Preseason Basketball is about taking inventory of your team’s identity—looking at the cards you’ve been dealt and figuring out your best hand(s)—if you will. In their second preseason matchup, the Lakers had a straight, but Phoenix threw down a full house in the final quarter, defeating Los Angeles 119-115.
In their loss against the Kings this past Monday, LA tested many rotations and tonight they refined those rotations. Overall, the guys’ performance looked really crisp. Their first and second units held the game for three quarters. Their passing was harmonious, they looked to be very connected. In fact, they stayed ahead of the Suns in terms of assists the entire game.
Russell Westbrook (12 pts, 6 reb) got things going. He brought that Russian energy to the floor from the tip; his teammates matched. The starting five had some firepower. In the first six minutes, all three vets on the floor made Phoenix pay from the arc.
Defensively, Russ was big on the boards for 21 minutes. Damian Jones looked pretty good under there too—on both ends. DJ showed flashes of both his ferocity and patience. He was enthusiastic to protect the rim, but offensively, took his time in the post.
Patrick Beverley (8 pts) made things difficult for the Suns. He had laser focus on the shooters; he even snuck up on the big man, Deandre Ayton, at one point. And when he finished his shift, he channeled his energy on the bench. His passion on the sideline brought his teammates to their feet, so much so that an “excessive celebration” technical was handed out. That’s pretty cool from a cultural perspective.
More than a few of his baskets were on account of pristine passes from Austin Reaves (9 ast, 7 reb, 3 stl). Reaves had a hell of a night, he was very physical, and not sure if he had some luck on the slots yesterday, but he was passing out dimes to all his teammates.
The Lakers’ shooting also outperformed the Suns all game. And a big reason for that was a guy named Kendrick Nunn (21 pts). Nunn played his first game for the Purple and Gold the other night and the instant he hit the floor; he made an impact. His eager (and precise) shooting is an asset that will be valuable to this squad.
Let’s hope what happened in Vegas, leaves Las Vegas. But until then, the guys have another shot to iron things out tomorrow night against the Timberwolves.