Los Angeles Lakers: Kyle Kuzma sends message against Suns, 5 Lessons

The Los Angeles Lakers bested the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers finally showed the NBA world their two best players in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They started the game, but two other players in Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker assumed their closing roles quite nicely in the 4th quarter. Lake Show Life covers the game in Lake Show life Lessons. The only Los Angeles Lakers post-game with highlights and in-depth analysis.  

If there was a time for a Los Angeles Lakers letdown, this was the time. The roster could relax because their superstars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis returned to the lineup. Couple that with Talen Horton-Tucker dominating the Lakers news cycle, the Phoenix Suns would lay down right?

Well, as they say: “That’s why they play the games”. The Los Angeles Lakers took their first road trip to Phoenix to play the Suns in their 3rd preseason game. It was the Lakers’ first “official” game away from Staples Center since March, when they played the Pelicans before the NBA was shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Los Angeles Lakers still have issues with slow starts like last season falling down 20-7 early,  but they turned on the jets to full power to overcome two major Phoenix runs to win 112-107. Here’s a quick synopsis of how the Lake Show stayed undefeated this preseason.

• After falling behind in the first quarter, the second unit held the Suns scoreless the last three minutes of the first quarter.
• Then the Lakers outscored the Suns 32-19 in the second quarter as the defense got the Lakers fast break in gear and the Suns stars in foul trouble. 

• The Lakers outscored Phoenix 43-24 in the fourth quarter.
• Kyle Kuzma and Talen Horton-Tucker.  

With the superstars returning the lineup, the Vogel carousel of resting players continued.

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope didn’t play because of hip soreness. Reports say it’s not an injury, just general soreness (No Jimmy Butler jokes!) and the team was practicing caution. 
• Alex Caruso also didn’t play because of a hip flexor injury suffered in the first preseason game.

This game was fun because anybody that used the old line “Oh I haven’t played ball in weeks!” (Knowing they had just been in the gym playing yesterday!) can relate to how LeBron James and Anthony Davis played early in the first quarter.

• The two seemed to be a step behind. 
• LeBron James missed all of his shots from the field and one of two free throws.
• Anthony Davis was missing defensive rotations.
• Both of them looked gassed after running up and down the court a few minutes.
• It didn’t stay that way. They played two quarters. More on that later!

You know what? It didn’t matter. The main thing is Lake Show Life is not reporting hamstring pulls, calf strains or hip soreness that seems to float around the roster these days. Chemistry will not be a problem for these two. The overall plan is to ease LeBron and AD in the fold to build their stamina before the Lakers open the regular season next Tuesday against the Clippers.

But it is refreshing that two of the five best players in the NBA are humans beings too.

For the quick recap of the game check it out here.

• Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron and AD return as THT and Kuzma beat Suns!

To the new Los Angeles Lakers fans that are checking us out for the first time, welcome to Lake Show Life Lessons. Our extended post-game report with video analysis will cover the progress for the Los Angeles Lakers the entire season!

Over the next several pages we will provide highlights of certain players and coaches. Afterward, the comment section is loaded with knowledgeable fans adding their basketball knowledge. We usually start with the stars, but someone made a statement to the media and Lakers fans alike.

Who was that player? Let’s get to Lesson One and find out!