Game 1: Lakers vs Clippers Tuesday 12/22: 7pm PST (Ring Ceremony 6:30pm PST)

[LAKESHOW]

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Those are some big ass rings.

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This is what its all about!!

[stan francisco]

It’s hard to get up to win the first game after getting the rings. All other teams on new season, champions still linger in the previous season.

Our defense needs tightening, and starting Schroeder next to LBJ seems unnecessary.

[Spanish_Laker]

I couldn't care less about this L on Ceremony Night, but there are a few things I'm worried about:

- Total lack of interior defense: Harrell is trash defensively and McGee and Howard will be missed all season long.
- Schröeder shouldn't start at all, he is a spark off the bench, bad fit next to LBJ.

[lazybatman]

Schroeder & Trez quietly had amazing 14-12-8 & 17-10-3 games. I was most impressed by both of their passing ability, specially a couple of thread the needle passes from the top of the key by Trez. Didn't know he had that in his game.

AD / Trez were a better match ups for Ibaka, who is basically become a stretch 4/5 since his last couple of years with OKC. Doesn't work for our defensive scheme if Gasol to be drawn to the 3 pt line.

Still campaigning to see Gasol + KCP, Kuz, THT, Caruso bench lineup. Think Gasol will help those guys with the spacing and picking cutters on his eagle eye passes, and Trez is a better fit in the starting lineup next to Lebron & Schroeder.

[LAKESHOW]

We gotta see more. Cant make any conclusions yet

[tamaraw08]

Schroeder & Trez quietly had amazing 14-12-8 & 17-10-3 games. I was most impressed by both of their passing ability, specially a couple of thread the needle passes from the top of the key by Trez. Didn't know he had that in his game.

AD / Trez were a better match ups for Ibaka, who is basically become a stretch 4/5 since his last couple of years with OKC. Doesn't work for our defensive scheme if Gasol to be drawn to the 3 pt line.

Still campaigning to see Gasol + KCP, Kuz, THT, Caruso bench lineup. Think Gasol will help those guys with the spacing and picking cutters on his eagle eye passes, and Trez is a better fit in the starting lineup next to Lebron & Schroeder.

Was it preseason game 2, when Gasol made those crisp passes to the cutting Kuzma and THT that lead to easy layups?
Don't get me wrong, Vogel has really impressed me with his great defensive schemes and adjustments but I am still yearning for better offensive fluidity, screens and motion. Marv Albert pointed out that the Lakers had the WORST OFFENSIVE rating for champions the past 10 years. Yes most of it is bec of prioritizing defensive minded players over shooters like Cook and Daniels and having a low 3pt% and FT % as a team, but still...AD can do much better moving without the Ball, cut from the weakside etc, Lebron and/or Harrell can provide solid screens for AD and/or shooters like KCP.
btw, Marc looked slow rotating to stretch 4's and 5's, he might just want to defend against huge non shooting centers...

[Hans1984]

I don't like our new team. It's a lot weaker than last years team. I miss McGee,Rondo and even Howard. Gasol is washed, Schroeder is just an average PG at best.

[iamworthy]

A lot of strong takes for a meaningless 1st game.

[Liam_Gallagher]

As some have said, I don’t see the point of starting Shroeder. Also don’t see Morris’ fit this season as he’s basically just a slower version of Kuzma. Those lineups of James, Caruso, Kuzma, Morris and Harrell were bad. Lineup should be:

Starters: James, KCP, Matthews, Davis, Gasol
Bench: Shroeder, Caruso, THT, Kuzma, Harrell

This rotation emulates last seasons team the best. With LeBron and AD you just need shooters. Bench dudes can come in and run.

[iamworthy]

Minutes are tight but THT needs more minutes.

[Hans1984]

Well, you are right. Need to give it more time. Lets not over-react

[Beethoven]

Also another thing. The hobos lost already 6 straight going back to playoffs. I know it was also pre-season games, but odds are something has to eventually give soon for them and win one. So that is what they did, and pg having a one-off great game.

[mihilli]

Gasol looks old and slow, Davis didn't show up and I believe they are going to struggle to match the defensive prowess of last years team.

But as many people have pointed out, it was the first game of a long season.

[Kilroy]

Last year Lebron took pretty much all of the clippers games real easy but the last one. He also took the opener and Christmas games easy... I’m sure he and ad discussed it and are doing the same thing this season... Don’t expect too many full effort games from them until the all star break... And Vogel is going to be farting around with the lineups until then also...
there’s going to be a lot of games like this and a bunch of hot takes saying we’re broken... but when it counts, we’re going to be very hard to beat if we’re healthy.