What to Expect from the Lakers in the NBA Preseason
Contents
- The Lakers’ preseason schedule
- What to expect from the team’s rookies
- What to expect from the team’s veterans
- What to expect from the team’s new head coach
- What to expect from the team’s new players
- What to expect from the team’s returning players
- What to expect from the team’s young core
- What to expect from the team’s new-look bench
- What to expect from the team’s revamped offense
- What to expect from the team’s revamped defense
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to make a run at the NBA Finals this season and they will need to hit the ground running in the preseason. Here’s what to expect from the team in the preseason.
The Lakers’ preseason schedule
The Lakers’ preseason schedule includes games against the Golden State Warriors Sacramento Kings Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz
What to expect from the team’s rookies
This year, the Lakers have seven new players on their roster. Five of them are rookies. Here’s a look at what to expect from each of them in the NBA preseason
Lonzo Ball: The number two overall pick in this year’s draft is the most talented player on the Lakers roster. He’s a 6’6″ point guard with great passing ability and Court Vision He’s also an excellent rebounder for his position. Ball will start for the Lakers in the preseason, and he should be one of the team’s best players.
Brandon Ingram: The number two pick in last year’s draft, Ingram is a 6’9″ small forward with a lot of potential. He struggled as a rookie, but he has improved his shooting and should be more effective this season. Ingram will likely come off the bench for the Lakers in the preseason, but he could see some starter’s minutes if he plays well.
Josh Hart: A rookie second-round pick, Hart is a 6’5″ shooting guard who was very efficient as a scorer in college. He’s not expected to see much playing time in the preseason, but he could be a role player for the Lakers this season.
Kyle Kuzma: Another rookie, Kuzma is a 6’9″ Power Forward who can shoot from outside. He was very productive in college and could see some minutes at both forward positions in the preseason.
Thomas Bryant: A second-round pick in this year’s draft, Bryant is a 6’10” center with good rebounding and shot-blocking abilities. He’s not expected to see much playing time in the preseason, but he could be called upon to play some minutes during the regular season if injuries occur.
What to expect from the team’s veterans
When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers there are a lot of unknowns heading into the 2019 NBA preseason The team has a new Head Coach in Frank Vogel, several new players on the roster, and they’re coming off a disappointing 2018-19 campaign.
One thing that is known, however, is that the team will be led by its veteran core of Lebron James Anthony Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. All three players are entering their second season with the Lakers, and all three are looking to Bounce Back from subpar individual performances.
James, in particular, is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. The 34-year-old forward averaged career lows in both points (27.4) and assists (8.3) per game last season. He also missed a career-high 27 games due to injury.
As a result, there are plenty of questions surrounding James heading into the 2019-20 season Can he return to his status as one of the best players in the league? Will he be able to stay healthy for an entire season? How will he mesh with Davis?
These are just a few of the questions that will need to be answered during the Lakers’ upcoming preseason schedule. With that in mind, here’s a look at three things to watch for from James and company during the exhibition games.
What to expect from the team’s new head coach
It’s been a busy off-season for the Los Angeles Lakers The team has a new head coach Frank Vogel, and a new star player Anthony Davis With the NBA Preseason underway, let’s take a look at what we can expect from the Lakers this year.
Under Frank Vogel, the Lakers are likely to play a more traditional style of basketball. That means focusing on defense and running the offense through the post. We can expect slower pace and fewer three-point attempts from this team than in years past.
On the plus side, the Lakers will have one of the best defensive units in the league. Anthony Davis is a premier shot blocker, and he’ll be supported by excellent defenders like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Avery Bradley. If they can play up to their potential, this team could be very tough to score against.
Offensively, the Lakers will still be led by Lebron James But with Anthony Davis in town, they now have two All-Star caliber players who can take over a game. Look for James to focus on setting up his new teammate, rather than scoring himself. The two should complement each other well and give the Lakers one of the most potent offenses in the league.
All in all, it should be an exciting season for Lakers fans. This team has championship aspirations and they have the talent to make a deep run in the playoffs.
What to expect from the team’s new players
With a few new Key Players the Los Angeles Lakers will look to defend their NBA Championship title in the upcoming 2020-2021 Season Here’s what to expect from some of the team’s new faces.
Anthony Davis
The superstar forward will be looking to build on his stellar 2019-2020 campaign in which he averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocked shots per game. Davis will once again be the centerpiece of the Lakers’ offense, and he should continue to be one of the league’s most dominant players.
Dennis Schröder
The German point guard will be making his debut with the Lakers after being acquired in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to the start of the season. Schröder is a solid scoring option and should provide a boost to the team’s offense. He’ll need to adjust to playing alongside Davis and Lebron James but if he can do that, he could be a key contributor for the Lakers this season.
Talen Horton-Tucker
The young guard will be looking to make an impact in his second season with the team. Horton-Tucker showed flashes of potential as a rookie and will look to build on that this season. He could see an increase in playing time this year, and if he can take advantage of it, he could be a key piece for the Lakers off the bench.
What to expect from the team’s returning players
The Los Angeles Lakers are a team in transition. After losing Lebron James to the Los Angeles Clippers in Free agency the franchise is trying to rebuild with younger players. The team has a new Head Coach in Frank Vogel, and there are plenty of new faces on the roster.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the team is how the returning players will perform. There are a few key players that the Lakers will be relying on to step up and fill the void left by James.
Kyle Kuzma is one of those players. The third-year forward has shown flashes of greatness, but he will need to be more consistent if the Lakers are going to compete for a playoff spot. Kuzma averaged 18.7 points per game last season, but he will likely see his scoring increase with James no longer on the team.
Another player to watch is Lonzo Ball The point guard missed most of last season with an injury, but he is healthy now and ready to take on a bigger role with the team. Ball is a gifted passer and has the potential to be one of the best playmakers in the league. If he can stay healthy, Ball could be in for a breakout season.
The Lakers also have high hopes for rookie forward Zion Williamson Williamson was drafted with the No. 1 overall pick and is one of the most highly anticipated rookies in recent memory. He has yet to play an NBA game but all eyes will be on him when he finally steps on the court. Williamson has incredible athleticism and strength, and he could quickly become one of the best players in the league.
The Lakers have a lot of young talent, but it remains to be seen how much success they will have this season. With James gone, it will be up to the returning players to step up and lead the way.
What to expect from the team’s young core
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a youth movement, and that is most evident in their young core. The team has high hopes for their young players and they will be looking to make a big impact in the NBA preseason
Players like Lonzo Ball Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart have the potential to be key contributors for the Lakers this season. They will be looking to make a statement in the preseason and prove that they are ready to take on larger roles with the team.
The Lakers will also be relying on their veterans to help mentor their young players Players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brook Lopez will be crucial in helping the team’s youngsters develop and grow as players.
The Lakers are currently in the process of rebuilding their roster, and they are hoping that their young core can help lead them back to prominence in the NBA.
What to expect from the team’s new-look bench
The Lakers have a new-look bench this season, with several newcomers and some familiar faces in new roles. Here’s a look at what to expect from each of the team’s reserves:
Rajon Rondo: Rondo is the Lakers’ starting point guard but he will see some time on the bench during the preseason. He is a solid scorer and playmaker, and should provide a spark for the second unit.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Caldwell-Pope is the team’s starting shooting guard but he will also see some time at small forward during the preseason. He is a good shooter and defender, and will be a key player for the Lakers this season.
Brandon Ingram: Ingram is the team’s starting small forward but he will also see some time at power forward during the preseason. He is a versatile player who can score and rebound, and will be an important piece for the Lakers this season.
Kyle Kuzma: Kuzma is the team’s starting power forward but he will also see some time at center during the preseason. He is a skilled big man who can score inside and out, and will be an important part of the Lakers’ rotation this season.
Josh Hart: Hart is the team’s backup shooting guard but he will also see some time at point guard during the preseason. He is a good shooter and defender, and should provide solid minutes for the Lakers this season.
What to expect from the team’s revamped offense
The Lakers have a new-look offense this season, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in the NBA preseason With a revamped offensive system and several new players, the team will be looking to find their rhythm before the start of the regular season
It will be interesting to see how the team’s new players mesh with each other, and how the offense runs under Head coach Luke Walton. The Lakers will also be without point guard Lonzo Ball for the preseason, as he recovers from a Knee Injury
With all of these factors in mind, it will be intriguing to see how the Lakers perform in the preseason. They have the potential to be a very good team, but it remains to be seen how they will come together and gel as a unit.
What to expect from the team’s revamped defense
After years of being a defensive liability, the Lakers have made some significant changes to their roster that should help them be more competitive on that end of the floor. The team added rim protector Dwight Howard and rangy wingman Lebron James two players with a proven track record of success on the defensive end of the floor. Additionally, the team brought in veteran defender Rajon Rondo to help solidify the point guard position.
Assuming that all of these players can stay healthy, the Lakers should be much improved on defense this season. Howard and James are both elite level defenders, and Rondo is no slouch either. With those three players leading the way, the Lakers should be able to make up for some of the deficiencies that have plagued them in recent years