What should we expect to see the rest of the season?

None of the various player injuries appear to be serious, so there is reason to hope that they will all return to action and be able to pick up right where they left off. At full strength, the Lakers are capable of beating any NBA on any given night. But at this point in their development, they can’t do so on a night-in, night-out basis.

The Western Conference might not be quite the powerhouse it was a few years ago, but it is still highly competitive. Chances are the Lakers will win 34-38 games this season, which would represent a huge improvement over the last three years, but the team will likely fall short of the playoffs.

With the style of ball movement Walton has them playing, and with their energy and never-say-die mentality, the Lakers are a fun team to watch. Fans have every right to believe that this is only the beginning of a promising new era.

Do you think the Lakers can challenge for a playoff spot? What does the team still need to work on? Let us know in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter (@TheLakeShowLife).