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Lakers Season Opener: Five things that will happen vs Clippers

By Keith Rivas

GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrati during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
GREENBURGH, NY - AUGUST 11: Lonzo Ball of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a portrati during the 2017 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 11, 2017 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Julius Randle will finally emerge as a game-changer

All of the talk this summer regarding the Lakers has either been about Lonzo Ball, Paul George, or the superstar they could potentially grab in 2018. Meanwhile, forward Julius Randle has been working on becoming a better player and not letting his rough start to his career in the NBA define him.

Changes in his physique and range are two things that will help Randle keep up with the pace that the Lakers are going to be at once things reach full speed. Opening night against the Clippers is an opportunity for Randle to stop all of the talk about his game and the potential that he could have and instead go out there and leave it all on the floor.

Lonzo Ball will definitely help with that as the season goes on, but that goes for everybody. For Randle specifically, the change that needs to happen for him to stick around in Los Angeles and not get traded is simple — prove he’s a game-changer.

Late game shots, efficiency from the free throw line, blocks — all of those kinds of things can factor into whether or not your team wins game. He averaged around 13 points and eight boards per game last season, but has the potential to do much more damage.

Having a new point guard on the team will also help Randle in ways that relate to chemistry issues. When D’Angelo Russell and Nick Young’s personal beef got put into the spotlight, it made the Lakers teammates around Russell, including Randle, feel like they’re in another world.

Now that Russell is in Brooklyn, that will trickle down into benefiting Randle’s game and what he brings to the table.

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