If the first two games of the Lakers season are any indication, the 2013-14 season is going to be a roller-coaster. After their impressive 116-103 victory over the Clippers on Opening Night, the Lakers were run out of Oracle Arena on Wednesday night by the Warriors.
Steve Nash was held out as a precaution and the Lakers bench that scored 76 points on Tuesday produced 52 points, but most of that was when things were already decided. Still, Laker fans are trying to gauge what type of team they’ll see on a nightly basis and Mike D’Antoni acknowledged the growing pains to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLA.com:
The biggest thing early is, we’re going to try to get to the top, (but) it’s not going to be a straight line. It’s going to be jagged as heck, there’s going to be some bumps and bruises along the way. They have to understand that we’ve just got to guard against letting down emotionally, or letting down what and how we need to play. We didn’t do that.
Tonight, the Lakers will play host to the San Antonio Spurs who will be without forward Tim Duncan due to a chest contusion he suffered in their season opener against the Memphis Grizzlies. Nash will be back in the Lakers lineup, but it’ll be the first time Duncan nor Kobe Bryant will be on the floor when the two teams meet since 1996.
Nash will play after sitting out Wednesday night as D’Antoni will keep the same starting lineup intact, meaning Shawne Williams will continue to play power forward. Without Duncan in the lineup tonight, it’s a great opportunity for the Lakers to steal a game on their home floor as they’ll look to play like the team on Tuesday night and not on Wednesday.
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ICYMI: Jordan Hill Held A Breast Cancer Meet and Greet After Opening Night.
