The Lakers’ preseason ends tonight with a match up against the Suns. While the team still has a couple of roster cuts to make — and maybe an assistant coach to hire? — and then sort out whether or not to treat this game like a real dress rehearsal, I think there is really only one goal for tonight: No one get hurt.
The regular season starts next Wednesday. The Lakers have plenty of work to do before then and pretty much all the goals should be to get to that date healthy with several practices and teaching sessions leading up to that point to help fine tune this team. So while tonight’s game is happening, I wouldn’t say it “matters”.
Of course, I still would like to see how the starters play — including seeing Luol Deng back in the lineup to get some reps with the 1st team. I would also like to finally get sorted out whether Clarkson is going to be a reserve or a starter while also getting a few minutes from Calderon if he is completely healed and ready to go. You can even add in to that whether you want to look at Lou Williams and Nick Williams as a primary wing backup (i.e. can/do you want Nick to play some SG and, if so, what does that mean for Lou), but that seems like a stretch for this game.
Other roster questions and lineup configurations matter, but not more than surviving this game with full health in tact. I am open to hearing arguments about this game being treated as some sort of real build up to a regular season game, but, honestly, just like the final NFL preseason contests, I don’t think that’s necessary. This the 8th exhibition game for the Lakers. They’ve had enough moments to get a lot of answers already.
Now, just get to Wednesday healthy.
_Craig W says
Nick Young – not Nick Williams
FredP says
It was not really fair for the Lakers to have had to play the Warriors the last two games. However, it did expose their offense and how much more work needs to be put into it. Granted that the Warriors knew the sets better than the Lakers and naturally came down in the correct defensive positions but everyone on the Lakers was making mistakes running the plays. This is not a criticism more than it is an acknowledgement that it is going to take time before this resembles a competitive, professional team. I trust Luke is not going to let them devolve into five individuals trying to make plays for themselves. And it will take discipline on the part of the players to keep working to get the offense to flow.
30twhite40 says
Thomas Robinson trying to make one last impression to make the Lakers.
fern16 says
What happened to the commenters of old? I miss those guys most of all Ko believe it of not. I don’t know if you guys read that espn article about the Lakers. Excellent read. With interviews with Byron, and former players like Matt Barnes and Carlos Boozer. We all complain about the state of the Lakers and Jim Buss and all the gripes. But the devastating effect of “the veto” can’t be ignored. Boozer even said that future FAs are willing to give the Lakers a serious look next summer now that Kobe is gone. We will see about that. For that to happen the team, meaning our young core has to show real improvement and potential. Can’t wait for tue season to start. I saw some real flashes in the preseason. I dont expect playoffs or even a winning record but i think this team wiill be better than what’s being said. GO LAKERS!!!!