Thursday Footage: Lakers at the Gym (Vine)
By Mike Garcia
There’s plenty of action at the Laker gym. Five-on-five action has been more rampant lately for the Laker players. Most of the individual workouts with trainers are done. The team is getting ready to apply what they learned onto the practice floor.
Ryan Kelly, Ed Davis, Nick Young, Julius Randle, Robert Sacre, Jordan Clarkson, and Wesley Johnson are the easiest players to spot. They must be gym rats. They’ve been there all week.
Jordan Clarkson’s finish at the rim caught me off-guard. While the players may not be going 100%, watching a guard being able to finish in traffic is a huge upgrade for the Laker roster. Kendall Marshall struggled to finish in traffic. Last year, he shot 53.6% within three feet from the hoop. Steve Nash wasn’t healthy enough to stay on the floor. But, when he did attack the basket, he did so with great footwork and ball-handling. Last year, he shot a career low 45.5% within three feet from the rim. However, his career average is 65%. Jeremy Lin doesn’t have the length of Jordan Clarkson, but bank on him to play with high energy and quickness. Both Clarkson and Lin have the instinct to attack the rim.
https://vine.co/v/OWwgji0b5j2
There’s twelve days until the beginning of training camp. Byron Scott has a reputation for tough training camps. It looks like more than half of the Laker roster is ready. While it’s great to see the younger Laker players do their workouts and get involved in scrimmages, we can’t wait to see what the veterans can show on the floor as well. There has been little, if any, coverage of Carlos Boozer, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Jordan Hill. The veterans and captains set the tone for the roster and the rest of the season.
I just can’t wait until the preseason starts.