Los Angeles Lakers: Bold predictions for the 2018-19 season

With the off-season chaos behind us, the 2018-19 NBA season is upon us. The Warriors are the team to beat and the LeBron-less East might get very interesting, the Raptors and the Celtics looking like the two teams that may benefit.

But the talk of the summer has been the signing of LeBron James with the most glamorous franchise in the NBA history, the Los Angeles Lakers. The dynamic young core already present in LA will greatly benefit from King James' leadership qualities. They have also added an experienced supporting cast to groom these talented group of players.

If the initial few games are any proof then we should just grab the popcorn and watch the most fun show in the league. The abundance of playmaking options has allowed the ball to be pushed up the court faster and the Lakers are playing some entertaining basketball.

Here are some bold predictions for the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2018-19 season.

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#1 The Lakers' young core will prove to be a better supporting cast for LeBron than what he had in Cleveland

Ingram and Ball will be looking for a break-out season

Ingram, Ball, Kuzma and Hart form one of the most tantalizing young core in the entire league. Josh Hart won the summer league MVP and Kuzma was quite easily the steal of last year's draft.

These are two players that already have a very polished game to contribute significantly to Lakers' ambitions this year. But the players with the most potential are the two #2 picks, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram.

Brandon Ingram showed massive improvement in his sophomore year. His length and ability to make his own plays have often led to Kevin Durant comparisons. Lonzo Ball showed elite defensive potential in his rookie year but his shooting let him down.

He always has been an elite playmaker and that has transitioned well into NBA. If both these players improve their shooting, the potential for the Lakers this season goes right off the charts.

#2 LeBron James wins his 5th MVP

LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down

Last season was the best statistical season in the career of LeBron James with averages of 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists on 54.2 FG%. This season he transferred to the most marquee franchise in the league. With seemingly no other star joining him in LA this year, his stats are going to be beefed up again.

The Lakers are also playing at a historic league pace and that means more and more offense. His offensive numbers are bound to increase from last year. The abundance of playmaking options also means LeBron doesn't need to be the initiator of all the plays.

He can save energy and try to be even more efficient on offense. The Lakers are going to improve massively from last year and that could well mean a 5th MVP for King James.

#3 The Los Angeles Lakers reach the Western Conference finals:

There is a lot of excitement and buzz in LA

The Warriors are out there totally alone in a league of their own in the West. But the receding of the Houston Rockets means there is no second team in the West. If the playoff seedings play out in favor of the Lakers and they avoid the Warriors before the WCF, they have a huge chance of reaching the WCF.

There are also some other teams on the rise like the Utah Jazz or the New Orleans Pelicans. But these teams don't have much experience of going too deep in the playoffs and it would be a crime to bet against LeBron in the playoffs. He plays for almost the entirety of the game during the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Lakers will start as the favorites over these teams come playoff time.

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