A look at where the Lakers stand next season

Image source: clutchpoints.com

With Lebron James now the Lakers’ leader, it’s time to reevaluate the place of the once-dominant franchise in the Western Conference, and the league.

First, let’s get one thing out of the way.  With James on board, the Lakers have now become an instant playoff team.  But are they title contenders? 

Image source: britopian.com

The biggest hurdle is still obviously the mighty Golden State Warriors, who are head and shoulders above their closest rivals, the Houston Rockets, who are in turn miles ahead of any other team.  To beat the Warriors, the Lakers need to show they can handle the Rockets.  After all, the Rockets and Warriors have very similar run-and-gun strategies. 

So, to be safe, let’s argue that the Lakers are now the third best team in the Western Conference, alongside the OKC Thunder and probably, the Utah Jazz.  Against teams in the Eastern Conference, they’re probably better than most and have a 50-50 chance against the rising Boston Celtics and Philadelphia Sixers.

Is this Lakers team better than Lebron’s Cleveland team last season?  With a legit point guard in Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee, and up-and-comers in Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball, one may say that this squad may just be as good, however severely untested.

My prediction?  For the 2018-2019 season, the Lakers make it to the second round of the playoffs.  
Hi, I’m James DeVellis. I’m starting my own blog to get ahead of the curve in the sports writing industry. For more about the stuff I love, check this link.

The Greatest Modern Day Mixed Martial Artists

The title of G.O.A.T. in MMA is thrown around pretty lightly these days. Many MMA fans believe their favorites should be called the greatest of all-time. I would also like to throw our hat in the octagon and give my opinion on who I think is MMA’s GOAT in the modern, sporting era.

Image source: lowkickmma.com

The Last Emperor

For more than 10 years, Fedor Emelianenko went on undefeated in the MMA world. Yes, for over a decade, no fighter could ever beat the highly-touted Russian, who seemed to have the answer for everything his opponents would come up with. Although his best years are clearly behind him, the legend of Fedor’s dominance will live on forever.

The Spider

No other UFC fighter was as revered and feared as Anderson Silva was at his prime. He did things in the octagon that nobody thought was possible and beat his opponents in ways no one could imagine. He was a champion for over 2,400 days, defending his title on 10 different occasions. He was simply on another level.

GSP

Georges St. Pierre is the greatest welterweight fighter of all time, period. He defended his belt 12 times and has almost never lost a single round in his MMA career. GSP’s ability to pull off his game plan perfectly makes him the most effective and well-rounded fighter in the UFC in perhaps, ever.

Image source: mmafighting.com

Hi, I’m James DeVellis. I’m starting my own blog to get ahead of the curve in the sports writing industry. For more about the stuff I love, check this link.