Will the recent LAL-GSW OT thriller be the turnaround for Lonzo, Lakers?
The Staples Center in Los Angeles was buzzing with a muffled murmur when the reigning world champions, the Golden State Warriors were paying a visit to a young yet fiercely competitive team trying to figure out its identity in the NBA. Those who know the league and the game of basketball knows that it is matchups like these that turn out to be the most nail-biting. And boy were the enthusiasts rewarded!
The Los Angeles Lakers showed some grit and fought tooth-and-nail until the end of regulation. Though Luke Walton's fighters came up short, the game can very well be the turn around for Lakers and some of their young talents including Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball.
Why you ask! well, read on -
Brandon Ingram has arrived
Ingram did start to scratch on his potential when he became more aggressive as the last season was slowly coming to a rather timid end for Lakers fans. As the new season started he appeared visibly stronger and was more locked-in. Though the mid-range and the perimeter shooting was a little short of what he would have liked it to be, he was able to show an uncanny penchant to drive through the traffic and finish at the hoop.
In the game against GSW, Ingram proved to himself more than anyone else, the dependability of his offensive arsenal. With 32 points in 21 shots and a potential game-winning play, this young man from Duke may well have gotten into his mojo. Ingram can be deadly as he gets more and more comfortable with his jumper. C J McCollum certainly feels so.
Lonzo Ball's rhythm
When a player has to field a couple of questions regarding his recent haircut, we know that he is under razor-sharp scrutiny. The 20-year-old Lonzo Ball has shown rock-solid level headedness both on and off the court. Though Lonzo did not throw mind-boggling stats against the GSW, something appeared to have clicked for him in the third quarter where he had back-to-back triples followed by an aggressive drive to the rim.
With his extraordinary court vision and infectious unselfish pay, Lonzo can become a bonafide threat in the NBA once he gets his groove back from behind the arc. This GSW matchup could certainly have gifted Lonzo back his jumper, after which, watch out for the kid from Chino Hills!
The Bench
The Lakers bench has been one of the most productive ones in the league. Now, with Larry Nancy Jr joining back the starting line up, the bench gets its offensive firepower back with Kyle Kuzma. Away from all the limelight, a quiet chemistry is simmering between Julius Randle and the sixth man of the year contender Jordan Clarkson.
A cheeky post by Clarkson sums up their chemistry.
Apart from this, Josh Hart and Corey Brewer bring a lot of positive energy from the reserves and a much-needed pick up when the team is in the doldrums. The Lakers bench scored 49 points with most of the players remaining in + side of the +/- box. The dependability of Lakers bench has finally been attested.
Showing some heart
Just like any other great team, Lakers also needed the challenge to step up their game and push their limits. And what better challenge than the world champions! Lakers rose up to the challenge and tasted the substance they were really made up of. The ability to put up a fight without any fear or hesitation towards the best in the world makes for an exciting prospect in the NBA. Once a team has got a glimpse of what it really could be, there is no stopping it. We may witness a whole new side of this team in rest of the season.