ESPN just dropped their season predictions for the NBA, and holy smokes, they’re projecting the Los Angeles Lakers to take a massive tumble. We’re talking an eight-win drop, putting them at a projected 45-37 record for the season. This kicks off ESPN’s week-long preview with a bang, but honestly, it leaves you scratching your head.
ESPN’s Wild Western Conference Projections
The network rolled out their full Western Conference standings, and while some teams soar, the Lakers are sliding. They’ve got the San Antonio Spurs leading the pack at an insane 62-20, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder at 60-22. The Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets share a 51-31 projection, with the Minnesota Timberwolves right behind at 50-32. Then you get to the Lakers at 45-37, followed by the Portland Trail Blazers (43-39), Phoenix Suns (42-40), Golden State Warriors (35-47), and the Utah Jazz (34-48). An eight-win drop is significant, and while roster turnover could explain some of it, the same logic just isn’t applied elsewhere.
The Double Standard Is Real
That’s where this whole thing gets super fishy. ESPN’s projections feel totally inconsistent. Look at the Nuggets: they lost Peyton Watson and didn’t make any notable additions after flaming out in the playoffs. Yet, ESPN has them winning more games than last season? And the Wolves, who blew up their starting frontcourt only to bring in LaMelo Ball, are also projected to win more? Don’t even get me started on the Blazers, who supposedly have more point guards than the Lakers have people vying for ownership, yet they’re picking up seven more wins. None of this even considers that Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves missed significant time for the Lakers. It truly feels like the Lakers are one of the only teams in the West being punished in these standings. It’s like they just chopped a chunk of wins off the Lakers to make other teams look better without applying their own logic across the board. Good news, though, at least they aren’t projecting the Clippers above them anymore.
What’s Next for the Lakers and ESPN’s Predictions
ESPN’s preview continues next with predictions for the major awards. Given these standings, it’s a safe bet that Luka Dončić isn’t going to be high on their list for MVP. We’ll see how the actual season unfolds, but for now, these projections just feel like a slap in the face. It’s early April, and the NBA season is just around the corner. We’ll all be watching to see if these wild predictions actually come true or if the Lakers prove everyone, especially ESPN, wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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