The Los Angeles Lakers host the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night for the team’s final home preseason game at Staples Center. The Lakers remain winless while the Warriors have yet to lose a game heading into the final week of the preseason. Los Angeles hasn’t won a game largely due to its defense, or the lack thereof.
There’s no need to hit the panic button as the Lakers have merely played four games that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but their struggles early on highlight what needs to be fixed if Los Angeles wants to avoid another first-round exit in the playoffs.
The Lakers have found themselves in 20-point deficits at some point during the first few contests of the preseason and their defense could continue to be a stain deep into the 82-game regular season. It’s still way too early to count Los Angeles out, but there are questions that need to be answered.
There are questions that the Los Angeles Lakers must answer in the final home preseason game.
A week from now on Oct. 19, the Los Angeles Lakers will be gearing up to face the Golden State Warriors under different circumstances. Staples Center will be brimming with excitement over a stacked Lakers roster on opening night, especially after last season’s postseason run was cut short. It’ll be the start of a new year, with new hopes.
However, Los Angeles has to make it past its final two preseason games first. Starting with tonight’s game against the Warriors, there’s still work that needs to be done. Luckily, that’s what this time of the year is for. The Lakers’ defense has yet to impress, the Big Three are expected to make their debut and the team is still discovering who’s going to fill out the starting-five lineup.
To make preseason basketball a bit more entertaining, here are three questions that need to be answered in Tuesday’s nights game at the Staples Center.