Let’s start with the obvious: There is no way to fully replace LeBron James.
The greatest player on the planet brings so much to the table that any team would struggle in his absence. The Lakers have felt this void over the last three weeks, compiling a 4-7 record in his stead.
Without James’ top-10 scoring and elite playmaking, the team’s scoring has cratered, ranking last in the NBA in offensive rating (100.9), compared to 17th with him active (108.8).
But the Lakers have prevented a total freefall by amping up their defense to top-tier levels.