Lakers: Five Bold Predictions After LA’s Opening Games
By Alex Vejar
Nick Young Will Be LA’s Best Defender
Walton has been singing the praises of Young’s defense since the preseason. Apparently Young’s defense was so good, it earned him a starting spot against Houston and Young delivered.
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He had various moments of strong defense against James Harden, and also made multiple-effort plays that are important in a team’s overall defensive scheme.
Everyone knows Young can score. But he’s always been athletic and feisty enough to make a difference on the defensive end. And this season, it seems he’s finally bought into that side of the floor.
If he remains locked in mentally, the combination of his starting role and his veteran status should give him enough incentive to continue being the team’s defensive stopper.
D’Angelo Russell Will Average over 25 Points Per Game
On opening night against the Rockets, Russell proved that he is angling to be the face of the franchise in the near future. While only getting three assists, he scored 20 points in 29 minutes, including four 3-pointers.
What was most impressive about Russell was his leadership and command of the offense. It’s also very fun to watch him drain threes, and say things like this after he does so:
Russell clearly has the confidence of coach Luke Walton, and his improvement over the summer is already showing on the court. While it would be easy to predict he’d average 20 a game, we’re upping the ante and going with 25+.