Los Angeles Lakers: First Preseason Gamecast vs. Los Angeles Clippers
By Ronald Agers
The Los Angeles Lakers are back.
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers were supposed to have the NBA’s most hyped playoff showdown in October. The Clippers never showed up losing to the Denver Nuggets in the greatest collapse in modern postseason history. The teams meet up Friday night as the NBA jumpstarts the preseason.
Hold up. The NBA is back? Didn’t the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA title a week ago? Well it really seems that way. It does seem like yesterday when Anthony Davis was seen on the bench in tears watching the clock tick down to the 17th title for one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
LeBron James went down his list of people (Including himself!) that deserved just a little respect these days after holding up the Finals MVP trophy.
Well about 70 days later, the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers and Lake Show Life have to get back to work that is exciting to Lakers fans around the world, but to some of the staff it’s…
“Mama, I don’t wanna go to school!”
The NBA is going to try to regain some of the lost magic from one of the most disappointing marketing plans in sports history. The Lakers and Clippers were to have a Western Conference showdown that had more storylines than the NBA Finals.
The Lakers held up their end while the Clippers choked away a 3-1 lead and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. Now the only storyline we are left with for Friday night is this.
The Los Angeles Lakers have already shown their level of common sense by sitting LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Head Coach Frank Vogel made the announcement after the team’s training camp practice on Thursday. Some of the Lakers’ new players may miss the game, but it will be a game-time decision.
In Lakers news that might need to be kept an eye on.
Alfonzo McKinnie, who was acquired in the trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers for JaVale McGee, (Aka a cap space deal to sign Marc Gasol!) will not play. His story is a little different because he has not participated in training camp. The team calls it an “excused absence.”
With James and Davis out, why watch the game?
- Besides the obvious perk of laughing at the crosstown Clippers up close and personal for their epic collapse, social media will be exploding with all of the choke job memes reminding Clippers Nation how they failed while showing off the Lakers new toy in the Larry O’Brien trophy.
- Maybe somebody can get some rhyme or reason why Paul George, who was atrocious in the bubble last year could parlay that performance into a $190 million extension. Feel free to let us know in the comment section below.
- This is a very very different team that you all knew and loved last year. Granted Rob Pelinka is on record being a genius improving the roster with serious upgrades on a budget…
Lakers Rumors: Rob Pelinka’s genius shown in Montrezl Harrell deal
- But talent is not enough, Lakers fans. The coaching staff has to get some familiarity with the supporting cast and the bench. Chemistry is very important here. The Lakers are in no way guaranteed to win back to back titles just because Rob Pelinka did his job. Think Lake Show Life is lying? Why don’t you ask the new power forward, Montrezl Harrell. He can tell you a thing or two about counting chickens before they are hatched.
- What’re the chances that Harrell gets in a scuffle with a Clippers player (Writer bets on Marcus Morris!) if he plays?
For the last two seasons, Lake Show Life has presented its own exclusive extended post-game report called Lake Show Life Lessons. It combined in-depth analysis along with highlights of featured players. The comment section would then fill with comments of some of the Lakers’ most knowledgeable fans.
Warning to trolls. Most can get away with slick comments on other Los Angeles Lakers websites, this is not one of them. Respect is demanded in the comment section. That section belongs to loyal readers such as McKinley Webb, Slick, Donald and numerous others. It’s a party where deep discussions of the team are held.
This preseason we are testing out expanded coverage of gameday.
- First, we will have a preview of each game with possible storylines to follow.
- During the game, fans can make comments on the game engaging with Ronald Agers.
- There will be a quick summary post-game report immediately after the game.
- The normal more in-depth Lake Show Life Lessons report will be up the next day.
The extended coverage will be up to the loyal readers of Lake Show Life. If there is heavy engagement, this practice continues. If not, well, the experiment will be history on December 22nd.
The Lakers and Clippers will tip off the preseason on Friday night at 7:00 PM PST (10:00 PM PST) The game will be televised locally on Spectrum SportsNet. Most will see the game on NBA League Pass.