LeBron James, Luka Doncic like current roster while stressing need for midseason growth
After a 112-100 loss to the New York Knicks, both Luka Doncic and LeBron James expressed confidence in the current roster while acknowledging that improvements must be made as the season progresses. Despite the stellar individual performances from the superstar duo, Los Angeles struggled to overcome inconsistent scoring from its supporting cast, a theme that has cropped up multiple times this season.
Doncic finished with 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, making it clear that he believed in the team currently assembled in Los Angeles.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” Doncic said, via Spectrum SportsNet . “Obviously there's still some work to be done. Today, we missed a lot of good looks. But I think we have a great group.”
James echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of continued development while also highlighting the injury challenges the team has faced throughout the season.
“I like this team. But we have to continue to get better. That's good,” James said, via Spectrum SportsNet. “We should hope to get better, and it's only February 1st. But are we going to continue to get better and better and now 48 games in? It's a tough Western Conference, it's a tough league, and like I said, it's hard to deal with injuries and guys coming in and out all season long. Unfortunately, two of our All-Star guards have been out for a minute, and that's a big part of our team. So it's hard to see what we can really do.”
Austin Reeves' absence has created a glaring void in the Lakers' offensive rhythm, and the guard remains one of the team's most important secondary playmakers. Even with injuries to key contributors, Los Angeles has managed to stay competitive in a competitive conference standings.
As the NBA trade deadline approaches, speculation continues surrounding potential roster changes that could bolster the Lakers' depth.
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