Top Lakers Picks, Predictions for 2022-23 NBA Season: Lakers Ready to Run Through Davis
After a disastrous season when the team missed the playoffs and greatly underachieved, can the Lakers bounce in 2022-23? Will LeBron James be forced to put the team on his back? Or will he get some help from teammates? Here are our best bets for the Lakers in 2022-23.
The Lakers’ Big Three of Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and LeBron James failed to meet expectations in 2021-22. The team finished with just 33 wins while ending up 11th in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs.
After a tumultuous offseason involving Westbrook trade rumors and some new additions to the roster, how will this team respond? Can Anthony Davis get back to his elite scoring ways? And can the Lakers surpass their implied win total?
Here are my picks for the Lakers prior to the 2022-23 NBA season (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook).
Top 2022-23 Picks for the Lakers
Bets to Make on the Lakers
Davis Over 27.5 points per game and Over 9.5 rebounds (+1200)
Betting on Davis isn’t recommended if you’ve got a sensitive stomach or heart problems. The man just can’t stay on the court anymore. But when he’s available, Davis is still a dominant big man and a go-to option offensively. Davis hasn’t averaged double-digit rebounds since arriving in Los Angeles, but he posted 9.9 in 2021-22 and 9.3 in 2019-20.
It’s no secret that Davis prefers to play the four-spot. But with only the lackluster duo of Thomas Bryant and Damian Jones available at that position, Davis should still see some run at center. He averaged at least 28 points per game in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, but the veteran hasn’t done it since.
New head coach Darvin Ham said he wants the Lakers’ offense to run through Davis in 2022-23 to avoid wear and tear on LeBron James, who will be playing in his 20th season. If Ham makes good on that offensive philosophy, it wouldn’t be a stretch for Davis to return to his prime Pelicans form and drop 28 points per contest.
Lakers Under 45.5 wins (-125)
Health and cohesion will continue to be the main roadblocks to a productive campaign in Los Angeles.
Davis has missed 78 out of a possible 154 games over the last two seasons, and LeBron has sat out 53. Will both be healthy together for significant stretches? And if not, how will the team fare in their absence?
Despite some talk about how well the team is gelling, it's uncertain whether Patrick Beverley can really co-exist with Russell Westbrook. And more importantly, who knows if Westbrook can bounce back from one of the worst seasons of his career.
Outside of the James/Davis/Westbrook Big Three, this team is composed of guys on short contracts and veteran-minimum deals. The roster isn't talented, and there's a gauntlet of excellent Pacific Division teams in the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors.
Expect Los Angeles to win more than the 33 games they took in 2021-22 last season, but don't count on a 13-game improvement. The Under should hit pretty easily.
James Under 27.3 points per game (-115)
James proved that the yet undefeated Father Time still hasn’t caught up with the King, who averaged 30.3 points per game in 2021-22, the first time he's produced at least 30 points per contest since 2007-08.
The Lakers finished 11th in the Western Conference and missed the play-in tournament, with James appearing in just 56 matchups. James put forth a great individual effort, but it’s clear the Lakers won’t go too far if he needs to play hero ball at age 38.
Fortunately, the Lakers plan to run the offense through Davis. Kendrick Nunn and Dennis Schroder should absorb some scoring, Austin Reaves can take the next step, and Beverley can take some pressure off James as a primary ball-handler.
James averaged 26 points over seven seasons prior to his 30 points per game eruption. That should be closer to what he averages in 2022-23, making the Under our best bet on his scoring prop.
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