While there was plenty of excitement surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers once they signed LeBron James, the front office and head coach Luke Walton tempered heightened expectations by highlighting the remade roster would need time to develop chemistry.
The Lakers have been snakebitten in that process, with suspensions and injuries intervening since the second game of the season. Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo were suspended four and three games, respectively, for their role in a fight with Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets.
Rondo then missed 17 games after undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his right hand.