It is safe to say the Los Angeles Lakers have not found their stride yet during the course of the preseason. While it is only the preseason, the purple and gold remain winless after Sunday evening’s loss to the reigning Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns.
Granted, the Lakers now sit at 0-4 thus far in preseason play, it is worth bearing in the mind the following. The team boasts a medley of new players and chemistry is not the kind of thing that falls into place overnight.
Even though the preseason has had its fair share of blemishes, there have been some bright spots for Los Angeles. One player that has stood out from the crowd up to this juncture has been combo shooting guard/small forward Kent Bazemore.
Above all else, Kent Bazemore brings a certain ingredient to the table that the Lakers lost this summer.
After failing to re-sign Alex Caruso in free agency and trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to Washington, L.A. relinquished a pair of solid, defensive-minded guards.
Be that as it may, Bazemore has demonstrated a similar attentiveness to detail on the defensive end of the hardwood. The 32-year-old veteran was especially impressive in this regard on Sunday night.
Bazemore proved to be a pest against Phoenix, swiping four steals during his 25 minutes of action. Without a doubt, this was an encouraging sign for a team hoping to establish somewhat of an identity before the real season kicks off in a little over a week.
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Going back to his days with the Indiana Pacers, head coach Frank Vogel has always emphasized defense as a top priority of his. That being said, Vogel has been quite pleased with what he has seen from one of the team’s many new faces.
In fact, Vogel recently commented on Bazemore’s intensity and level of activity thus far in the exhibition games. Per Angelo Guinhawa of ClutchPoints (originally via Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register), Vogel noted that Bazemore has truly “separated himself” from others on the team.
Frank Vogel says Kent Bazemore has "separated himself some" because of his length and athleticism, which the coaching staff has felt is more impressive up close.
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) October 6, 2021
Bazemore’s “length and athleticism” should come as no surprise to those who are familiar with his game. It is precisely why the Lakers picked him up this summer, and it has already become abundantly clear that he plans to make full use of his gifts every time he steps onto the court.
For example, during Sunday night’s contest, Bazemore showed that he is not afraid to step up to the plate. There were various points in time where he could be seen guarding future Hall of Famer Chris Paul. According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, there even came a sequence when the former Warrior picked the pocket of CP3, which soon led to a bucket at the other end.
As a result, it is reasonable to say Bazemore has “separated himself,” indeed. Although these preseason games ultimately do not count, the 6-foot-4 baller has certainly been impactful. It has not gone unnoticed by members of the Lakers, including former scoring champion Carmelo Anthony.
Via transcription from Turner, Anthony had the following to say about Bazemore’s imprint on the game versus Phoenix.
"“As far as Kent goes, I mean, he came in ready to play tonight,” teammate Carmelo Anthony said. “He was locking up. That second quarter, he spearheaded us getting out in transition, getting easy baskets. He was a major part of the reason why we were able to go on that [14-0] run. That’s who he is. That’s what we know him to be and I’m sure that’s why he’s a part of this team.”"
In spite of Kent’s lockdown defense, he also separated himself in another facet of the game. He knocked down a couple of treys to go along with his four steals, hinting that he could be a rock-solid 3-and-D piece for the Lakers. This could prove to be huge for L.A. if it trickles over into the regular season, especially since Trevor Ariza is expected to be sidelined for the next couple of months.
While no team can survive on the success of one player, the level of hustle and energy Bazemore possesses could be a difference-maker once the games start to matter. The above-referenced athleticism of Bazemore will be instrumental in terms of turning defense into easy deuces on offense.
In light of that, it is highly possible Vogel dropped a hint in saying that the versatile player has “separated himself.” Granted, a certain trio of players are locks to start for the Lakers on opening night, the other two spots are up for grabs.
In all likelihood, though, Bazemore is likely going to fill one of those remaining two voids. He has genuinely been one of the team’s bright spots throughout the preseason, and his defensive instincts fit perfectly into what Vogel seeks from his guys.
Assuming the Lakers continue to depend on defense is a staple of their identity, they will definitely be in contention for their second title in the last three seasons. Certainly, having a player like Bazemore aboard only heightens those championship hopes.