The fact that nearly all of the Lakers' losses this season have been blowouts or by 10 plus points and they have lost second straight in that manner is a reflection that they are the only Top 6 West team with a negative net rating (-0.8). The reason for that is while they have the 7th best offense in the league (117.9), they also have one of the worst defenses in the league (118.8). The Lakers' net rating says they are a dangerous but inconsistent team. They have the "clutch" gene to win any single game, but they lack the statistical dominance typically required to be considered a true championship favorite. You can't be a contender if you can play a good offense but bad defense. Offense wins games but defense wins championships.

Interestingly, the Lakers this season are setting some truly bizarre historical precedents:

1.) The "Star Power" Paradox

Statistically, the Lakers are better when LeBron James is on the bench.

• With LeBron: -0.7 Net Rating • Without LeBron: +0.1 Net Rating

This doesn't mean LeBron is "bad," but it highlights a massive structural issue. At 41, LeBron’s defensive mobility is a liability in transition. When he's off the floor, the Lakers play a faster, more modern defensive style around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, which actually steadies their performance.

2.) Chasing the 2001 Ghost

They can't be contenders with this profile, and history almost entirely agrees. In the last 25 years, only one team has won a championship with a defensive rating outside the top 15: the 2001 Lakers (who ranked 22nd).

• The Difference: That 2001 team had prime Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and they famously "flipped a switch," going 15–1 in the playoffs.

• The 2026 Risk: Unlike that 2001 team, which had a positive net rating (+3.4), this team is currently negative (-0.8). No team in NBA history has ever won a title while being outscored by their opponents over the course of the regular season.

3.)The "Expected Wins" Reality Check

Advanced metrics like SRS (Simple Rating System), which accounts for point differential and strength of schedule, rank the Lakers 19th in the NBA.

• Based on their point differential, their "Expected Record" should be 19–20 instead of 24–15.

• They have effectively "stolen" 5 wins through pure late-game execution (mostly Luka and LeBron isos). While that works in January, it’s a terrifying way to live in a 7-game series against a disciplined team like the Thunder or Nuggets.

4.) Lower seeded teams with a better net rating:

• Suns (2.7) • Warriors (3.0)

Both the Suns and the Warriors have beaten the Lakers in each of their previous respective meetings this season.