Thought Starter...
The Lakers got off to a good start in Tuesday’s opener against the Timberwolves, winning their first season opener since 2016.
Tonight, the Phoenix Suns, another team expected (at least in some circles) to make some noise in a crowded Western Conference, visit the Crypt. And while the Suns were victorious in their opener (at the Intuit Dome against the LAC) they had to work awfully hard to get there, and many of their vulnerabilities of a year ago—a stagnant offense, an over-reliance on Kevin Durant, a tendency to get pushed around by opponents—were still on display. So can the Lakers, who were physical against the Wolves, do the same against Phoenix? Can the keep hitting the glass and forcing TOs?
Phoenix isn’t as good as they hope to be in a couple of months, meaning it’s a chance for LA to bank another win early in the year. Games won in October and November can be critical for providing breathing room for a team that might need it Feburary and March. JJ Redick has put a major premium on not having to chase wins in the spring, like the Lakers have had to do in the last couple of seasons.
Words to Live By...
On Early Season Success: “These wins in October into early November are critically important for how you can manage your season going forward.”
On the Phoenix Suns: “Spoiler alert. I remain unimpressed by them.”
On NBA Players in LA: “As we all know, NBA players and an extra night in LA—a Thursday night, by the way, which is, might as well be the weekend.”
On Anthony Davis: “Players like Jusuf Nurkic, however, have been the types of guys that historically AD has struggled against.”
