The Biggest Early-Season Storylines for Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant’s return to the court following an Achilles tear he suffered in April continues to be the biggest early-season storyline surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers.

The future Hall of Famer has returned to practice, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, but there still isn’t a set date for his regular-season return.

Although any news involving Bryant is what grabs the headlines in Los Angeles, Mike D’Antoni’s team has still been faced with the arduous task of winning games without its superstar.

While there have been some bright spots through the first month of the season, injuries, poor shooting from inside the three-point arc and struggles on the defensive end have the Lakers sitting below a .500 record.

No team in the loaded Western Conference will reach the playoffs without posting a winning record by season’s end. There are simply too many talented teams in the conference.

Getting Bryant back will help a great deal if he returns to form, but the Lakers still have work to do in the meantime.

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