Throughout the preseason, we’ve learned a lot about the Laker team. Coach Scott emphasized defense and running in practices, but it took awhile for that to be implemented on the basketball floor.
The Lakers struggled early in blow out losses, but started winning towards the end of the preseason. The ability to close out teams was a revealed weakness about this Laker team. Not only did Jeremy Lin get called for a costly foul against the Denver Nuggets, but it cost the Lakers a win, despite Kobe Bryant’s clutch shot heroics.
The last game against the Sacramento Kings revealed a similar fate. The Lakers were up by 9 points late in the second half. The Sacramento Kings kept attacking the Laker defense. The Lakers looked reluctant and hesitant on offense. Bad shots, missed free throws, and a Ray McCallum tip-in later, the Lakers lost.
Each of the players revealed something about the upcoming season.