Exposing Lakers' Biggest Concerns and Weaknesses to Open 2023-24 NBA Season

The Los Angeles Lakers have learned plenty about themselves during the early portion of the 2023-24 NBA season.

Not all of it's been good.

From frigid shooting to an uncomfortable reliance on a certain 38-year-old superstar, let's dig into the biggest problem areas for the Purple and Gold.

The Lakers Are Too Dependent on LeBron James

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 27, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

This is LeBron James' 21st season in the Association. He'll turn 39 before the calendar flips to the new year. His NBA odometer has reached a historical reading.

By all layers of logic, he should no longer be the biggest factor in his franchise's success. He's already admitted as much. That's why he attempted a public passing of the torch to Anthony Davis this offseason. It's why the Lakers tried—and plan to try again—to limit James' floor time.

Yet, the Lakers still can't get by without him. He leads them in a number of stat categories (including points and assists), but the most revealing is this: He has L.A.'s biggest net differential (plus-18.8 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com) and it's not even close (Christian Wood is next at plus-7.8).

That's an incredible testament to James' longevity, but it's a legitimate worry for the Lakers. Davis still disappears from the offense at times. Austin Reaves was expected to ascend to stardom and has slid into a second-team role instead. D'Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura have been up and down. They need someone to step up and lighten James' workload, but nothing has materialized.

They Are Putrid for the Perimeter

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Austin Reaves #15 and Head Coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 15, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

With a devastating downhill attacker in James and a punishing paint presence in Davis, you'd think the Lakers would be loaded with shooters around them.

That's...uh...not the case.

L.A.'s nightly allotment of 9.8 triples is the lowest in the league. Its 33.8 three-point percentage is the third-worst.

Obviously, these struggles can't be pinned on a single player. Of the 10 Lakers with double-digit three-point attempts, only three are converting those looks at a 35-plus percent clip: James, Russell and Hachimura.

They Can't Keep Teams off the Glass

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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 15: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings rebounds the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 15, 2023 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Lakers are having trouble closing out defensive possessions.

More than that, they're allowing the opposition to extend their offensive opportunities and pad their point totals in the process.

Between this season and last, L.A. has fallen seven spots in defensive rebound percentage from 10th to 17th. On a directly related note, they've plummeted from 19th to 30th in opponents' second-chance points.

They don't have enough offensive firepower to make up for giving the opposition extra chances. Davis has done his part (12.1 rebounds in 35.3 minutes), but he can't be the only one making his presence felt on the glass.