Oct 17, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. (7) drives to the basket during the third quarter against Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
7. Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown can play. They arrived to much less fanfare than Russell, but when called upon this preseason, they generally performed better than him. At first Nance Jr. barely played at all, and then, when given a chance, he shined in two consecutive games before not seeing the court at all in the final preseason contest. Scott must see something he likes in Brown, since he was chosen to start the last five preseason games.
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Nance and Brown need to play a lot this year, but will they? The fact that Nance did not play at all in the recent game against the Warriors could suggest that he is not in Scott’s rotation.
Brown has been a starter, but when Bryant and Clarkson return and start, and Young is coming off the bench at small forward, will Brown play at all?
8. Ryan Kelly may be improved on offense but still must play defense and rebound. Many people were calling for Kelly to be cut over the summer, but the surprising truth is he played well this preseason looking quicker and more confident than before. It appears he has made Scott’s second team rotation, but he has to play more like a seven footer on the defensive end or he could be replaced by Nance Jr. or Black.
Next: Tempered Expectations and Preparing for the Future