Rich Paul says the Los Angeles Lakers are not title contenders, sparking questions about whether the take reflects LeBron James’ perspective.

Back-to-back wins can hide deeper issues, and that has been the case for the LA Lakers. Despite beating the Memphis Grizzlies twice, the Purple and Gold have struggled for consistency, going 4-4 over their last eight games as Austin Reaves remains sidelined.

The Memphis Grizzlies are in the middle of the pack in the NBA, but they continue to struggle against teams with better records. That was evident in the team's

LeBron James praises workout sessions with Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Johnson as the Los Angeles Lakers star highlights their growth.

The Lakers are all over the place. Head coach JJ Redick feels his messages aren’t getting through to the players. The offense shows continuous lapses, while defensively, there’s no organization.

The Los Angeles Lakers need a solid 3-and-D wing ahead of the trade deadline and a stout rival of LeBron James may be available.

The Milwaukee Bucks are feeling the effect of having Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup. The team is 4-1 since the Greek Freak made his return, and the t