LeBron and the Lakers face criticalseason

One of the main challenges for LeBron and the Lakers right now is how the NBA superstar, the team and head coach J.J. Redick have struggled and doesn’t seem to be headed in the right direction.

The rookie coach seems to have been outplayed by the great franchise. So far, Redick hasn’t proven to be an upgrade at the head coaching position over Darvin Ham. A franchise in the spotlight like the Lakers needs immediate positive results, so it’s very likely they’ll be one of the most active teams at the trade deadline.

Why not retire this year? Well, it’s LeBron James, and there’s no way he’s going out without a farewell tour, much like Kobe Bryant did. It’s impossible to imagine LeBron – one of the all-time greats, if not the greatest – bowing out without a grand farewell.

While there are still plenty of games left in the season, with the most important stretch coming in March and April, the current state of the Lakers is concerning. On the court, it’s 5-on-5, but for the Lakers, it often feels like 2-on-5, with LeBron and Anthony Davis carrying the load against the opposition.

With the Western Conference as competitive as ever, filled with deep and well-rounded teams, the Lakers are unlikely to go far without significant improvement. Here’s what Redick had to say about LeBron’s absence: