Just a friendly reminder.
Lakers are currently possessing just the leagues 13th worst record, but don't be discouraged, as they were 5-5 last year and ended up with the 2nd pick.
I guess, but they're a lot better this year and I'm giving up hope on the Lakers pick until further notice, as I've said for over a week now.
I think they'll come back to earth but still, Lopez, Kuzma, Ingram, Randle, KCP, Clarkson and even Ball is more dynamic than their core last year.
That's a core that can win some games on the road and pull off some upsets. IMO, 30+ wins.
I’m not as convinced as you are that they are significantly better.
Half those players were on the team last year and have not made noticeable (or impactful) improvements. They also lost guys like Lou Williams, Nick Young, D’Angelo Russell, and Timofey Mozgov. All are serviceable players basically on the same level as their replacements (Lopez is the best of all of them, but he’s always a wind gust away from missing the rest of the season).
Are they better? Maybe. Enough to generate significantly more wins than last year? Doubt it.
So it comes down to who got better/worse around them.