There are a myriad of reasons why the Lakers started the season the way they did. Amongst their many foibles however, was a level of rigidness the team couldn't deviate from that hamstrung their growth. This inability to diverge was seen most in the backcourt.
With a girth at the guard spot, limited shooting ability and a polarizing lead ball-handler, the Lakers were limited in their options to effectively fill in the gaps around the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They were redundant, and in some cases, dictated everyone else to adjust instead of vice versa.