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First impressions are important.
Whether it’s your appearance during a job interview, how your jokes land on a blind date or the execution of an offensive set in a team’s preseason game, a lot could be garnered from that first blink.
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That said, it’s also easy to get too lost in the noise of small samples. It’s understandable to have knee-jerk reactions, both good and bad, but sifting through the context and finding kernels of truth is the best way to navigate the maze that is the NBA preseason.
Players miss games, rotations are out of whack, effort levels range wildly and playbooks are still a work in progress.
That’s all been the case for the Lakers in their three preseason games.
And yet, there have also been flashes of validity worth keeping an eye on. Let’s examine some of those things that could carry over into the season.
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The good
With so much roster turnover and the natural identity shift that comes with LeBron James’ departure, there were expected growing pains heading into the Lakers’ exhibition period.
That’s been seen in various areas already. However, it’s not been as severe as previously assumed. In fact, there has been an immediate and innate chemistry seen on the floor that has been encouraging.
First-time teammates are flowing and jiving with one and other despite the lack of time together. Whether improvised or organized, the new and returning players are exhibiting a natural chemistry on offense.
Errant passes and missed defensive rotations are still ongoing. But the intent is there. And the overall enthusiasm has leaped from the screen.
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A big reason for the clean fit is that there is no misconception about roles. With James gone, there is no confusion about the pecking order in terms of shot creation. And as a result, the rest of the team can settle into natural duties and expectations.
New players like Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Sandro Mamukelashvili have specifically benefited from this.
By embracing their 3-and-D roles and low usage on offense, Thybulle and Williams have stood out as seamless fits next to Luka Dončić and Austin…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/good-bad-murky-lakers-preseason-152400948.html
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Publish date : 2026-10-10 15:24:00
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