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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 lessons learned in victory over Denver Nuggets

Ronald Agers|
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Denver Nuggets on October 25, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against the Denver Nuggets on October 25, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

3. Time to leave Lonzo Ball alone and accept the “others” as equals!

The constant criticism of the Los Angeles Lakers and the way it is constructed is all about the young guys playing with LeBron James and not having shooters. I really wish they would stop! The front office believes that Luke Walton has the tools needed to be successful. I agree with them. If this team plays hard and competes they should be fine…

Did LeBron James hit the shot? No. He initiated the offense with the breakdown of Denver’s defense getting into the paint. Then he passes to Lonzo Ball who swung the ball to Kuzma for the last second shot. This is basketball. People act like these guys don’t know how to play. They still are all professionals. As stated before, LeBron James is supposed to take over in crunch time. The young guys are supposed to keep things close to HAVE a crunch time.

Let’s get to Lonzo Ball folks…

Ball is a player that will be successful in a Lakers uniform. Anyone that does not think so do not have a full understanding of the game of basketball. This is Jason Kidd model 2000, hot off the Showtime floor. Everyone wants to see all of the crossovers and step back threes.

If you are Los Angeles fans you want this…

…and for the casual fan…

So let this dude breathe! LaVar is quiet now, so the so-called experts need do the same and back off this dude and let him develop. He is quietly making this offense a machine! My whole point is laid out in this sequence…press play!

Find some young players that have the potential to do this on a consistent basis. Lonzo Ball does. Did you see the steal? This shows the competitive drive in Lonzo. Jamal Murray tried to bully him last year. Obviously, Ball didn’t forget and embarrassed him in front of the world by stealing his lunch money and scoring the basket.

The Lakers do not get back in this game without stops. The Lakers were still bad on defense against Denver. Let’s be clear about that. Improvement is needed. But this defensive sequence was led by Lonzo Ball sacrificing his body and getting the 50-50 balls that started the Lakers run.

This was not happening in the first two games. Now if ALL the Lakers continue to play defense like Ball, Hart and JaVale McGee, the Lakers will get into the playoffs. Even better, if the front office swings a major deal later in the season, the player will be an addition or a final piece for a run in the playoffs instead of “help” for LeBron!

The Los Angeles Lakers have started their long journey through the NBA season. Lake Show Life will be there every step of the way. Continue to check in for Lakers news, previews and reviews.

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