Fortified by acquisitions of various degrees, the lords of the rings find themselves back in the hunt for title No. 5, leaving us wondering how deep LeBron James and Stephen Curry can pull from their respective reservoirs to make it to June — one more time.

The trade for Luka Doncic and immediate connection he made with LeBron James has transformed the Lakers into legitimate title contenders.

LeBron James is ready for action. As the Lakers get ready to open their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, head coach JJ Redick made it clear that James isn’t just the face of the franchise—he’s the heartbeat of the team’s defense.