When Luke Walton was named head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, he inherited a young roster that was in the midst of a rebuild. Walton and the Lakers young core grew together before expectations dramatically changed with the signing of LeBron James.
The new-look team began to find its footing after a slow start to the season that saw suspensions and injuries throwing off the chemistry-building process. But the Lakers have since regressed as neither James or Rajon Rondo has played since Christmas.
It remains unclear when James will return from a strained groin, and Rondo is at least two weeks from reaching the beginning of his projected timetable after undergoing a second surgery this season.