The championship rings that the Lakers will receive on opening night Tuesday are a token of what the team accomplished last season during an NBA season unlike any other.
Though the ceremony will be a reminder about the Lakers’ past, there’s symbolism in them receiving their rings on the season’s first night. It’s a reminder to the other 29 teams in the league whom they’re fighting in the season to come.
The burden can be heavy for the champion. Only a dozen teams have been able to successfully defend the crown since the 1968-69 season, when the Boston Celtics’ dynasty was temporarily derailed.
If the Lakers fail in their bid to be team No. 13, it won’t be because the Lakers tire from being chased by the rest of the league.
“The target on the back, I think that comes with the territory,” guard Alex Caruso said. “If you play with LeBron James, play for the Los Angeles Lakers, you automatically have a target on your back. People are just chasing greatness. LeBron’s been doing this for so many years; people have been trying to knock him down off his throne. Now we’re a part of the team that won the championship so everyone is coming for us. But I think we’re ready for it.
“We’re a competitive group, as everyone saw in the playoffs and last year. I think there’s still a hunger about this team to try and win again.”
For the Lakers, it starts with James, who set the tone last season with his sublime playmaking and consistent defensive intensity.
Even with the Lakers looking to be careful with James as he enters his 18th season coming off of a condensed two-month offseason, coach Frank Vogel said he expects James to again be a defensive presence.
“I still expect to see that contribution from LeBron. I don’t think he’d have it any other way,” Vogel said. “Everything I’ve seen from him in my experience coaching the L.A. Lakers is that his IQ is second to none with defensive coverages and rotations and what has to happen to execute at a high level on that side of the ball.
“And his effort piece has been along the same lines. There is a high care factor there and I would expect that to be the same this year.”
Then there’s Anthony Davis, fresh off a huge free-agent deal that locks him to the Lakers throughout his prime. He’s said that a most valuable player award is a goal, and the stage seems set for him to take on a bigger role.
“He’s ready for that moment,” James said. “His confidence is out the roof and so it’s up to us to help his confidence continue to soar and protect him and help him continue to tap into his prime that he’s grown into.”
Caruso said the Lakers want Davis to expand his perimeter game after he made 72 three-pointers in the regular season and hit 38.3% from deep in the playoffs.
“I think it’s just about us finding opportunities to let him. Coach wants him to shoot more,” Caruso said. “I think coach would be ecstatic if he took seven threes. Him mixing it up, going inside and outside, it puts a lot of pressure on defenses.”
It’s wild to think that there’s still more for Davis to do, but there’s still more that Davis can do.
“Obviously he played at a pretty damn high level last year. But he’s a guy that he’s never satisfied,” Vogel said. “He wants to continue to get better, continues to work on getting better and growing his game. And I think a second year in a system with a core in what we established last year should benefit him.”
