At 7-3, the Lakers are at the top of the Western Conference — tied with the Suns. For all the hand wringing about how well (or not) the Lakers have been playing, they’re winning 70% of their games through their first 10 games which is roughly the same pace they were on last year when they went 52-19.
Has the basketball been as good? No, it has not been. Their collective effort has waxed and waned and their defensive attentiveness is not as good. This latter part, as frustrating as it can be at times, makes sense. The Lakers, as a group, are not as good defensively this season as last.