When you think of the Los Angeles Lakers, what likely comes to mind are the 16 championship banners up in STAPLES Center, the countless retired jerseys in the rafters, and the tradition of winning. If you come to the Lakers, you are expected to wear the Purple and Gold with pride and to bring championships to the City of Angels. The Lakers are always a competitive team in the NBA -- at least, that has been the norm over the past couple decades. That trend changed when Kobe Bryant retired and sent the Lakers into a spiral of multiple losing seasons. But now things improving. Led by Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and Julius Randle, the Lakers are relevant again, and the league should take notice.

The Deep Hole

The past five years have been horrendous for Laker fans. After the infamous Big 4 of Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, and Kobe Bryant didn't work out, the Lakers were left scrambling. Howard walked in free agency; Nash's body was already ready for retirement when he arrived in LA; Bryant never looking the same after his torn Achilles; Gasol's play was constantly affected by trade rumors. The Lakers are still feeling the consequences of that era now because they sacrificed multiple first-round picks to remain in some semblance of a win-now mode. Clearly, that strategy did not work, and the Lakers eventually were forced to commit to a rebuild. Their rebuild took longer than expected, but the Lakers are now reaping its benefits.

Currently, the Lakers are sitting at 31-38, good for 10th in the Western Conference. They are seven and a half games back of the 8th and final Playoff spot, but, with only 11 games left in the season, it would probably take a miracle for them to make the Playoffs this year. Still, this season should be viewed as a successful one, because their young core is taking significant positive strides in its development. The Lakers won't have a lottery pick this year, but adding a proven superstar in free agency to pair with their young, promising core could be all the Lakers need to get over the Playoff hump. They are only a few pieces away right now. They should be able to contend for a championship in the near future. 

Winning Streak

Since the All-Star break, the Lakers are 8-6. When we consider their post All-Star record along with the 8-2 record they posted during a ten-game stretch in January, it's clear that the Lakers are showing progress this season. But they are still a young team, one that is prone to its fair share of ups and downs just like any other young team. The Lakers are learning what it will take to become successful once again, and this is taking place throughout the franchise: the players are learning how to win, Luke Walton is learning how to coach the young core, and Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka are setting out a plan to restore a winning culture to the franchise.

Perhaps the clearest evidence of this among the players this year is how Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball have been outspoken about how their commitment to making the team better in the face of adversity. Each player has demonstrated their confidence to Laker nation in the face of adversity. For example:

If you not with us now don't be with us later... we gone figure it out

— Lonzo Ball (@ZO2_) October 29, 2017

Were gonna figure this out promise that

— kuz (@kylekuzma) January 4, 2018

Winning Not At Full Strength

One of the more positive outcomes of this season is how the Lakers have been able to compete and win even when they are not playing at full strength, which has happened fairly often this season. The winning streaks they have enjoyed this season have not always come with the team at full strength -- in fact, they haven't been at full strength consistently since December. Their effort has been commendable, even inspiring, given the circumstances. Here is a recap of the injuries and roster turnover the Lakers have had to overcome throughout the season:  

• Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. were traded to the Cavaliers
• Isaiah Thomas joined the Lakers
• Brandon Ingram was out for a month due to a hip flexor strain
• Josh Hart was out four to six weeks with a fractured fourth metacarpal on his left hand 
• Lonzo Ball was out for two months due to an MCL sprain
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope couldn't travel outside the State of California due to detention

Considering all of the injuries and the other issues the team faced this year (including the trades), some likely expected the Lakers to be a high lottery team once again. While they will most certainly miss the Playoffs for another and, as a result, be bound for another lottery year, they have laid a solid foundation for sustained success in the future. The coaching staff deserves credit for clearing so many hurdles en route to their first 30+ win season since 2013. And young players like Brandon Ingram and Julius Randel are continuing to show that they could lead this team into the future if given the opportunity. 

Here are some of this season's takeaways to keep in mind:

• The Lakers' 2017 Draft Class, which brought in Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart, is awesome
• Julius Randle and Brandon Ingram are finally showing franchise-player quality
• These Lakers can handle adversity
• First 30-win season since 2013
• Freed up a lot of cap space for the Lakers
• Get a 1st-Round Pick
• The Lakers know how to win again
• The Lakers are back