Lakers News: Don’t let the Summer League success fool you
By Keith Rivas
The latest Lakers news is on why we shouldn’t buy the hype just yet.
Alright, so the Los Angeles Lakers have been terrific after an initially slow start in the Las Vegas Summer League. In particular, Lonzo Ball looked like a bust in his first game, but has bounced back in remarkable fashion.
A trip to the Summer League Final versus Portland was their reward. Kyle Kuzma also put on a show as the second most impressive rookie on the team behind Ball.
Also, Alex Caruso earned a two-way deal with Los Angeles. And in the process of all this, we still haven’t seen how good Brandon Ingram can be on the floor, as he’s only played in their first game.
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Thinking of what this could mean for the regular season, we have to keep a few things in mind. First of all, while Lonzo Ball has been spectacular, we must remember that he’s yet to face a full team of better player and much harder defenders.
That could cause a problem for the Los Angeles offense if his shot ends up being blocked more than anything else. Second, his passing has been phenomenal — even his haters must admit that much. But again, the talent level just isn’t up to the par with the real NBA.
Once the regular season starts, we’ll be able to accurately determine how excited fans should be for this season. When it comes to high expectations, it’s hard not to put the Lakers in that box.
LaVar Ball already sees his son making the playoffs in his rookie year. If that happens, along with a running for rookie of the year, Ball will truly start to set himself apart.
Next: Kyle Kuzma Is The Ultimate Draft Steal
This draft class has been exciting to watch, but the biggest Lakers player to keep an eye on is the late first round pick Kyle Kuzma. He has been on another level with Lonzo Ball during Summer League and the hope is that the chemistry put on display continues.