National Basketball Association

Los Angeles Lakers: Winning Games Isn't Paramount

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:48 p.m. ET

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The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a franchise-worst 17-win season but improving that number is far from the most important part of 2016-17.

Sep 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton (center) poses with guard D’Angelo Russell (1), guard Julius Randle (30) and guard Jordan Clarkson (6) at media day at Toyota Sports Center.. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers fans are currently sitting in the NBA’s departure lounge preparing to board flight 2016-17. A flight which they hope will run smoothly in the hands of Captain Luke Walton and his crew of veterans and youngsters, but in reality, is likely to hit some turbulence.

For some, they are expecting first-class service on a coach ticket. For others, they know it’s a long journey and have prepared themselves accordingly.

How fans review the season, in the end, will vary depending on personal experiences but as Jalen Rose recently said on his podcast, “happiness is a function of expectation.”

Creating realistic expectations and setting achievable goals is the key to happiness for the locals on the purple and gold side of La La Land.

In a time where one of the greatest players even in LeBron James is still leading his teams to championships and the best regular season team ever is right behind him, it’s tough for rebuilding teams to accumulate wins.

To avoid disappointment this year, fans, players, and staff need to somewhat ignore the win column and look elsewhere for reasons to label this upcoming season a success.

Oct 13, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton talks with Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) while playing against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

Buy into Luke Walton

With the retirement of 20-year Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, the franchise is almost unrecognizable. New players, and perhaps, more importantly, a new coach, have an opportunity to set the tone for the next generation of Lakers basketball.

Nothing is more important this season than seeing Luke Walton instill promising and successful systems that the youngsters buy into with unwavering support.

Walton doesn’t have a massive NBA head coaching resume, but what he does have is a 39-4 record as the interim coach of the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors after Steve Kerr took a leave of absence.

While a lot of that is a result of Kerr — and what NBA GM’s consider the best run offense in the league — Walton has proven he can manage a group of players and their egos at the least.

No matter what Walton has been able to achieve in the weeks leading up to the regular season, it’s not going to be anywhere near the finished product. It’s a very real possibility the 2016-17 version may not even crack 30 wins.

As the losses begin to compound, which they inevitably will, it’s important the players don’t lose faith in the coaching staff and their systems. Early on, everyone seems to be making the right noises as Walton suggests to the OC Register’s Bill Oram:

“I don’t want to let them down. It seems like they’re going to buy in and trust what we’re teaching. What we’re teaching better be right. Otherwise that’s a really (expletive) feeling.”

Assuming Walton is the great coach he’s paraded around as being, his schemes will be the way of the future and it’s up to the players to embrace them.

Oct 19, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Yi Jianlian (right) gestures before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Build a new chemistry and culture

The Lakers franchise has repeatedly had all-time great players at the forefront. Without a definitive leader and their next 20-year franchise player yet set in stone, building a team inspired by culture and chemistry is a must.

So often have previous Laker teams been able to lean on the likes of Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant when things get tough. There has often been one guy leading with 14 others behind him.

Going forward, 2016-17 in particular, the team as a whole must learn to carry the load together.

Win as a team. Lose as a team.

The Golden State Warriors are often regarded as having one of the tightest bonds in the NBA. Admittedly, it’s an easy achievement when you’re winning 73 games, but not even they could avoid issues in the locker room.

How the Lakers respond to their own adversity in a season spent dwelling on losses more than celebrating wins will be an all important character building exercise.

When the going gets tough, jabs in the media and swipes at teammates will only erode a chemistry within the team that’s not yet fully formed.

The maturity of the youngsters is where it all begins.

When your best player is a 20-year old D’Angelo Russell, relying on maturation seems a tall order. After Russell’s issues in his rookie season, seeing a continued improvement from him in how he carries himself as an NBA player is the footing for the change in culture.

Oct 21, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss (0) reaches for the ball between Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) and forward Julius Randle (30) during a preseason NBA game at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The youngsters improve

Russell is the most important player in this Lakers squad. On the back of his improvements, Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, and Brandon Ingram all reap the benefit.

He might only be developing his game himself but already has ambitions to be the leader of this team as he told Mark Medina of LA Daily News:

“I always felt I had the leadership qualities as far as being a leader or leading a team.”

With ambitions like that, Russell has inadvertently put the development of his teammates on his shoulders. He’s the main point of the offense and anything he does to start a set directly affects how his teammates respond and play.

If he manages to put in a Most Improved Player-contending season, the rest of the team improve with him.

The young Lakers will only improve this season as much as Russell does.

Undoubtedly more important than win totals, becoming better basketball players would warrant this season a success.

This Lakers core is raw and at times it’s blindingly obvious.

While Ingram has the tools to be a monster defensively, he got himself lost and gave up easy opportunities for the opposition a number of times throughout the preseason.

It’s likely to come with experience, but if he can improve on the amount times he’s caught in no man’s land defensively this season, he’s putting himself on the right track to be an NBA star.

Randle is another with all the tools but limited experience. He can beat smaller guys with his size and bigger guys with his speed. What Walton will be looking for this season is how Randle reads situations he has the ball in his hands.

Eliminating the Hail Marys after committing himself to a shot that was never there will see him develop into the player so many expected him to become.