• Gabe Vincent is wary of the Nuggets heading into his first season playing in the West
• He’s confident that the Lakers will find a recipe for success in this matchup
• Vincent played for the Miami Heat in the 2023 Finals against the Nuggets
The Los Angeles Lakers are looking very exciting next season, with many expecting them to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Given their run to the Western Conference Finals and strong offseason, it shouldn’t be a very tall task.
Gabe Vincent was one of their biggest signings, and the former Heat guard opened up on the recipe the Lakers need to use to beat the reigning champion Nuggets.
“Denver is still a very good team. They’re still the champions. There have been other moves around the league. But Denver plays a big role in that, especially now that I’m in the West and on the Lakers’ side. I’m going to see them four times instead of two. It definitely plays a role… It’s a pretty simple recipe. We have to guard at a high level. We have to have an efficient offense. We have to be together. We have to share the ball. A lot of it is playing the game the right way. We’re a talented group and we are very deep. We have guys that are coming off the bench that would start on a number of other teams. We have a pretty dynamic roster. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how we come together and what we can build off of.”
The Lakers were swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last season while Vincent played for the Heat, who lost 4-1 to the Nuggets in the NBA Finals. By uniting forces, the Lakers and Vincent will both look to play spoilsport to the Nuggets ring night by winning the first game of the season on October 24.
The Lakers Could Have A Season-Long Battle For Starting Point Guard
There is going to be some healthy competition for roles on the Lakers squad this season. One of the key battles will be between Vincent and D’Angelo Russell to see which one of them will be trusted as the starting point guard, as reported by Jovan Buha.
“Point guard is one of two starting lineup spots that are up for grabs. Russell and Vincent will compete for the spot, with Russell projected as the early favorite to start. With all that said, this is an open competition, and Vincent has a legitimate chance to steal the starting job. He is the better defender than Russell and a more natural off-ball fit as a lower-usage catch-and-shoot threat. Unlike Russell, Vincent’s defensive chops prevent him from being played off the floor in the postseason, as he showed during the Heat’s Finals run.”
Russell has already been confirmed to be the starter for the Lakers at the start of the season, but Vincent knows he could play his way into that role. He averaged an unimpressive 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists last season but showed up big in the playoffs and is a consistent defender.
Will LeBron James And Anthony Davis Be Injured To Start The Season?
The Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals saw them overplay LeBron James in the winter and then Anthony Davis through spring. Both players were banged up in the playoffs, but Dave McMenamin confirmed that both players are fully healthy heading into the season.
“Well healthwise, both LeBron and A.D., the team feels really good about. Now, the players on the Lakers organized a minicamp in San Diego last weekend. All the players on the roster were in attendance, and the buzz — the thing that people were talking about — was how well Anthony Davis’ jump shot looked.”
The LeBron minicamp will have been crucial to helping the team build better chemistry ahead of a high-expectations year. Maybe Davis finally comes out and becomes the leader of the franchise, something James would appreciate in Year 21. If that happens, the Lakers may just be the best team in the West even ahead of Denver.
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