The new Lakers have disappointed, the player they are missing according to Brian Windhorst

Early in 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers surprised the NBA by not only making it to the playoffs, but making it to the Western Conference Finals, but they weren't able to defeat the Denver Nuggets and got swept by them, despite competing in all four games.

By bringing that team's core back and having some apparent upgrades to players like Dennis Schroder, Lonnie Walker, Mo Bamba, Wenyen Gabriel, Troy Brown, and more with the new signings of Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Jaxson Hayes, Cam Reddish and Christian Wood, the team is supposed to contend for the title.

Eight games have passed and things aren't looking good, not only does the team have a losing record of 3-5, a 3-game losing streak with 0-5 on the road, but they have been playing the worst first quarters of an NBA team in the last 75 years.

With Gabe Vincent disappointing to then being out for an injury, and the roster being incomplete with different injuries, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst: "I think they're missing Dennis Schroder more than they thought."

Dennis Schröder was a big part of the team's last season success

The Lakers' current backcourt defense is one of the worst in the league, it´s natural they are missing a player like Dennis who is one of the best off-ball defenders and fastest players in the league. The Lakers' offense has looked slow and dead because they are lacking the speed Schröder brought to the team. Dennis's energy and mindset are also missing, he tore his ankle in one game but he fought through it and helped the team to win that game, that attitude is missing as they show only apparty against the Houston Rockets in the Wednesday blowout loss.