The NBA is back. With so much of life in a state of flux watching some good ol’ fashioned NBA basketball was a very enjoyable experience. The games we’re highly competitive, shots are still a bit rusty as a general rule of thumb on all counts, and the televised environment still feels wonky. But the game mattered for the record books and so to all you Lakerholics I just want to say: welcome back, let’s do this.

1. To Live and die by the Laker defense. It started solid, we got out to a big lead by way of the Clippers missing shots as much as our team defense. That big lead slipping away in the second quarter followed by falling behind big only to come back and pull it out might be all you need to know about how the Lakers did at tightening loose screws. Kyle Kuzma continued to show improvement and intensity on defense. LeBron turned it up big-time in the 4th on defense. Anthony Davis was excellent. Good to see out of the gate.
   
2. Speaking of Kyle Kuzma… It’s no secret his role has changed from year’s past. Comes off the bench, doesn’t always finish games, and most frustrating (one would wager for him more than anyone) the foot injury he suffered over the summer wiped out the progress he had made on his game. First to show itself was an improved passing game. Next we saw his focus and aggression on defense start to improve and now, in the Bubble NBA, he looks more settled on the floor. Less harried, quieter feet and he’s more decisive shooting the rock. He showed off all of that improvement tonight and I hope it continues.
   
3. Dion Waiters making his presence felt. While he may not be the defensive force that Avery Bradley is there’s no denying Waiter’s ability to create offense. While it may not always be pretty (kind reminds of J.R. Rider’s game, actually) it’s effective. Can’t play him and our newest J.R. together, not if you want any defense. But when he played with LeBron or AD on the floor he, along with Kuzma, gives us a couple of secondary ball handlers who can get their own shot off. Important foe the playoffs.
   
4. We’re 2 wins or a win and another Clipper loss away from locking this all up and clinching the western conference. The Lakers could have something that a lot of other teams in the west won’t have: using their time how they please as we wind the end (this part) of the season down. I expect to see Frank continue to tinker with his second unit line up and rotations, in general. The minutes will likely stay around 35 mpg for AD and LeBron, I expect our key bench guys (Kuzma, Caruso, and Waiters…Dwight has some X factor to him) to play around 30 and I really hope our defense improves because that’s what’s going to matter in a couple, short weeks.
   
5. The new NBA. I have to say, I think the NBA is probably exceeding my expectations while still falling short of my hopes. Peeking to see what dudes wrote on their jerseys was cool enough, loved the player videos (and even a couple of the owners) in support of the peaceful protests, and I expect there to be more come the playoffs. On TNT I loved that sideline camera on a robotic dolly, honestly the replay cameras looking as terrible as they did is kind of inexplicable…there isn’t anyone’s view to block? Put a camera there man! Seeing the officiating made me wish that there had been a decision made to add a 4th ref. But there wasn’t and there probably never will. But, all in all, including the weird TECMO Bowl style crowd, I dig it. OK, the crowd is weird and the fake noise is still silly (not as silly as MLB which looks like they’re about a month or another team trip to gentleman’s club away from blowing it…) but doggone it… it was NBA basketball and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Looking forward to the Lakers locking up their seeding by Tuesday of next week at the latest. Could be as soon as this weekend. After that the focus will turn to tuning it up for the playoffs. Good position to be in.

So…that’s done. Preseason 2.0. Preseason Reprise. The Revenge of Preseason. Whatever you wanna call it, it has now concluded. Let the games in this new, weird environment begin!

1. Welcome back J.R. Smith. There he is, that unrepentant gunner that he will always be. Canning ridiculous shots? Check. Unforced, bonehead plays? Check. Silly tight handle in what appears to be zero space? Check. Honestly, I’m into all of it. Why not? I look at it like a retro throwback jam. There’s something refreshing that, in the middle of the madness, J.R. Smith is still J.R. Smith. Makes “normal” feel kind of within reach.
2. Devontae Cacok’s rebounding acumen. Rebounding crosses all lines. If you’re good at it, if you have size, if you’re on the court the ball seems to find you. Cacok has the tenacity to overcome his lack of size. He gets after it and has some nifty low post moves that don’t translate all that well to the modern game. Still, may end up being the most likely South Bay Laker to see big minutes.
3. Alex Caruso (aka the King of +/-). I have always dug what Alex Caruso brings, He doesn’t hold back, he’s a team-first guy, he can score better than he’s shown at the NBA level. He may never shine any brighter than that. For me, it’s bright enough. If you play the game the right way, if you honor the basketball gods by making the extra pass, the smart cut, by diving for loose balls, you will have earned my respect and appreciation.
4. Dion Waiters showing off his skill set. Dion may end up being a season-altering pick-up. For literally nothing we added a 3 tool player. Scores inside, scores outside, makes plays. My biggest concern is how quickly he can be acceptable on defense. So far, not really acceptable at all. We got 8 seeding games to work out kinks like this and I feel that Vogel and the staff are up to the challenge.
5. No injuries. Can’t be overstated enough. The most important thing coming out of these scrimmages was that no serious injuries be suffered. While we had some scars it sounds like that we’ll be seeing the team at full strength when the season kicks off.

So, as we approach the reboot of the NBA, I want to pause and remember how we got here. This is an unprecedented, possibly unnecessary, moment in time. While we will never live in an alternate reality where COVID-19 went the way of Ebola, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and other novella viruses we will survive this. The way the NBA has come together through everything that is rocking the planet right now is not only to be commended but in my opinion admired. Is it perfect? Certainly not, and what human endeavor is? Especially in the face of adversity. So do, please do, enjoy this moment. You’ve earned it. Yes, it’s only basketball and there are definitely things of a weightier matter going down. But one way or another it’s happening. Because on Thursday it matters. Again.

Looks like this is happening. OK, well then, let’s do this.

1) The game 1.0. Smooth first half saw both teams scoring to type, not too many beats being missed. Starting five? As expected, James, Davis, McGee, Green and Caldwell-Pope. First rotation got pretty much starter minutes. Kuzma was the first man off the bench, Cook was second after KCP took a quick trip to the locker room to get a rolled ankle re-taped. Waiters came in and made it happen. LeBron and Davis were solid, second unit was ready to do their job, and our defense was pretty locked in. For a preseason game our starters and rotations looked solid even with news that Caruso was out earlier today.

2) No AD or LBJ or Danny Green for the second half. Was nice to get extended looks at some guys, nobody really flipped their script. Kuz was still Kuz. Dudley is a savvy vet. Quinn Cook looked good. Dwight will be Dwight and looked good. J.R. Smith looks pretty. Waiters cooled but I like what he brings. All and all, more of an outlier than a predictor. The guys on the court for the second half won’t really ever be asked to do play the roles they were in.

3) The COVID-19 thing. Masks on most of the staff and masks on pretty much all the folks in attendance. Refs and players, even on the bench, were not masked. Very spaced out bench, as well. Plexiglass in front of pretty much every seat on the side line except the benches.

4) The broadcast was interesting. Black Lives Matter across the middle of the court, prominently displayed. Didn’t see any message jerseys but it was only a scrimmage. On Spectrum Sports Net they deployed the entire pregame team at times to do it’s game calling. Came off as more conversational which I enjoyed for the scrimmage. No camera guys on the baseline must be nice for the players. Less to worry about falling on or tripping over. Loved the mood lighting.

5) Nobody got seriously hurt. It’s a scrimmage, this team has bigger fish to fry. The things that need to look good looked good. The second half will never happen when the games matter unless it’s a blow out. Move on, the big guns will ramp it up every game.