Former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson rarely hid his disdain for the preseason, often suggesting the only goal was to finish injury-free.
Health should always be a priority, especially when the final score doesn’t matter. But instead of a “Phil Jackson phone-in,” LA should enter the preseason with clear objectives, especially given the number of new faces on the squad.
Here are five goals the team should look to achieve in an ideal exhibition campaign to set themselves up for an even better regular
season.
A clear vision
After adding so many new players, it feels unrealistic to expect LA to look smooth out of the gate. But it’s not unfair to expect the five-game exhibition slate to expose some basic truths about this year’s approach.
What is the primary defense? What could rotations look like? Are they pushing the pace or slowing it down? Does the expected uptick in 3-point attempts materialize? Do the pieces fit?
Preseason lineups will be random. But if the guys continue to build on the chemistry forged in the golf clubs and nightclubs of Ljubljana, and the coaches take advantage of the full week of practice between Media Day and game one — last year’s gap was just four days — fans should expect to see at least some semblance of a plan relatively soon.
Heavy time for the ‘kids’
LA has eight rostered players and three more on two-way contracts who are 25 or younger. That’s 11 out of 19 players still ‘NBA young.’
Dynamic 21-year-old Cameron Carr and 22-year-old Adou Thiero — who feels more like a redshirt rookie than a vet — have some fans predicting potential breakouts. Ziaire Williams also has a tantalizing set of physical traits and has received praise from Austin Reaves for his defensive effort so far in camp. And the possibility of a Walker Kessler 3-point shot has everyone eager to see the 25-year-old center let it fly.
Two-way signees Chris Mañon and Arthur Kaluma, both 24, also seem deserving of preseason minutes.
Conversely, if Jake LaRavia can’t quickly find his three-point stroke, his brief Lakers tenure may end before it really gets started. There’s also a sense that this may be Bronny’s best real chanceto become a rotation player.
Meeting seemingly contradictory goals may prove too much for JJ and his coaching crew. But in an idealized Lakers preseason, fans will see a clear vision and how the team’s tantalizing youngsters fit into it.
Improvement from the vets
LA has several veterans in their mid-to-late twenties, led by MVP candidate Luka Doncic (27) and newly re-signed all-star hopeful Austin Reaves (28). Minutes and shifts for these “older” players will likely be limited in preseason. But LA’s first few games could offer some valuable early insights into critical questions surrounding its prime-aged core.
Is ‘Skinny Luka’ a quicker Luka? Does Austin look like he did early last season? Does Jarred Vanderbilt fit any better? Is Sandro Mamukelashvili a forward or a center? Did LA blow it by signing Colin Sexton over potentially better-fitting options? Is Quentin Grimes’ defense as good as his supporters suggest? Does Matisse Thybulle look healthy? Is Kevon Looney cooked?
LA’s veterans may not play enough to show all their offseason improvements. But if the preseason plays out ideally, most of the age-26-and-over crew expecting real regular-season minutes should look ready to make a collective leap.
Pick a starting lineup
Once again, current Lakers head coach JJ Redick enters the preseason with a fanbase hoping for one starting lineup and fearing another. Last season those fears proved true, as fans and media spent half the season imploring Redick to replace Rui Hachimura with Marcus Smart.
This season, Mamu’s lack of foot speed and an already laterally challenged starting Big 3 of Reaves, Luka and Kessler have Lakers fans once again searching for better-fitting alternatives.
The simplest solution might be a return to shooting form from LaRavia, a breakout season from Williams or an unexpected leap by either Thiero or Carr. A mid-season trade could also simplify the starting lineup math.
Either way, an ideal preseason would see JJ unveil his expected opening-night starters within the first couple of games, rather than the cat-and-mouse approach he likes to employ.
Playing to win
It feels like every preseason, Stephen Curry is dropping 3-point daggers until a few minutes left in the fourth quarter while LA is sitting guys throughout the second half.
This year, the team should take a page from Steve Kerr’s “set a winning tone” playbook by using its new infusion of youth and (potential) depth to run real rotations through most of the third quarter, then keep the pressure on with the youngsters until the final buzzer.
Preserving health and featuring the younger players may make actually winning preseason games a challenge. But if Redick wants to start building winning habits on day one, then the sloppy garbage-time play that haunted much of his first two years should motivate the team to put a winning effort into all 48 minutes of their preseason games, maybe even logging a few W’s along the way.
Aside from health, is there something you’re hoping to see this Lakers preseason?
Christopher Plain has spent the last six years as Associate News Editor and Head Science Reporter atThe Debrief. Follow and connect with him onX, learn about his novels atplainfiction.com, or email him at christopher@thedebrief.org.
