The first days of Training Camp at any level of basketball can be tedious, as the coaching staff tries to install their systems via a variety of individual and team shell drills. Last night, away from the media’s gaze, Luke Walton was generous enough allow to his team to let loose for the first Lakers scrimmage of the year. Lonzo Ball, Vander Blue, Corey Brewer, Kyle Kuzma, and Thomas Bryant – in a lineup that conspicuously resembled the team that won the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League – were the big winners of the night, going 3-0 behind a strong effort in transition. Julius Randle teamed up with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Luol Deng, Tyler Ennis, Alex Caruso, and Stephen Zimmerman, with no word on Brandon Ingram’s squad.
Walton was noticeably unimpressed with the team’s performance as a whole though, noting that the first scrimmage of the year is always sloppy.
? Luke Walton discusses the team’s first scrimmage session of the year. pic.twitter.com/etpAFNlhSd
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 28, 2017
Despite the predictably uneven play, Lonzo was the story of the night. Ball mused, “I don’t think it’s possible to play too fast.”, and Walton agreed, noting Ball’s comfort level with a pace that his teammates are still getting used to. “It’s almost as if the game is moving a little bit slower to him than it is to other players. We’re out there asking everyone to play fast, fast, fast, and he’s out there making simple passes and when guys are open ahead he’s putting it on their hands.”
Lonzo, whose perspective is almost invariably through the lens of team success, certainly seemed to enjoy himself.
? @ZO2_ looks back on his team going 3-0 during the first day of scrimmaging. pic.twitter.com/ikkY2e7wX2
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 28, 2017
A shorter Training Camp and Preseason than previous years makes life a little more difficult for the coaches, who can’t quite get to everything that they want to get to before the first game in two days. But no matter how sloppy it may be, the first Lakers scrimmage of the year is still cause to rejoice, as basketball season is almost upon us. Two more days.
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