The wins and losses column has been a hot topic of conversation for Mike Brown in the preseason, especially since the W column has yet to form. The Lakers are currently winless after their fourth preseason loss to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night. Kobe Bryant’s 31 points, and the 23 he scored in the third quarter out of the team’s 24, were the highlight of the staggering 34-point loss.
Before the game, Brown reaffirmed that individual player performances, and not the score, would be a focus of the game. However, after taking quite the beat down, the Lakers roster doesn’t seem to be as open to turning a blind eye to the scoreboard.
“What we need to do is get to a place where we can win some games even though we’re not a finished product by any stretch. We’ve got to find ourselves in a competitive space so we can start the season winning games.” – Steve Nash
Metta World Peace put it in a bit simpler terms.
“The main thing is that we win.”
Brown decided to sit Pau Gasol last night, while Dwight Howard, Jordan Hill and Earl Clark were all out with injuries. Wondering when we’ll see a healthy line-up is becoming a valid concern.
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Bryant has reiterated that the potential starters are getting more than adequate time to mesh together in practice. However, Kobe also understands the importance of going up against unfamiliar faces before the regular season begins.
“Hopefully we can lace ’em up and go against unfamiliar players here in the preseason.”
When everyone is healthy, the Black Mamba is confident that it will not take much time for the starters to mesh together.
“In terms of how we play, it should be seamless.”
On when that will be? Well Kobe isn’t a doctor, but he sure has faith in his new center, and Dwight Howard has been looking phenomenal in practice.
“He’s extremely close. He’s making plays defensively that no big outside of Bill Russell could make in the history of the game. In terms of playing the passing lanes, getting steals, guarding guards…”
If the Lakers had practice Wednesday, I’m sure the wins and losses column would continue to be the hot topic of conversation. Luckily for Mike Brown, the Lakers (and thus, the media) have the day off.
The Lakers will take on the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday evening.
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