RealGM

When: October 19th, 2015, 10:30 PM EST/7:30 PM PST
Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
How: TV-TWC Sportsnet Lakers/NBA TV, Radio-ESPN 710 AM

Projected starting Lineups (LAL vs. POR):

D'angelo Russell (Ohio State) vs. Damian Lillard (Weber State)
Jordan Clarkson (Missouri) vs. CJ McCollum (Lehigh)
Anthony Brown (Stanford) vs. Maurice Harkless (St. Johns)
Julius Randle (Kentucky) vs. Meyers Leonard (Illinois)
Roy Hibbert (Georgetown) vs. Mason Plumlee (Duke)

Notables not playing:
-Kobe Bryant
-Lou Williams
-Al-Farouq Aminu


Eye candy for this game: Mickie James

Hibbert and Randle should have a field day going up against tweeners like Plumlee and Leonard.

I think the Lakers take this game, once season comes we'll see just how devoid of talent the Blazers have. Outside of Lillard and McCollum I'm not too impressed with the rest of their roster. Lillard is going to have a hard time operating in space with out the guys he's ran with before. He'll see a wall of extra defenders than what he was use to seeing.

But as usual Portland was also one of those teams they placed ahead of the Lakers, but I'm telling you now they won't finish how the media thinks Portland will.

Updates:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/655835027708624896[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/655836258183200768[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/655834925900283905[/tweet]

Lakers and Warriors game on Thursday will be on TNT hopefully we have another good showing against the defending champs on National TV before the NBA season is ready to tip-off.

DEEP3CL wrote:I think the Lakers take this game, once season comes we'll see just how devoid of talent the Blazers have. Outside of Lillard and McCollum I'm not too impressed with the rest of their roster. Lillard is going to have a hard time operating in space with out the guys he's ran with before. He'll see a wall of extra defenders than what he was use to seeing.

But as usual Portland was also one of those teams they placed ahead of the Lakers, but I'm telling you now they won't finish how the media thinks Portland will.

Most media thinks they're going to take a huge step back. ESPN for example projects Portland to go from 51-31 to 31-51,

McCollum is going to make a big jump this year. I'm glad they're starting him with Lillard together.

Let's see how Randle will adjust with Aminu's defense.

dockingsched wrote:

DEEP3CL wrote:I think the Lakers take this game, once season comes we'll see just how devoid of talent the Blazers have. Outside of Lillard and McCollum I'm not too impressed with the rest of their roster. Lillard is going to have a hard time operating in space with out the guys he's ran with before. He'll see a wall of extra defenders than what he was use to seeing.

But as usual Portland was also one of those teams they placed ahead of the Lakers, but I'm telling you now they won't finish how the media thinks Portland will.

Most media thinks they're going to take a huge step back. ESPN for example projects Portland to go from 51-31 to 31-51,

Yes I've read and seen those projections also, but they still have that being better than the Lakers and I don't buy it. Portland will be in for a rude awaking, they're going to be on a treadmill for awhile.

Interested to see how Russell and JC defend Lillard and McCollum (if they both play, that is). They combined for 58 points on 50 shots tonight.

I would like to see A. Brown be a little more aggressive this game. He has shown good positioning on defense but would like to see him shoot a couple more times to open the paint up for Randle and Clarkson a little more. Now that teams know Randle is a beast and with Kobe sitting out they are going to start doubling him which should leave A. Brown with some wide open looks.

Huertas + Randle please

Update:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/656188273149108224[/tweet]

Would like to see Russell be more aggressive on offense tonight. And hopefully Scott let's him play a little longer.

I think Russell is gonna bring his A game tonight. Curry wasn't really a match up to exploit for him he's probably more focused on the Lillards and CP3's to use as a scouting report.

Aminu likely won't play tonight (light hamstring strain). Unsure of how many minutes Lillard and McCollum will play. Harkless should start in Aminu's place.

^Thanks! Updated

I really want to more from Russell. Other than the odd pass here and there, he has pretty much been invisible on the floor, imo.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/656279353026834432[/tweet]

Mirjalovic wrote:Huertas + Randle please