Lakers 2024-25 season: Doncic joins injects vitality into the team, and defense becomes the biggest challenge

In the 2024-25 season, the story of the Los Angeles Lakers is destined to be full of drama. From exciting player trades to disappointing first-round exits in the playoffs, the Lakers’ ups and downs are overwhelming. The third in the regular season Western Conference is a recognition of the team's strength. However, the regrets in the first round of the playoffs made everyone feel an indelible shadow.

Lakers' lineup: Doncic's arrival and challenge coexist

When it comes to this year's Lakers, the most eye-catching thing is undoubtedly Doncic's joining. In the middle of the season, the Lakers successfully introduced the talented player through a compelling deal, and his arrival instantly increased the team's offensive firepower. The backcourt combination of Doncic and Reeves has brought stronger offensive capabilities to the Lakers. Doncic is not only a scorer, but also the organizer of the entire team. His vision and field perception on the court make the Lakers' offense smoother. In the regular season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game, which is completely irreplaceable on the court.

However, the firepower on the offensive end did not cover up the Lakers' defensive end. The two defenders Doncic and Reeves have relatively weak defensive abilities, which often allows opponents to break through the defense, putting a lot of pressure on the team's defense. Especially in the playoffs, the defensive shortcomings are exposed more clearly. The Timberwolves' performance in the first round showed this. They easily tore open the Lakers' defense line and finally stopped the Lakers in the first round.

The core challenges faced by the Lakers

For the Lakers, the future offseason is undoubtedly a critical moment that determines the fate of the team. Doncic's contract renewal with James became the top priority. As the team's future core, Doncic has made it clear that he will devote himself to the Lakers, with the goal of competing for the championship with the team. In terms of salary, Doncic has many options, either signing a four-year maximum salary contract or choosing a short-term contract with a three-year maximum salary of $165 million. By then, you can enter the free market faster and strive for higher salaries in the future.

The flexibility of contract selection also provides the Lakers with more operational space. The Lakers must seize this opportunity to ensure the stability of Doncic and James before considering enhancing the depth of the team's lineup through signings. After all, the Lakers’ championship dream needs more strong support.

Doncic's market influence: The perfect combination of superstars and super market

The arrival of Doncic not only improves the Lakers' offensive strength, but also brings a huge market effect. In the second half of the 2024-25 season, Doncic ranked first in the league in jersey sales, and he became another superstar in the super market in Los Angeles. Doncic is not only the core of the Lakers' offensive, but also the biggest driving force for their commercial value. Doncic is only 26 years old and is in the prime of his career. His business value and basketball achievements have both achieved success, and he will undoubtedly become the NBA star in the next few years.

Doncic's personal performance during the season was radiant. In the regular season, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game; in the playoffs, Doncic showed the style of a superstar, averaging up to 30.2 points per game. Under his leadership, the Lakers' offensive fluency and threatening nature reached a whole new level.

The Lakers' defensive problems: The hidden worries of the Big Three combination

Although Doncic's arrival makes the Lakers' offensive end more threatening, experts point out that the biggest problem for the Lakers is still defense. The offensive firepower of the Big Three Doncic, James and Reeves is impeccable, but the problem on the defensive end has never been solved. Especially the two defenders Doncic and Reeves, their defense is relatively weak, which has caused a lot of trouble to the team. Experts suggest that the Lakers should seek ways to strengthen their defense during the offseason. Consider using existing players such as Reeves, Vincent, etc. to exchange for top inside and defensive players through trades. The Lakers urgently need to strengthen their defensive lineup and provide more support for Doncic and James, especially in the high-intensity confrontation in the playoffs, where the shortcomings of defense cannot be ignored.

The future of the Lakers is full of variables, although the Lakers in the 2024-25 season have experienced considerable twists and turns, especially the playoff defeat, Doncic's joining has brought unprecedented vitality to the team. In the following summer offseason, the Lakers face major lineup adjustment tasks. How to further enhance the team's defensive depth while ensuring the stability of the core becomes the key to determining their future success.

The Lakers' future is still full of infinite possibilities. As long as they can find a balance between offense and defense and create a stronger lineup, their championship dream may not be far away.