3 reasons why the LA Lakers superteam might fail to deliver in the 2021-22 NBA season

Of the 74 seasons the LA Lakers have featured in the NBA, they have won the championship title 17 times. They are tied with the Boston Celtics as the franchise with the most NBA championships.

The Lakers had the opportunity to make history and clinch their 18th championship with their superteam last season. However, they failed to defend their 2020 NBA championship title after suffering defeat to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs.

The same is possible in the coming season and here are three reasons why.

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3 reasons why the LA Lakers superteam might fail to deliver in the 2021-22 NBA season

#1 A youthless team

Frank Vogel speaks to the media at a press conference during LA Lakers media day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 28, 2021

The LA Lakers roster is filled with a wealth of experience, but one would be correct to say that it is also filled with aging players.

Their current roster includes Carmelo Anthony (37 years), LeBron James (36 years), Trevor Ariza (36 years), Marc Gasol (36 years), Dwight Howard (35 years), Rajon Rondo (35 years), Wayne Ellington (33 years), DeAndre Jordan (33 years), Russell Westbrook (32 years), and Kent Bazemore (32 years).

Can this team keep up with the pace of the modern NBA? The answer is clear in the numbers. Due to most players being older, they could be riddled with injuries that would put them in a very difficult spot.

This could impede the LA Lakers' journey to becoming the franchise with the most championship titles in NBA history, even with a superteam.

#2 Self-destructive star-powered roster

Anthony Davis #3 smiles as he walks to a press conference during LA Lakers media day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 28, 2021

The current LA Lakers team is filled with popular NBA players, making the franchise heavy favorites to win the championship in the 2021-22 season. However, with huge personalities come big egos, and they are bound to clash in a bid to get some attention.

Frank Vogel's team could have poor chemistry going into the new season, with each star wanting to impress individually. This reliance on older players could also end up being self-destructing.

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#3 Defensive Loopholes

Carmelo Anthony #7 smiles before his press conference during LA Lakers media day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 28, 2021

While the LA Lakers have brought in huge offensive firepower with the addition of an elite three-pointer Carmelo Anthony and two-time scoring champion Russell Westbrook, they are fast losing their defensive identity.

During the offseason, the Lakers traded defensive players who were key to their league-best record last season.

Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were both lost to the Washington Wizards in the Russell Westbrook deal. Meanwhile, Alex Caruso was traded to the Chicago Bulls with no impactful replacements.