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Early Takeaways from the Lakers Preseason Games

By Hannah Kulik

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1.  The Good

Oct 8, 2015; Ontario, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) before the game against the Toronto Raptors at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The most encouraging news is the emergence of Julius Randle, who played two very strong games in a row on both ends of the court. After slow starts, at times he was nearly unstoppable, playing with devastating power and surprising speed. He finished with 16 and 17 points, respectively, grabbing five rebounds in both contests, and also passed the ball with skill. Also, he seems vastly improved on defense from what fans saw last year.

This is the Randle everyone was hoping to see. If these games were a turning point for him, it is indeed great news for the entire franchise.

Kobe Bryant shot well, moved well, and provided a spark on offense in limited minutes. He will benefit from playing off ball and allowing others to set him up for solid shots. It greatly reduces the wear and tear on his body when he doesn’t have to bring the ball up the court against quick, pressing guards. So far Bryant hasn’t shown much lift on his jump shots nor has he driven to the basket, but he has played two strong, measured games.

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Lakers fans should also like what Roy Hibbert has shown so far. He may turn out to be the biggest difference between last season’s team and this one, as he is a dominating presence in the middle who alters shots and protects the rim.

He has played with energy and passion on both ends of the court, particularly in game two where he had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Additionally, he has hit his free throws, and it was encouraging when he came to Randle’s defense when the latter got into it with a Jazz player.

Brandon Bass looked good in the second game before suffering an injury that caused him to miss the next contest. He has a knack for being in the right position to pick up a key rebound or make a big basket. Bass plays with energy and enthusiasm on offense and defense, but he is always under control. Whether he starts or comes off the bench this season, Bass looks is going to be an important contributor.

Jordan Clarkson has not dominated as some thought he might, but his play has been solid. Against the Jazz, when the Lakers started the second half down by a point, it was Clarkson who emerged from the locker room with a burst of scoring that gave the team the lead.

In the third game, he came out firing from the start and got the team going, working hard on both ends of the floor. While Clarkson is supposed to play shooting guard this season, he may end up playing more than expected at the point especially if D’Angelo Russell continues to struggle.

Lou Williams has not played as well as the above mentioned names, but he is quick, fearless and a great free throw shooter. He is a streaky scorer like Nick Young, but unlike Young, who is pretty one dimensional, Williams handles the ball, distributes it well, penetrates into the lane, and works hard on defense. Williams is also said to be a great locker room guy, which will greatly benefit the young Lakers.

When Metta World Peace was signed shortly before the start of training camp some thought it was only a short term situation, that he would stick around for training camp to mentor the young players. If that was the plan the Lakers may have to reconsider. World Peace turned the second game around with his energy and hustle, especially on defense and definitely looks like he has some game left in him.

The Lakers are dangerously thin at small forward, and based on the last two games there is every reason to believe that World Peace will make the roster and contribute as long as he remains healthy.

Next: The Bad

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