What Fans Have Learned From the Lakers Preseason

Hannah Kulik

October 22, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Julius Randle (30) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers have completed their preseason schedule and are now preparing for the first game of the regular season on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The preseason was erratic: the first and last games were horrific but in between there were some positive moments. All signs suggest this will be another trying season for the Purple and Gold, but hopefully there will be some pleasant surprises along the way.

Here are a number of things fans learned about the Lakers in the preseason.

Next: Prioritizing Youth

1. The number one goal this season should be to let the younger players get as much time on the court as possible, to allow them to gain experience and to judge their long-term potential. However, while the Lakers will pay lip service to this goal, they probably won’t follow the plan completely.

Byron Scott, in his heart, seems to not like or trust rookies, so there will be a tug of war all year as he tries to decide whether it is more important to eek out a few more victories with decent veterans like Lou Williams and Roy Hibbert, and the oft-injured Kobe Bryant, or whether it is better to rely more on their youth, to really find out if they can develop into good players on an improved NBA team.

Next: Injuries and Nick Young

Oct 17, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) reacts with the bench after making a three pointer during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

2. Injuries will play a crucial role in determining the Lakers’ fate this season, just as they have the past three years. No one has figured out why, but the team has been decimated by injuries in recent seasons. Not even the Golden State Warriors could have overcome the kind of injuries the Lakers have suffered, and already Russell, Bryant, and Clarkson have been banged up before the regular season even starts.

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3. Nick Young seems to have a more mature attitude off the court, which is good, but he still throws up too many off balance shots that have no chance, and he contributes little other than his shooting. This preseason has proven that when he waits patiently for an open shot courtesy of a good pass, he can catch and shoot with accuracy. When he hogs the ball and dances around by himself, more often than not he ends up taking an embarrassing shot leading to a fast break the other way.

In contrast, the media reports were wrong about Williams because he is not Young. Whereas Young is one dimensional,Williams has shown consistent ability to drive to the hoop and dish the ball. He is a solid player and a good addition to the team. He plays with quiet but strong confidence and will be a leader on the second unit.

Next: Roy Hibbert A Team Leader?

October 22, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert (17) controls the ball against Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31) during the first half at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

4. Roy Hibbert has a big body that takes up a lot of space in the middle. He has shown a lot of enthusiasm both on and off the court, and he will be the voice of the defense. While Hibbert has not excelled as a rebounder in the past, he’s proven this offseason that he is fully capable of grabbing double-digit rebounds on a consistent basis. If Hibbert stays healthy and continues to play with the energy and effort he has shown in the preseason, he should have a very solid season.

Next: Clarkson and Randle Have All-Star Potential

Oct 17, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Ian Clark (21) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) during the first quarter at Valley View Casino Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

5. Right now, it seems like Jordan Clarkson is the Lakers’ best player. When finally given a chance to play last year, he made astonishing strides in a short amount of time, earning himself All-Rookie first team honors. Instead of taking a rest, Clarkson worked harder than ever this summer to improve his game, only to find himself overshadowed in the media by the drafting of D’Angelo Russell and the return of Julius Randle.

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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

Oct 13, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; General view of the NBA preseason game between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

9. Fans need to be realistic about Russell and forget about where he was taken in the draft, because he is not going to be an instant NBA star. He was chosen to be a point guard but he has looked overwhelmed much of the time. Russell is 19 years old, physically as well as mentally, and he needs time to mature and get stronger. He is going to play a lot simply by virtue being the number two draft pick, but he is going to struggle when the season starts like most rookies.

10. Finally, this is likely to be a trying season. The veterans are either too old or too average to lead the team to the playoffs, and the young players will be up and down. The team’s future depends on Clarkson, Randle and Russell. The first two will have very strong games here and there but may struggle to remain consistent.

It will be interesting to see if Nance Jr, Brown, and Black can develop into solid NBA supporting cast members, but that will take playing time which Scott may or may not give them. In the end, unless injuries become a factor, the team should be entertaining and it should be especially fun watching the younger players mature.

Next: Will the Lakers Trade Nick Young This Season?

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Hannah Kulik

I attend Loyola Marymount University where I have been an on-air radio and television personality. I am a passionate Lakers fan and hope to work on-camera for Time Warner Cable Access Sportsnet Lakers channel in the future. Aside from my interest in the Lakers I have been a competitive equestrian in the Arabian horse world for a number of years.