3. The Unknowns
September 28, 2015; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott is interviewed during media day at Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
At the top of the list of unknowns is Coach Byron Scott, who came to the Lakers with a losing record and immediately led the team to the worst record in franchise history.
There is much debate about whether Scott’s old school approach to the game can succeed in the modern NBA. He runs his players to death in the preseason, but does that lead to injuries? He is constantly shuffling line ups and giving a lot of minutes to players who, statistically speaking, don’t deserve it.
The Lakers are only three games into the preseason but two players who are of particular interest to fans, Robert Upshaw and Jonathan Holmes, got no playing time until the third game. Both had solid moments, especially Upshaw, but each needs more minutes to show what they can do.
Tarik Black is a high energy player who showed much promise last season and in summer league, yet he didn’t play at all in the last two games which is puzzling.
A big concern right now is that Los Angeles is very thin at the point guard and small forward positions. The situation is so precarious that they may need to address it prior to the start of the regular season, which could mean making a trade.
D'Angelo Russell and Marcelo Huertas will not play tonight against @MaccabiHaifa pic.twitter.com/HXCeBHvrzT
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 11, 2015
It may turn out that the veterans play more minutes than expected this season, while the all-out youth movement fans have heard so much about could be put on hold. Right now, the young players, with the exception of Randle and Clarkson, don’t appear NBA-ready.
The problem with trying to find time to play 19 men means there are fewer minutes to go around, thus some of the young players vying for the final slots don’t get the time they need under game conditions to show what they can do.
The preseason goes quickly, and soon Coach Scott will have to turn his attention to the players who will be in the starting and reserve rotations once the season starts. Unfortunately, while the first seven players are set, the playing time seen by the others has been so brief and uneven that the remaining roster decisions seem no clearer today than they were when training camp opened.
What has been the biggest surprise for you through the first three preseason games?
Let us know in the comments below.
Next: Would Bringing D'Angelo Russell Off the Bench Benefit LA?