Los Angeles Lakers: Evaluating the role players through the first week
By Jon Soden
The Los Angeles Lakers have won two games in a row after dropping the first game of the year in the team’s first week of action.
Through the opening week of the 2019-20 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers got off to a 2-1 start, with wins against the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets, and an opening night loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
There was a lot to take away from the first few games, and a lot to be optimistic about for Laker fans. Sure, it would have been great to beat the Clippers and ruin Kawhi Leonard‘s California homecoming, but the Lakers will have their chance at revenge many times this season.
Just the eye test of this Lakers team is exciting. First off, the Lakers are proving critics wrong on the defensive end. The Lakers have had a solid defensive performance throughout the first week, with an especially great performance against the Utah Jazz on Friday. Additionally, the Lakers have looked very efficient on offense, and have gotten contributions from all over.
Even though LeBron James and Anthony Davis have led the charge, these role players have been critical to the Lakers’ success this week.
There have been some surprises, and there have also been some let downs. Let’s take a look at the role players, and break down these bright spots and disappointments.