Lakers

The report is a very interesting one for multiple reasons. One, Kawhi Leonard started games during the preseason and said he was feeling great. Two, the LA ...

If Kawhi Leonard does come off of the bench against the Lakers, it would be an incredibly stacked bench lineup for the Clippers. AllClippers spoke to some sources on the Clippers, and none of them knew that Reggie starting was the definite plan five days before opening night. Haynes also reported that Reggie Jackson would be starting for the LA Clippers on opening night roughly about a week before their opening night.

Westbrook missed all 11 of his shots, scoring only two points. Lonnie Walker IV led the Lakers with 26 points, Anthony Davis added 25 and LeBron James had 20, ...

You also have to score to win various ways, but no, we’ll continue to get our reps up in our practices, in our shootarounds. “As long as we keep taking good shots and getting open looks, our guys have to step up and make ’em. And while the fight, the ferocity and the force were all improved, the Lakers just don’t seem good enough, falling 103-97 to Ham, though, agreed with James’ comments about the team’s shooting. He’s been a high-level player for a very long time. But 22 turnovers, many the result of the Lakers’ defense, allowed them to author multiple comebacks and even grab a fourth-quarter lead. And again, as the coach of this team, we’re gonna do what’s best for our team to be as successful as it can be. And I’ll just leave it at that.” “He’s been around a long time. We don’t stand for that. That’s not who we are,” Ham said. The Lakers missed and missed and missed for the second-straight game.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the LA Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball game on October 20, 2022.

Ham said he and the Lakers “would in no way, shape or form put a player in harm's way." 2013, when he came off the bench for the Spurs in New York. [Kawhi Leonard](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6450/kawhi-leonard) had 14 points and seven rebounds in his first game in 16 months, and the Los Angeles Clippers opened a season of sky-high expectations with a 103-97 victory over the Lakers on Thursday night. Leonard suggested the idea of coming off the bench until he feels fully up to speed. Be confident in your shot, and they're going to fall.” He returned a few minutes later and played through back pain. “Continue to have confidence in yourself. The Lakers went 9 for 45 on 3-pointers overall. Lonnie Walker scored 26 points in his Lakers home debut. The Clippers' high hopes for their first championship rest largely on Leonard's ability to return to elite form. “My goal was to try to be great in my minutes,” Leonard said. The two-time NBA Finals MVP decided to ease back in a temporary reserve role after missing all of last season while recovering from surgery.

The Clippers decided to start the season with Kawhi Leonard coming off the bench in an effort to keep him fresh for key stretches and end of games.

“Tonight’s how it’s going to go and we’ll see how it goes from there.” “He has to understand that as great as he is, it’s not going to come overnight. The five-time All-Star point guard, 32, made his first two jump shots from the midrange before darting to the rim for a layup that showed the quickness the Clippers believed was a missing element. “It was long,” Leonard said. “I thought he looked good,” Lue said. After sitting the entire first quarter Leonard played the final six minutes 25 seconds remaining before halftime, checking in with the Clippers holding a 12-point lead.

LeBron James tried to turn the attention to the Lakers' impressive defensive performance after another night of poor shooting in a loss to the Clippers.

Go on to the next one." That's the way that we want to play. I mean, that's the way we want to play. "Solid," he said of his night. shot 9-for-45 from 3 in Thursday night's [103-97 loss](/nba/game/_/gameId/401468171) to the [Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers). It's as simple as that." It's how hard we play, how aggressive we play, how determined we are to go out and compete every night. "Played hard. "And, again, we see these guys making shots in practice and shootaround. And we got to defend. "Keep shooting it, be confident in your shot. That total somehow managed to be even worse than the Lakers' 10-for-40 clip from deep in their opening-night loss to the [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors).

10-time All-Star small forward Paul Pierce, who spent 15 of his 19 NBA seasons with Lakers fans' least-favorite basketball team, has weighed in on L.A.'s ...

to its 17th NBA title during his first season on the team in 2019-20, was let go by Jeanie Buss and Pelinka at the end of the 2021-22 season. After presumably watching the disappointing output of every Laker not named Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, or Kendrick Nunn in the team's 2022-23 season opener, a [123-109 loss to the Warriors](https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/warriors-blow-out-lakers-in-season-opener-ak1987), Pierce reflected on the Pelinka deal. Westbrook, on the other hand, has been much worse for L.A. With most of the same players but also several nagging injuries, the club finished with the West's No. Pierce took his Boston Celtics to two NBA Finals against Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the rest of your Los Angeles Lakers, winning in 2008. finished with a 33-49 record and missed the playoffs entirely.

Could Kyle Kuzma contend for his next title before the team that drafted him does? Bally Sports reporter Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson thinks it's a ...

The thing that I really like about them is the fact that added Monte Poole, but they have a core that includes Kyle Kuzma, Kristpas Porzingis and of course Bradley Beal. During his first game of the 2022-23 season last night, a 114-107 Wizards win on the Pacers' home floor, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Kuzma enjoyed an eye-popping, stat-stuffing evening. Appearing on Stadium TV's Live On The Line program and Bally Sports Network, Robinson wondered if the ex-Laker, who won a title with L.A.

NBA great issues huge 'challenge' to LeBron, calls out dire Lakers 'embarrassment'

He did a lot of other things for us tonight. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and an equal team-high eight assists to go with a game-high big blocks. “Just for him, he wanted to do whatever is best for the team. His plus-minus was -10, comfortably the worst in the game. He didn’t have one of his better games. Coach Doc Rivers said: “He just didn’t have a great game. Worse still, he looked out of fitness and at times disinterested. But a Wesley Matthews three-pointer handed Milwaukee the lead, before Harden missed a tough shot as Milwaukee held on. “We should not be asking a 38-year old guy to be the best player on his team. It’s not like we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team. I’m still going to play good basketball but as part of being a man, you have to have that responsbility. And I just thought whatever is best for him, whatever makes him feel better.

A "fun" exercise for Laker fans, courtesy of two writers from The Athletic.

"I think unequivocally John Wall would be better [than anyone on the Lakers roster beyond James or Davis]," Vecenie said. "It's just really weird, because we've seen what the recipe for success is on LeBron James teams throughout his career," Huff noted. Luke Kennard is a more important player to that team than Patrick Beverley or Russell Westbrook is," Vecenie said. "How many players on the Clippers roster do you think would be the Lakers' third-best player right now?" "So basically how many players on the Clippers do you think are better than Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook?" he would start on a bunch of teams," Huff opined.

The shots still weren't falling for the Lakers tonight, but Lonnie Walker IV provided consistent scoring for his squad. Lonnie led the team offensively with 26 ...

The team LBJ and AD had their way in the paint when the Clippers decided to go small just before halftime. Lonnie led the team offensively with 26 points.

In a move that surprised almost everyone, Kawhi Leonard came off the bench in his first regular season game back since May 13, 2021.

We're just about recovery, making sure I stay healthy in the long run, making sure my body is warm, and making sure I'm not sitting on the bench. I played 21 minutes tonight, it would have been kind of hard to play it consistently a game if I played in the first quarter. "I'm pretty much doing my same routine, just have my mental focus, and just tell myself it's only gonna help in the long run," Leonard said.

"Just flush it down the toilet and get ready for Sunday," Lakers forward LeBron James said of Westbrook's rough shooting performance. "He's a veteran. We've all ...

James [noted as much](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-on-lakers-offense-to-be-completely-honest-were-not-a-team-constructed-of-great-shooting/) after the Lakers' season-opening loss to the Warriors, saying "we're not a team constructed of great shooting." Ownership and the front office are reportedly committed to giving the current roster In their first two games, both losses, they have combined to go 73 for 188 (39 percent) from the field and a dismal 19 for 85 (22 percent) from beyond the 3-point arc. Give Westbrook credit for finding ways to make an impact despite being ice cold from the field. All of his shots except for one came from 3-point range or in the paint, as you can see in the shot chart below. Westbrook went 0 for 11 from the field, including 0 for 6 from 3-point range as he finished with two points, four assists, three rebounds and five steals in just over 27 minutes.

Here's how NBA Twitter reacted to the Lakers losing to the Clippers, with Russell Westbrook finishing with two points.

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Russell Westbrook is getting most of the heat, but the Lakers' problem is its roster.

The Lakers and Westbrook are, for now, stuck with each other. And if the Lakers want someone other than Westbrook to be their starting point guard, there aren’t many better options on the bench. He missed all 11 of his shots against the Clippers, much to the chagrin of the crowd. The Lakers were [even better on Thursday with a rating of 100.0](https://www.nba.com/game/lac-vs-lal-0022200016/box-score?type=advanced). And yet the Lakers have launched a bevy of 3s. James does have good reason for optimism, but it has to do with the other side of the ball. A key criticism of Westbrook last season was his penchant for turnovers and for playing out of control. It’s not that the Lakers are in a shooting slump. This is where Westbrook’s skills can be useful to the Lakers. This summer, the Lakers let more formidable shooters like Wayne Ellington and Malik Monk walk, and instead opted to bring in the athletic guard Lonnie Walker IV and Dennis Schröder, neither of whom is known for perimeter prowess. Through the first two games of the season, the Lakers have shot an almost unfathomable 19 for 85 from 3-point range (22.4 percent). LOS ANGELES — As Lakers guard Russell Westbrook went up for a 3-pointer against the Clippers, his home crowd groaned before the ball even left his hand.

If he doesn't play, the Lakers win this game. If he's not on this team, the Lakers win this game. Lakers guard Russell Westbrook elevates for a layup over ...

It’s unfair to the fans. It’s unfair to the team. Westbrook has been in the starting lineup both games this season, and now some are wondering if the Lakers aren’t bowing to his outrageous accusations. “I just want him to keep having that joy, keep having that excitement, that fun — that’s what makes him special, the fact that he can do that on a nightly basis,” said George. He’s been surly with the media. The Lakers can pick up the shooters they so desperately need. If he doesn’t play, the Lakers win this game. it’s not geared for him with the roster they have as well.” Yet much of what has happened since is on him. Westbrook can play in the new surrounding he desperately needs. They are eventually going to spin into oblivion because of him. Believe it or not, they could even make the playoffs.

The Lakers took steps forward in defense and scoring in transition, but their poor shooting meant another loss, this time to the Clippers.

[Khris Middleton](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29839/khris-middleton) remains out and missed). Tucker](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29214/pj-tucker) free throw put the Sixers up 88-86 with 32.7 seconds left, but [Wesley Matthews](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29559/wesley-matthews) answered with a 3-pointer that proved the game-winner for Milwaukee. [Lonnie Walker IV](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30589/lonnie-walker-iv) was aggressive and led the Lakers with 26 points (9-of-21 shooting). But that’s the bar — the Bucks and Celtics are the Eastern Conference favorites. [Anthony Davis](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29801/anthony-davis) had another strong game with 25 points and eight rebounds, and he and LeBron ran some high-low actions that led to good looks. Facing Boston and Milwaukee to start the season is a tough way to break in that young relationship. [Russell Westbrook](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29376/russell-westbrook) was the poster child for the Lakers’ shooting futility, going 0-of-11 on the night, including 0-of-6 from 3. The depth of the roster, which the Lakers couldn’t match, is what lets the Clippers do that and still win games. All of it was part of the Clippers’ depth that wore the Lakers down. For all the good things the Lakers started to do this game (it was a better outing than opening night), their shooting cut their momentum off at the knees. [LeBron James](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/28859/lebron-james)‘ only suggestion to Westbrook was to “flush it down the toilet” and move on and he’s right, Westbrook is not going to shoot this poorly every night. It wasn’t just Westbrook, the Lakers shot 35.1% overall and were 9-of-45 (20%) from 3.

Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers' depth spark a win, the Lakers' shooting woes continue and more.

“That’s something I have to maintain and look at from the past history of me trying to play 40 minutes every game and practicing for three hours.” “We’re sharing the ball offensively. [NBA.com](http://nba.com/). “You have to be prepared to do whatever your team needs to do. “It’s created by culture,” Lue said. Westbrook started once again on Thursday, finishing with two points (0-for-11 shooting). The Clippers have their first back-to-back set this weekend that starts in Sacramento on Saturday and ends at home vs. “It’s just about me trying to get consistent minutes, recovery, and staying healthy in the long run.” Leonard finished with 14 points (6-for-12 overall, 1-for-4 on 3-pointers) and seven rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. It is unclear how long the Clippers will use Leonard as a reserve on restricted minutes. Leonard’s bench role already has affected the Clippers in other ways. The Clippers were better in Leonard’s other stints, opening the third quarter with an 18-9 run when Leonard played until he sat for the final 5:01.

The Lakers are 19-of-58 shooting from three-point range in two games, and two losses, this season. Here are takeaways from the loss to the Clippers.

But again, you just have to trust the process and continue to work at it and get reps up and eventually the ball will go in the hole.” Playing against a traditional center like the Clippers’ 7-foot Ivica Zubac, the Lakers’ small-ball lineup had problems. He scored a team-high 26 points, 12 in the fourth quarter. “I’m just here to bring energy, be a defender, be more of an athletic guard. “Well, I trust in those guys — as in Kendrick, Russ and Pat Bev’s professionalism, their work ethic, their individual pride in themselves in terms of wanting to have the best performance possible night in and night out,” Ham said. “I’m not here to score the most points,” he said. “I mean, that’s the way we want to play. In their second game of the season, the Lakers inexplicably shot even more three-pointers. And that’s a good ingredient to have.” We want to play fast, physical and free. It’s how hard we play, how aggressive we play, how determined we are to go out and compete every night,” James said. “But if we’re reliant on that every single game, then we’re in trouble.”

The Lakers have had their biggest flaw exposed over the first two games. What does that mean long term?

The Warriors and Clippers are arguably the two best teams in the West. But the Lakers are still looking for consistent offensive production beyond their two superstars and a third contributor. I think we will begin to knock down shots as we continue to know where we want to be on the floor, guys know where they want to be. To James’ point, the Lakers’ defensive performance was much better against the Clippers. He doesn’t want the Lakers to start second-guessing and playing timidly. “They gotta do it on the game floor,” Ham said. Aside from [Matt Ryan](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/matt-ryan-fQC2UVlcJbFpifYB/), who was signed as the 15th man but is now being counted on for rotation minutes, every other Laker is currently struggling from beyond the arc. But the Lakers can control the quality of their attempts. The Lakers don’t have a Letting the Lakers shoot has been the game plan against them for most of the James-Anthony Davis era. That’s the way that we want to play. The Clippers, like the Warriors, often loaded the paint against the Lakers, with four and sometimes even five defenders keeping at least one foot in the key.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Kawhi Leonard had 14 points and seven rebounds in his first game in 16 months, and the Los Angeles Clippers opened a season of sky-high ...

Ham said he and the Lakers ''would in no way, shape or form put a player in harm's way.'' 2013, when he came off the bench for the Spurs in New York. Leonard suggested the idea of coming off the bench until he feels fully up to speed. Be confident in your shot, and they're going to fall.'' ... We've got a new team, and it's just going to take some time for us offensively with me (and Leonard) on a minutes restriction, but with due time, we'll get there.'' The two-time NBA Finals MVP decided to ease back in a temporary reserve role after missing all of last season while recovering from surgery.

Last night, the team that got the best of them was L.A.'s second-favorite NBA franchise, the Clippers, led in scoring by Paul George, ex-Laker Ivica Zubac, John ...

"The word that bothered me with the Lakers last year was accountability," Crawford reflected. "I felt like they weren't accountable from the top on down, and this year they're kind of doing the same thing... Last night for the Lakers-Clippers game, we were treated to the insights of three-time Sixth Man of the Year and former Lob City Clipper Jamal Crawford, former LeBron James teammate Channing Frye, and Taylor Rooks for this format. [103-97](https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/clippers-survive-lakers-rally-to-win-nail-biter-ak1987). Turner Sports is exploring how best it can use social media to attract the eyeballs of cord cutters and folks who generally aren't interested in watching the game's traditional cable broadcast, or at least might be curious to see an alternative approach. Last night, the team that got the best of them was L.A.'s second-favorite NBA franchise, the Clippers, led in scoring by Paul George, ex-Laker Ivica Zubac, John Wall and Kawhi Leonard.

Of course, you didn't need to see Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and Kendrick Nunn combine to go 1-of-16 from three (6.25 percent) in Thursday's loss to ...

If there’s a quick fix to be found, it’s not coming from anywhere on the current roster. It isn’t easy to build an elite defense or acquire the right superstars, but shooting should never be an issue on a LeBron team. The Westbrook trade certainly looks like a historic disaster to this point, but the Lakers are lying to themselves if they think they didn’t know what they were getting into. The Lakers have failed LeBron in so many ways since their title run inside the bubble. It's not like we're sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team...like if you had a bunch of underneath route runners, the quarterback's not throwing 20+ yard passes downfield." Of course, you didn’t need to see Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, and Kendrick Nunn combine to go 1-of-16 from three (6.25 percent) in Thursday’s loss to the Clippers to realize the Lakers didn’t have enough shooting.