Los Angeles Lakers: 1 stud and 1 dud from preseason loss to Nets

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 03: Malik Monk #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a layup against Kessler Edwards #14 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of a pre-season game at Staples Center on October 3, 2021 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. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 03: Malik Monk #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a layup against Kessler Edwards #14 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of a pre-season game at Staples Center on October 3, 2021 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. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
1 of 3
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are officially back and they look much different than they did last time we saw them. It was exactly four months since the Phoenix Suns eliminated the Lakers in the 2021 NBA Playoffs as the Lakers kicked off the preseason against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Lakers lost to the Nets and were blown out, but the results of these games do not matter whatsoever. It was a close game heading into the fourth quarter and then players who won’t even make the roster started playing.

The Lakers are fine. If you are losing sleep over a preseason loss then you are stressing a bit too much, although I respect the diehard fandom.

The important thing in these preseason games is the individual performances and how these different individuals fit into the team and the rotation. While the results don’t matter, we can learn a lot about the team in the preseason.

There was one stud and one dud for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Brooklyn Nets.

It is way too soon to make any declarative statements about these players and their entire 2021-22 season. While we can learn a lot in the preseason, one preseason game is not going to completely reveal what is going to happen during the season.

The best performances in this game could very well come back down to earthmoving forward while the worst performance could end up having a tremendous preseason.

Or they could continue trending in the same direction that they are trending. Here is the one stud and the one dud from the Lakers’ preseason loss to the Brooklyn Nets.