With a plan to lean into for the road ahead, the Los Angeles Lakers return home Sunday to take on the Portland Trail Blazers, feeling better about their situation after a shaky start to the season. All it took was a focused fourth quarter Friday in a 122-119 road victory over the Phoenix Suns for the Lakers to walk off the court with optimism for the first time in over a week.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the negative talk,” Lakers head coach Darvin Hamm said afterward. “But I think we’ve got a good group working together, and I’m encouraged by where they are. We’re starting to play some excellent basketball. I’m excited for the future of this team.”
The Lakers (1-2) have struggled to find their footing since losing All-Star forward LeBron James and star point guard Lonzo Ball in free agency this offseason. But they believe their young players and seasoned veterans can compensate for the losses and deliver the postseason run the franchise hasn’t seen in over a decade.
In the end, however, it’s up to the Lakers to prove they’re for real this season. Their current roster features a blend of youth and experience that includes rangy No. 2 picks Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram, emerging sophomore sensation Cam Reddish, brave point guard Alex Caruso and a talented second unit featuring veteran center Marc Gasol and sharp shooters Wesley Matthews and Ben McLemore.
The Lakers are a team built for the modern NBA, emphasizing pace of play, ball movement, and passing. And while they might not have a top-tier defense, their depth and versatility should allow them to compete for the playoffs in the new six-team, two-game, play-in tournament format.
It’s worth noting that the Lakers have been in this position before. They finished the 2016-17 season with a 25-50 record and were one game out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, but bounced back to reach the Finals.
As of Saturday, the Lakers hold a tiebreaker over the Mavericks and Nuggets in the battle for the seventh seed in the playoffs. But if they lose their first play-in game and then fall to the eighth seed, the team would be forced to play the 9th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves on the tail end of a back-to-back.
That’s why the Lakers have been careful not to overextend themselves in their quest for a playoff spot. The club is also careful not to rush its young players, which might be the case with other teams in the league. Except for Jared Vanderbilt, who’s still recovering from a heel injury, the Lakers had a full roster on Friday. However, Rui Hachimura is out with a sprained ankle, and Anthony Davis is playing with hip soreness.
