Los Angeles Lakers: Overcome the LA Clippers late in preseason opener!

The Los Angeles Lakers started their preseason against an old foe in the Los Angeles Clippers. No LeBron, no AD, no problem in a win over the Clippers.

They say that basketball is a game of six inches. That length is the all-important ratio of the ball falling through the basket. In the first game of the preseason for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers, the ball fell six inches the wrong way for most of the night. Both teams couldn’t throw the ball in the Pacific Ocean if they were standing neck-deep in the water.

It’s hard to believe that Friday is the two month anniversary of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrating their 2020 NBA Championship! The sad thing is, the champagne smell hasn’t left the uniforms from that night yet.

Instead, the defending champs got to wink and nod at the Los Angeles Clippers while playing a preseason game. The Lakers won (Like again!), 87-81, in a meaningless preseason game that showcased camp invites or players who will fill out 5-on-5 pickup games in practice and scrimmages. In other words, some of these players won’t be around at the end of the month.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a mandate this preseason. Nobody is going to get hurt in these games if they can help it. While Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Marc Gasol, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Markieff Morris modeled Lakers warmup gear (They are nice folks!), the Clippers had Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and most of the Clippers’ regular rotation playing.

Let’s be honest here. If there wasn’t a Staples Center sign with all of NBA trimmings inside, this could pass as a glorified pickup game.

The good…

Montrezl Harrell is that dude. This writer thought the Clippers would handle the Lakers last year. Harrell was one of the reasons why. His reputation as an energy player with a huge motor is why. Lake Show Life followers will see why this season.

He plays hard ALL THE TIME! Period. The shiny new Sixth Man of the Year constantly beat up the Clippers’ front line down low for offensive rebounds. He finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds (8 offensive!) with 2 steals.

One thing though. He’s hesitant on shots from the mid-range. Make or miss, he has to shoot them. There will be plenty.

Devontae Cacok won’t get a lot of run this year but he deserves it. Like Harrell, Cacok looks for the ball and plays with so much energy. Plays don’t have to run through him but he always seems to be near it on both ends.

The bad…

Let’s get this out of the way early. LeBron James had better not get hurt. The Lakers still need a point guard. Dennis Schroder is the same guy he always been. A guy that can’t run an offense efficiently while jacking up shots.

His defensive performance (Or lack thereof…) shows bad discipline. Players that will not make the team had no issues blowing by him.

The story… 

It is clear that the Lakers’ coaching staff wanted to see Talen Horton-Tucker. He had the LeBron neon sign green light scoring 19 points on 6-17 shooting. But it’s plain to see that he has the talent that has the Lakers so excited throughout training camp. That and he was going to take advantage of taking more shots in this game (17) than he did in the bubble last year (16).

THT still has to learn to play the angles to get space to finish and coordinate his incredible length. But it’s the preseason. This is the time for him to try in-game action. He can get to the hole, but now he needs to better read the play and open up options.

Lake Show Life’s more in-depth breakdowns will come in Lake Show Life Lessons tomorrow. Keep it locked for the only Los Angeles Lakers post-game report with highlights and in-depth analysis.