Let’s be honest, with players like Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol, it is pretty easy to win at least one game. Albeit those four stars were only on the court at the same time for only one night, but still, 0-8, Lakers? Really?
With the exception of the Utah Jazz and Portland, the Lakers played only divisional opponents during the preseason. The Los Angeles Clippers are the only other contender for the Pacific Division crown, but isn’t it shocking that the Lakers couldn’t manage to win a game against the likes of the Kings or Warriors?
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Dwight Howard has not experienced what it feels like to win a game as a Los Angeles Laker and the 0-8 record may not affect the regular season, but should it be a cause for concern? The preseason is a time for all the new players to get accustomed to the franchise and to develop chemistry with their teammates.
The Lakers will be trying to figure out their rotations for the entire season, but it is in these exhibition games that that process begins. The fact that Los Angeles could not win a preseason game raises some eyebrows and in comparison to the preseason record for previous championship teams, this current Lakers roster may not be as successful as they were projected to be.
Preseason 2011-12: Lakers record: 0-2
Postseason result: Eliminated 4-1 Western Conference Semi-Finals
The Lakers did not have a lot of time building their team chemistry in the 2011-12 preseason due to the lockout. The NBA was forced to limit the number of exhibition games so that it could get in as many regular season matches in as possible.
In the preseason, the Lakers played two games against the Clippers and ended up losing both of them. The newly revamped Clippers were running on adrenaline with the recent acquisition of Chris Paul and he proved vital in their new quest to take Los Angeles’ throne.
The Lakers had a .000 winning percentage in the preseason, but obviously something like that would never happen to the Lakers franchise, even though the Bobcats were pretty darn close to that mark last season.
Los Angeles ended the regular season with a .621 winning percentage and took home the Pacific Division crown. In this case, the 0-2 record against the Clippers was a not a legitimate predictor for the regular season since the Lakers beat the Clippers two out of three games.
Next Page: 2010-11 Preseason
Postseason result: Eliminated 4-0 Western Conference Semi-Finals
After winning a second consecutive NBA championship the summer prior, the Lakers began their quest for a three peat with a mediocre preseason showing. The Lakers broke even in the exhibition games and it was a precursor to what fans were to expect from in the regular season as they went 57-25.
Although the Lakers ended up being the third seed in the Western Conference, there was little chance they would end up winning a championship. The Lakers were not as strong as they were before and the talent level around them got much better.
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Preseason 2009-2010: Lakers record: 6-2
Postseason result: Won NBA Championship
The Los Angeles Lakers’ most recent NBA championship came in June of 2010, in one of the best finals series of recent memory. The seven game battle with the Boston Celtics was extremely exciting and the Lakers finally beat their rivals on the NBA’s biggest stage. Los Angeles got revenge for their loss in the 2008 Finals and they did so in front of their fans at Staples Center.
Prior to the season, the Lakers made one major change to their roster as they essentially swapped Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) for Trevor Ariza. There was much debate as to whether or not Artest could fill in the void left by Ariza, and the preseason was the first chance he had to prove that he can. Not many people expected the Lakers to repeat as champions with Artest now on the team, but he silenced some of his critics during the preseason.
It did not appear as though the Lakers lost a step and the 75 percent winning percentage may not have translated into the regular season, but the 57-25 record was not bad at all. The Lakers were one of the best teams in the preseason, and that foreshadowed the ultimate success they experienced at the end of the season.
Next Page: 2008-2009 Preseason
Postseason result: Won NBA Championship
The Los Angeles Lakers had two consecutive seasons where they went 6-2 in the preseason, and ironically they won the NBA championship both times. After losing to the Boston Celtics in six games during the 2008 Finals, the Lakers were determined to not face defeat again.
Kobe Bryant was motivated to lead his team to a championship in 2009, and that journey began in the preseason. Despite losing the first two exhibition games, one to the Jazz and the other to the Clippers, the Lakers finished the preseason winners of six straight games.
Once again, Los Angeles had a 75 percent winning steak in the preseason and they ended up going an incredible 65-17, which was an amazing .793 winning percentage. It was the first full season Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol had together, and they proved to be a dynamic duo. Their success in the preseason translated to wins later on in the season, proving that exhibition game results can provide insight into how a team performs.
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Preseason 2007-2008: Lakers record: 3-6
Postseason result: Lost in NBA Finals
The Los Angeles Lakers began the 2007-2008 preseason with a sub-par roster. At that point, the Lakers were not title contenders and a trip to the postseason would have been celebrated. Kobe Bryant was really the only star on the team and even his heroics couldn’t lead the Lakers to a championship.
Los Angeles ended up going 3-6 in the preseason, but it was hard to predict the Lakers’ season based on exhibition games. Right before the trade deadline, the Lakers ended up pulling off one of the biggest trades in franchise history by landing Pau Gasol.
Gasol changed the Lakers overnight and he helped guide the team to the 2008 Finals. Although the Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics in six games, the team became title contenders overnight. With Bryant and Gasol at the nucleus, the Lakers ended up winning the next two league titles.
Next Page: 2006-2007 Preseason
Postseason result: Lost in First Round
Still rebuilding in the post-Shaquille O’Neal era, it seemed as though the Los Angeles Lakers were headed nowhere. Kobe Bryant was in the prime of his career, but he was playing alongside some of the least talented teammates of his NBA career. There were nights where Kobe single-handedly carried the Lakers, and it was tough seeing the fierce competitor not experience success.
In this preseason, Bryant was still recovering from knee surgery and his time on the court was limited. So even though Kobe did practically everything for the team, the other players managed to win four games. Still, whatever the Lakers were going to do that upcoming season, it was going to be based on Kobe’s play. And since Bryant couldn’t play, the 2006-2007 preseason was a time for the other players to showcase their “talents.”
Preseason 2005-2006: Lakers record: 6-3
Postseason result: Lost in First Round
In the 2005-2006 preseason, the Lakers had an impressive showing with a 6-3 record. The Lakers did not play very competitive teams, but since the Lakers did not instill fear into opponents anymore, every win was very valuable. Los Angeles played the likes of the Sacramento Kings and Charlotte Bobcats that summer, teams that were long shots for the postseason.
Once again, the Lakers relied on Kobe Bryant on almost every given night and he did a great job leading the team. Bryant was the most explosive offensive player at the time and he ended up scoring 81 points in a regular season game against the Toronto Raptors. There was no question the Lakers could beat the mediocre teams in the league, but when it came down to the title contenders, the Lakers stood no chance.
The Lakers ended up going 45-37 in the regular season and grabbed the seventh spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles was on the verge of winning their first round series against the Phoenix Suns, but ended up losing in seven games after blowing a 3-1 series lead.
Next Page: 2004-2005 Preseason
Postseason result: Missed Playoffs
On July 14, 2004, the fate of the Los Angeles Lakers changed forever. After winning three consecutive titles at the turn of the decade, the Lakers decided to part ways with Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal and Bryant formed one of the most formidable duos in NBA history, but those two separated after their much-hyped feud.
The Lakers got some complementary players in exchange for O’Neal, with Lamar Odom and Caron Butler heading the list. The Lakers ended up going an impressive 6-2 in the preseason, but in no way did that foreshadow how the Lakers would play in the regular season. Even though fans got to see the Lakers in six out of the eight games, there was not a lot of winning during the regular season.
After 82 games, the Lakers finished at a disappointing 34-48 and landed at the 11th spot in the Western Conference. The one good thing for the pathetic season was that the Lakers ended up in the draft lottery and landed Andrew Bynum later that summer.
Preseason 2003-2004: Lakers record: 3-5
Postseason result: Lost NBA Finals
Much like the Lakers this preseason, the team in 2003-2004 experienced a major roster change during the summer. The Lakers acquired future Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton, hoping to once again lift the Larry O’Brien trophy. The two new additions had to get assimilated into the new system and also bond with the Lakers’ current stars, Kobe and Shaq.
The preseason offered the teammates a chance to develop their chemistry and for the most part, they had some success. Although the Lakers ended going below .500, the players made strides in become a cohesive unit. The current Lakers also have to build their camaraderie on the court, but their 0-8 record does not help that cause.
The 2003-2004 Lakers bonded well enough to make it to the NBA Finals with a 56-26 record.