The Los Angeles Lakers are yet to win their first preseason game. The purple and gold enter the 2021/22 NBA season with high expectations, hoping to reclaim their throne after a disappointing 2020/21 campaign.
Their second game against the Golden State Warriors saw their Big 3 play together for the first time. However, having LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook on the court didn’t prevent them from losing their fifth preseason game.
After another loss, several questions have risen around this team. When will things click? Nobody knows. If you ask the players, they are just trying to build chemistry before getting things together and demonstrate what they can do on the floor.
For instance, Russell Westbrook admitted he doesn’t know when this team will finally play as people expect, but that doesn’t change the fact they are focused on winning the championship at any cost. Following the 111-99 loss against the Warriors, Westbrook said:
“I don’t have an answer for that one honestly. I know that’s the question everybody keep asking,” he stated.
“Nobody has a real answer for that. We’re just going to play, just like every other team and then we’re going to figure it out. We don’t need to figure it out October 18th, 19th.. whenever the first game is. We have one goal in mind and that’s to win a championship. Throughout the season there are going to be ups, there are going to be downs there is going to be adversity. As long as we are together and on the same page, that’s all that matters.”
"Nobody has an answer for that…we're going to play and figure it out. We have one goal in mind and that's to win a championship." Russell Westbrook on when the #Lakers stars will start to 'click'. pic.twitter.com/UUBOsZ6zr3
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 13, 2021
Russ was in really good spirits yesterday, even roasting himself while discussing the new rules that will prevent players from using weird moves to draw fouls.
great answer from Russ when he was asked about adjusting to the new no jumping into defenders to draw fouls rule and what he thought when he didnt get the call tonight. pic.twitter.com/RDXkxk0jSw
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 13, 2021
As you can see, the Lakers are using these games to get in shape and know each other before the start of the season. They will have a last preseason game against the Sacramento Kings tomorrow, trying to finish this round with a win.
Westbrook, James and Davis are expected to lead this team to the promised land. Perhaps they’re surrounded by doubts right now, but this team will be very dangerous once they click and find their touch.
