1) As always Health takes every slot but, for the sake of making any kind of point, we’ll keep it at #1. As such, the Lakers (other than LeBron) seem to be in decent shape. They’re resting guys, not over-taxing key players, and have thus far avoided injuries.
2) LeBron’s injury opens the door to other things. We saw one version of the non-LeBron lineup last night. We’ll see another tonight, without Luka and Reaves I would guess. But the month or so we’ll be without LeBron for could be a big thing for Reaves to get the shine to be selected to his first All Star game. Could help with Luka being more strongly considered as an MVP candidate. Most of all, it opens the door to minutes for guys that likely would have been left out of the rotation most nights and give them a shot to grow their games.
3) Reaves looks great. Hoping he and Luka can really make this work because, if they can, it will mean the Lakers can lock down their back court for the foreseeable future as soon as next summer.
4) Luka looked amazing! He was having more fun than I ever saw him have at any point last year. He made ridiculous shots from everywhere, just super fun and happy for the dude that he got his head back on straight. His timing with DeAndre will come, in time, and those lobs will work better. It’s fair to say that the Lakers can deploy more of a power post game using either Ayton or Hachimura when they need a bucket, both are solid players off the elbow.
5) Earlier this summer I posted that I was afraid we let the better player in Goodwin go when we signed Smart. Nothing I’ve seen thus far has made me question that observation. Goodwin looked solid dropping 24 points on 50% shooting (3-7 from three) to Smart’s almost perfect donut only made me double-down that choosing Smart over Goodwin was a short-sighted choice. Akin to choosing THT over Caruso. I’m sure that won’t be a popular opinion, for obvious reasons, and if I’m being 100% honest both players have very different roles but the Suns got a solid player for the vet minimum while we used money on Smart that could have ben used for a plethora of still out there now free agents. I’m rooting for Smart to prove me wrong…but I’m not hopeful he will…
Back-to-back…WTF NBA?!?!?
I agree with all your 5 points. I have learned to temper my expectations this year after our sudden exit from the playoffs last season. Between Smart and Goodwin, something to keep an eye on. I had the same feeling when we let Goodwin go.
Thanks Buba, Jordan G played great for us last season down the stretch when Vincent was up and down and, for whatever reason, couldn’t get playoff minutes until the series was basically already decided. Another knock against Reddick, IMO, who utterly panicked in his first playoff series. Hope he improves on that this season or his coaching career won’t be lasting too long.
It’s encouraging how well both Luka and Austin look at this point. Both appear to be in better shape and quicker and faster. I still believe it’s in the best interest of the Lakers to cash in Reaves now because it’s really the only way to get back the kind of young defensive quality the Lakers need.
It was a shame we had to let Goodwin go but you’re way over your skis to proclaim signing Smart a mistake. Goodwin will still sit on the end of the Sun’s bench and the only reason he would get time in LA would be if Pelinka failed at his job. Smart will become a valuable rotation player, something Goodwin is a long shot to ever be.
Vando’s the man on D. Just needs to stay active, keep shooting the open 3 and working on that aspect of his game. 35% would be fine by me.
Won’t trade Reaves so no need to worry about that.
Agree to disagree Smart/Goodwin. Goodwin will work his a$$ off and be a part of what the Suns are doing as one of the 1st dudes off the bench. I will say that if signing Smart was one of the conditions it took for Luka to ink the extension than I suppose it’s worth it but it’s funny how people keep trying to add a defensive minded young player and we let the one we had go for nothing and replaced him with an older, more expensive version. I’ve yet to find a stat that shows Smart outplaying Goodwin over the last two seasons. Feel free to prove me wrong by supplying something other than opinion, though.