Lakers regulars shine in shorthanded loss to Bucks
The Los Angeles Lakers’ regular rotation shined while shorthanded in their 109-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in their fifth preseason game on Sunday.
The Lakers were without LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Jarred Vanderbilt for precautionary reasons.
Vanderbilt, who is dealing with a heel injury, remains day-to-day. When asked if he would be ready for the opening day game against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 24, head coach Darvin Ham responded, ‘We’ll see.’
Anthony Davis displayed a dominant performance in the short time spent on the floor, playing 19 minutes. Davis finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals while going 5-for-5 from the foul line, 1-for-2 from three and 5-for-8 overall.
“I see a level of focus that’s infectious,” Ham said about Davis’ play entering this season. “He’s been phenomenal... He’s the heart and soul of our team.”
In five games in the preseason, Davis has shot 50% from three on 5-for-10 shooting and 18-for-33 overall from the field for 54.5%.
There is no doubt that Davis can be dominant and assertive, as he has demonstrated in this preseason. However, the question remains: can he stay healthy throughout the season? The Lakers’ success depends heavily on his availability, as they will go as far as he can take them.
D’Angelo Russell finished second on the team in scoring with 11 points on a 4-for-8 finish from the field in 19 minutes.
Russell's efforts on defense have shown throughout the preseason, as he discussed how he didn't want to be a liability for this Lakers team on the defensive side of the ball.
He mentioned he wants to impact that side of the ball, like Boston Celtics Derrick White, who is known as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.
“My inspiration has been Derrick White. I want to be Derrick White.” Russell said. “He doesn't get a lot of credit for what he does. He makes the winning plays. That’s who I want to be.”
Cam Reddish returned to the rotation after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury he suffered in the first preseason game.
Although Reddish didn't shoot well percentage-wise and was likely to rust from a three-game absence, he looked aggressive on both ends of the floor, scoring 10 points and notching five rebounds while having moments of holding his own defensively on Bucks’ Damian Lillard.
The Lakers will play their final preseason game this Thursday, Oct. 19, against the high-powered Phoenix Suns at home.
Ham plans to play the Lakers’ regular rotation for three quarters on Thursday to get their rhythm and timing down in preparation for the regular season.
