The Lakeshow Review

Following a slow start to the preseason, one which saw the Lakers lose its first two exhibition games, the team finally found their footing after taking down the Golden State Warriors by a final score of 126-116. There was some good and some bad, but it was great to see LA get their first preseason win under their belts and have their hard work from training camp pay off. The team looked much more fluid, and the offense seems to be coming along. Defensively, they aren’t quite there yet, as they displayed some glaring weaknesses that will continue to bog them down should they go unaddressed. The positives, however, outweighed the negatives, and the Lakers were able to put together a more balanced effort that showed promise before the season.

The Lakers started the game with a sense of urgency which they did not have during the first two contests. As a result, the team got off to a hot start. Shooting guard Austin Reaves led the way with 5 consecutive points early in the first. LA found success operating out of their horns series early on in the game, as they either got an open shot for AR at the top of the key, or they were also comfortable throwing it down to Deandre Ayton on the elbow and letting him go to work. Reaves finished with a team-high 21 points on a robust 7-10 shooting (2-4 from three), in only 23 minutes of action. He was eventually forced out of the game after bumping knees with Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (in what should’ve been whistled an offensive foul on Podz). Deandre Ayton also broke out of his early exhibition blues, posting a nice stat line of 14 points, eight boards, five assists and a block. He was particularly effective on the midrange, as his short roll game was on full display and he was able to make the dropping big pay. Forward Rui Hachimura also got in the action early, as he poured in 10 points in the first quarter. He finished with 16 points on 10 shots, including 3-4 from beyond the arc. As a result, LA was able to build a healthy 30-24 lead after the first quarter, a lead which they wouldn’t relinquish.

This game saw several big names out of action, for both sides. For the Lakers, LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Marcus Smart were all in street clothes. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler also sat out for Golden State. With that said, it was still a competitive and entertaining affair with both teams providing their share of highlights. For the Lakers, their offensive sets looked alot more polished. They look more comfortable operating in the half court, as their aforementioned horns sets yielded good results. They also made a conscious effort to feed center Deandre Ayton on the block (or at the elbow). Because of LAs five-out spacing, Ayton generally had an open paint to work on. His post-ups looked great as did his midrange looks. He also flashed some prowess as an outlet man on the screen-and-roll, as he dished out five assists, mostly from the post. If Ayton can prove to be this type of offensive hub during the season, particularly with Luka back in the fold, it’ll pay huge dividends for LA offensively.

Despite a much better effort and tenacity by the Lakers, they still played a very sloppy game. They lost the turnover battle, coughing the ball up 22 times (to Golden State’s 20). They also conceded 24 points off of turnovers and were out-gunned in transition were they were only able to muster nine points, to the Warrior’s 21. Transition defense was an issue all game. The Lakers were slow to get back on defense, and looked equally lost with their defensive assignments, often failing to stop the ball or leaving a shooter open in the slot. Golden State made sure to run on the Lakers all game, not only after misses, but even following makes. LA was disoriented with their transition gameplan all night. Perhaps this is fixable. It comes down to attention to detail. Stop the ball, and stay with shooters on the wings and corners. Players need to be aware of their matchups and assignments. The key is effort and execution. Coach JJ Redick seems to agree, as he had some comments regarding LAs transition endeavors. “Still don’t love our general transition defense… we’re lacking a little bit of urgency to get back after makes and get matched up”, remarked LAs coach. This should definitely be an area of emphasis for the team as they prepare for Opening Night (where they’ll take on the Warriors).

Fortunately, the Lakers played such an offensive game where they were able to overcome their defensive woes. They never gave up their early lead, and stayed aggressive with the ball. Eventually, their deep end reserves, namely exhibit-10 players R.J. Davis and Nate Williams as well as two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. were all able to keep up the scoring when LA took out their rotation guys. Dalton Knecht also had his breakout performance of preseason. He finished with a solid 16 points on nine shots, including 2-5 from three point range. It’s crucial for Knecht to find his groove, as he’ll be counted on to provide some much needed scoring punch off the bench. Overall, this was an impressive win for LA, against a formidable and familiar opponent. Both Luka and Marcus Smart are slated to make their preseason debuts tomorrow against Phoenix. Hopefully the offense continues to take shape, and we can see more of a meaningful commitment to transition defense. Until then, let’s hope guys keep getting healthier and ready for the season. Go Lakers.