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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into the new season with some expectations and a loss with LeBron James walking.
According to ESPN's panel of experts, that's really what could make the upcoming season a tricky one.
The Lakers received 32 points in ESPN's voting for the team most likely to take a tumble this season, putting them at No. 1 on the list. That's not exactly the kind of preseason recognition a team wants. Still, the reasoning makes sense.
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There's a lot expected from the Lakers, and that's nothing new for a franchise with championship aspirations. But now, the team is building around Luka Doncic, who is 27 years old and firmly established as the new superstar at the center of the franchise.
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That creates a simple standard for the Lakers: They need to keep winning. Los Angeles has put together two straight 50-win seasons, according to ESPN, and the expectation is that the team should continue moving forward. If it doesn't, the questions surrounding the decision to move on from James could start coming up again.
That's where the pressure comes in. The Lakers aren't being projected to fall because ESPN's panel suddenly thinks they're a bad team. It's more about what happens when a team with this much expectation doesn't quite meet the standard. Of course, there isn't much room for disappointment in Los Angeles.
The Lakers' 32 points put them ahead of the Detroit Pistons, who received 27, and the Golden State Warriors, who had 26. The Miami Heat received 22 points, while the Boston Celtics rounded out the list with 17.
But, the Lakers stand alone at the top, and that's certainly something worth watching. The Lakers have already spent the past two seasons winning at least 50 games. Taking another step is the obvious goal.
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