Even with one of the worst offenses in basketball and an 11-16 record, you’d be hard-pressed to find a single team in the association that has completely dismissed the Los Angeles Lakers.

The truth is, even as presently constricted, the combined powers of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook are still enough to give the Lakers the benefit of the doubt.

While the product on the floor has not matched that status so far, the Lakers still view themselves as close to being a contender.