Lakers should be able to take care of business in preseason rematch with Denver

After losing their first two games of the preseason, Los Angeles looks to bounce back versus the Denver Nuggets.

In their first meeting, the Nuggets got the best of the Lonzo Ball-led Lakers, but there was a lot to like. When it comes to the development of the young core, using games against teams like Denver are good evaluation opportunities for how to handle things moving forward.

One of the best things we’ve seen from the preseason thus far is the growth of Julius Randle and how his expanded game is ready to make an immediate impact this season. Coming off of a double-double performance at Staples Center, Randle will look to be an x-factor in the game played in Ontario Oct. 4.

He had 12 points to go with 10 boards in 23 minutes of action against Denver versus a 15 points and 7 rebound performance to kick off the preseason against Minnesota so far. Knowing that Randle has lacked that ability to be a difference maker up to this point in his career, it’ll be worth noting from here on out how he puts himself in the picture.

As a team, it seems apparent as well that the culture really did change with the addition of Lonzo Ball at point guard. While not everything LaVar Ball says or does is agreeable, the fact that he was right about his eldest son changing the way that the Lakers play is without a doubt factual.

Ball’s ability to make everyone around him better was on display when he played for the UCLA Bruins and has translated nicely thus far. Preseason basketball is one thing, and it’s definitely not the regular season, but the match ups are more challenging than anything in Summer League.

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Things can hopefully get better from here on out for a young core that has a lot to prove and the potential addition of a superstar next summer continues to loom.