So, does he believe they’re real championship contenders?

Then came some humming and hawing. A bit of honesty, A tacit acknowledgement that as of now, the Lakers are still nipping at the heels of the West’s juggernauts, ie, the Spurs and Thunder.

“As [Lakers coach] JJ [Redick] pointed out, there’s no off-season where you can check every single box you’re hoping to check,” Pelinka said. “But we felt like the major ones we did, and the work continues. But we feel like we’re on the path of being a really competitive championship-level team.”

Being on the path is far from the front door.

But that’s when things got interesting. Redick had a different take. He spoke into microphone, unprompted.

“I’m confident we’re going to develop as a team into a championship-level team this year,” Redick said.

In that moment, it seemed a bit far-fetched. It was the type of thing a coach has to say. You know, lip service, if you will.

But then again, we’ve seen Pelinka’s almost radical belief in the Lakers before, laughed it off and then realized we chuckled too soon.

Remember when the Lakers lost their two leading scorers in Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves to injuries against the Thunder on April 2? They were kapuut. Done. Obituaries were being penned in purple and gold ink.

But Redick said the Lakers wouldn’t drop the rope. He pulled players aside to try to convince them to believe. Heck, he had to convince his own coaching staff.

Then the Lakers pulled off the improbable.

Missing their two stars, the 41-year-old LeBron James put the Lakers on his arthritic shoulders and led them past the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. Nearly everyone who got playing time made monster contributions, including Luke Kennard ephemerally transforming into a star and Marcus Smart channeling his prime.

So, maybe Redick’s words aren’t so outlandish after all.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-championship-level-team-jj-230848117.html

Aggrokid

27 | 13 hours ago

It’s for team confidence. As a player, you don’t want your coach to say (indirectly) you’re just a placeholder.

Ragebaiterlmao | SEA

63 | 13 hours ago

They don’t call JJ the white Jesus for nothing.

boingboing42

26 | 13 hours ago

doesnt JJ stand for Jesus Jesus?

shiina613

15 | 12 hours ago

No, Just Jesus

yitur93 | LAL

-2 | 11 hours ago

Jesus but you gotta say it twice.

ThedirtyNose | NBA

3 | 12 hours ago

Jumping Jehozava

bruticuslee | LAL

1 | 7 hours ago

It stands for Jay Jay

27Yosh | LAL

1 | 5 hours ago

Jeddick Jeddick Reddick

kpxdumb4ss

1 | 37 minutes ago

JeeJus

TeddyJPharough | DEN

1 | 11 hours ago

James Jordan, I think, the GOAT names

RealisticDebt9380 | LAL

47 | 13 hours ago

I mean, no matter what you think of Lakers as a team, are they contenders or not, they have Luka. He is at worst the top 5 player in the NBA right now. They are one of the most successful franchises in the NBA. Luka wants to win, fans want to win. Reality might be one thing, but in such position the goal of the head coach, the main star should always be to win.

I think it would be very alarming if JJ, Luka and others were talking about developing, building chemistry, getting better. Regardless of how the season plays out, if you don’t position yourself as a contender to your fans, to your players, they will start looking differently at the team. Luka was already traded here before. He is a loyal player, but the magic of Dallas is gone. Come the 2028, if confidence is not here, he may just go somewhere else.

The same goes for Heat, for Nuggets. Those teams are in a peculiar spot, they don’t seem to be a clear cut contenders, but they still should present themselves as ones. You may get critiqued if you fail, but it is much worse to never expect winning if you have a top 5 player in the nba

Htaroh | Slovenia

16 | 10 hours ago

I really dont see Luka leaving, no matter what. This is just not European mentality - in Europe, players appreciate the fans, the support, the structure and stability much more than American players do. Luka just needs to be kept happy - feel supported, have players and staff he actually enjoys playing with and for. And Lakers are the Real Madrid of NBA - Luka came from and grew up in Real Madrid. This is the situation that is most comfortable to him.

RealisticDebt9380 | LAL

3 | 10 hours ago

I mean, this is possible. Likely, even. I do think Luka will stay on the Lakers even if they don’t win anything. But, he will be trying to win, this is his main goal. And, if he sees that he is giving his all, while his coach and gm gave up, I think it can change. Luka was already burned by 1 franchise, he might prevent the repeat of the situation if he thinks that this organisation also doesn’t believe they can win with him. So, if the Lakers just fail, it’s unlikely he will leave. But if they stop caring, then I think he actually will demand a trade

Htaroh | Slovenia

1 | 10 hours ago

Yeah - and that is the thing, can you imagine a universe in which Lakers GM/coach actually stop caring or trying? I cant :)

Sensitive-Pool-7563

5 | 8 hours ago

fans want to win

Great argument champ, is there a fanbase that DOESN’T want to win?

RealisticDebt9380 | LAL

2 | 4 hours ago

In this case, I’m talking about optics. Luka wants to win, so to keep him happy, you have to try. If it doesn’t work out, but Luka stays, then hey, at least you have Luka still, he brings in people regardless. If you fail to win, and Luka becomes irritated and leaves, well that sucks, but that’s understandable. You always can find the reasons why you lost with luck, injuries, etc.

But, if you simply give up, and Luka leaves because of it, then the problem becomes much deeper. It stops being about basketball only, and starts being about business. If Luka can see the problem, fans will see it too. Remember how after trading Luka Mavs ticket sales dropped, while refunds skyrocketed?

The same is going to happen to the lakers. Sure, they are the most popular franchise, and a ton of people will remain. But people will get angry, people will create noise, some people will leave. This will directly affect the money aspect. And, if the ownership understands something about basketball and business, they will see it. At this point the matter of employment isn’t about after Lakers fail to compete and Luka leaves, you may get immediately fired on the spot. It’s just not worth it from any perspective, not from basketball, not from business side.

3rd-party-intervener

-1 | 3 hours ago

This is all a word salad that ignores the fact lakers have a terrible

Gm, no backup center , and no startable forwards

RealisticDebt9380 | LAL

2 | 3 hours ago

I just think that we should see how it all plays out first. Every team has weaknesses, otherwise Thunder would have won last year, but they didn’t. Of course some teams are much heavier favorites, but I think you severely underestimate what this Lakers roster can accomplish

3rd-party-intervener

-1 | 3 hours ago

lol at comparing the lakers to the thunder

Mbanicek64

-27 | 12 hours ago

He is not at worst top 5. He has a history of injury and his lack of availability could easily sink the team. To stay on the court, he is a no show defender. Those are the choices. He is a top player when he is defending but I don’t think you can rely upon Luka to stay healthy playing that way.

RealisticDebt9380 | LAL

13 | 12 hours ago

Okay, can you please provide 5 players who are clearly better than Luka?

tirednsleepyyy

8 | 11 hours ago

They’re a Celtics fans, so probably Tatum, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown if they’re feeling grateful, Jordan Walsh, and Hugo Gonzales

Mbanicek64

-4 | 9 hours ago

Wemby SGA Jokic Giannis Ant Cade Brunson…

Opposite_Radish8186

-11 | 10 hours ago

Shai, wemby, jokic, giannis, brunson

Some-Stranger-7852

3 | 10 hours ago

Brunson himself wouldn’t put his name above Luka’s lol

RealisticDebt9380 | LAL

2 | 10 hours ago

Brunson is just not better than Luka. Even if you believe so, it’s ludicrous to say clearly better, as in a tier higher than Luka. There is no argument except Brunson winning a ring this year, but that’s not enough

Reasonable_Nebula_26

20 | 12 hours ago

he is 100% at worst top 5.

Mbanicek64

-17 | 12 hours ago

How were his post season numbers las year?

Sensitive-Pool-7563

-4 | 8 hours ago

The same goes for Heat,

Heat ha a greater chance at winnging it all than Lakers, if they’re healthy. Way more balanced team still juggernaut ofensively but much better defense

Milly-the-Kid | MIN

24 | 13 hours ago

What’s JJ supposed to say? No I don’t think this team is good enough?

forthestreamz | PHI

-20 | 12 hours ago

Shit I would, just pre-emptively throw them under the bus. Better than doing it at the end of the season

RealisticDebt9380 | LAL

6 | 12 hours ago

No lol, that’s the worst decision ever. The moment you as a coach or gm give up on your team, your players give up on you. You don’t keep Luka by saying ‘eh, we are not good enough, stop trying to win’ just to save yourself from embarrassment in the end

forthestreamz | PHI

-1 | 6 hours ago

I’m trying to come up with new innovating approaches to The Doc Rivers Method here brother

wallysmith127 | LAL

2 | 6 hours ago

You’re thinking of Pockets, not JJ

Mbanicek64

-18 | 13 hours ago

They feel like a sixth seed at best to me. I think JJ should just tart interviewing now.

Milly-the-Kid | MIN

-8 | 12 hours ago

They have the kind of roster that can over perform regular season then fall apart in the playoffs so I wouldn’t be surprised if they landed higher

FitTune5515 | SEA

-4 | 10 hours ago

That’s kinda what I see. Like, they can have 3rd or 4th seed in the regular season and then lose in the 2nd round

Emotional-Chef-7601

3 | 6 hours ago

I mean I believe JJ when he says that. He believes his system can turn average players into vital role players. Just off of JJ I wouldn’t count Lakers out. Their back center situation just sucks tho. Everything else he can make work.

_Jetto_ | NBA

5 | 10 hours ago

They have had no business last two years winning playoff series with that roster and how beat up they’ve been. They’ll compete

Happy-Price-4459

2 | 9 hours ago

Championship-level” is a bold promise in this West, but I respect the confidence.

O_RRY | LAL

3 | 10 hours ago

How many teams have entered the season assured that they are a “complete” team with no weaknesses? Especially when the entire team retooled around a top superstar with minimal remnants of the old team? I feel like people are writing the Lakers off way too early especially when this team was built off the teammates Luka wanted in the team. Call me biased (I am) but I believe we’re gonna be better than most people expect us to be this year

_chadwell_ | LAL

2 | 7 hours ago

JJ will have them playing at a high level, they’ve won 50 games every year with him despite some funky rosters.

The fit and balance of this group seems better. They’ll be competitive in almost any playoff series with Luka, Reaves, and Kessler, and could have an opening even against a team like the Spurs if they’re not fully healthy.

Wouldn’t predict a WCF or Finals appearance necessarily, but it’s not off the table if injury luck swings their way.

Emergency-Pen-8274

1 | 5 hours ago

If you say a lie long enough it becomes truth

motorboat_mcgee | LAL

1 | 7 hours ago

A lot of folks seem to have us as a play-in team or even missing the playoffs, and I think we’ll be better than that. But we are still another player or two away from being true contenders, just don’t really have great assets left to target anyone currently. I think going into next season we’ll have the MLE to use for someone, and that should help round things out better, especially since the contracts we signed this season were multi year.

DangerousAspect5950

1 | 13 hours ago

pelinka admits they’re still chasing spurs and thunder which says a lot about where they’re at

NatsuAru | TOR

15 | 13 hours ago

Well LeBron James is no longer on this team. Neither is Marcus Smart, who is now a Rocket if I believe.

So unless Walker Kessler suddenly becomes the second coming of Shaq if Luka and Austin are down, then there’s a very tough road for them to do the same thing they did last season in the first round.

wallysmith127 | LAL

11 | 13 hours ago

There’s a very good chance the Lakers will be a better defensive team than last year.

Real rim protection, athletes at every position, better fitting role players around Luka and AR.

Like always though, question is can the team stay healthy? Assuming reasonable health, 50+ wins isn’t out of the question.

NatsuAru | TOR

3 | 13 hours ago

That was my point really. This team is better defensively but Luka and Austin’s health is very fickle. It was a bummer that despite Luka focusing a lot on his fitness that season, he still went down. It’s concerning really.

What’s super concerning is that the offensive engine is basically those two, who now have very apparent injury histories.

wallysmith127 | LAL

1 | 5 hours ago

Injuries are just an unfortunate fact of life these days, and sometimes it’s just pure dumb luck.

Encouraged though because Luka obviously focused on his body yet again this offseason, plus no international play. And Austin has a dedicated trainer and has consistently improved on what he knows he needs to work on.

With the balanced and deeper roster I also anticipate better minutes balance across the season. Hopefully both hover around 32-35m per game vs closer to 40, which will help keep them fresher for the playoffs. I wouldn’t be surprised to see JJ experimenting with Grimes/Sexton led lineups for a few minutes here and there so Luka/AR can rest and come back in together (their advanced metrics together are stellar).

oat38 | NBA

9 | 13 hours ago

there’s a very tough road for them to do the same thing they did last season in the first round.

They advanced past the first round with their best player (by far) not playing a single minute. It’s not a far stretch to say they got a roster that stylistically fits their star player better this season than last season.

As good as LeBron still is, those who watched the Lakers a lot last season will tell you that the fit between him and Luka wasn’t exactly perfect. I think it’s beneficial for both LeBron and the Lakers to each move onto a new era.

Walker Kessler will be somewhat of a question mark given how little he played last season, but the potential is clearly there. I mean, they had to work with Ayton as their best big man last season. Kessler does not need to become the second coming of Shaq, he just needs to grab double digit rebounds, score off his guards when he gets open opportunities, and play good defense, which he is known for. He has never played with guards at the level of Luka and Reaves before.

orwll

1 | 9 hours ago

They advanced past the first round with their best player (by far) not playing a single minute

Who is the “they?” Everyone who started for them in that playoff series is gone.

I’m getting downvotes but no answers to the question. There’s no one left on the roster from the players who played significant minutes in that series. They were all replaced! How are you going to point to that series as something to prove what the team will be this coming year?

NatsuAru | TOR

0 | 13 hours ago

I absolutely agree with that.

The thing that stuck with me is that the selling point of the post focuses on Lebron and Smart pushing past a high seed as a miracle when Austin and Luka were down.

Kessler, Grimes, Sexton, Mamu and Thybulle will be the next options. Carr and Hardy with Looney come to mind too.

That’s where I ask myself, if Luka and Reaves go down, can that squad perform the same kind of victories against the Rockets and the other West playoff teams too

oat38 | NBA

7 | 13 hours ago

That’s where I ask myself, if Luka and Reaves go down, can that squad perform the same kind of victories against the Rockets and the other West playoff teams too

I mean, it goes without saying that health is the most important thing for most, if not all teams in the league. If you take the best player out of any good team, their chances of winning will drastically change. That’s no different for the Lakers.

Fluffy861

1 | 9 hours ago

Pelinka is a used car salesman hack whose only redeeming quality is he makes you think we have rob lowe at home…

Razcal26

16 | 13 hours ago

A specific group of “Laker fans” were moaning for a considerable time that they were being “held back” because of LeBron and that they should always be championship contenders.

Well, no excuses. Lakers better win the chip this year.