The first game of the preseason is in the books for the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant and company getting the best of the Denver Nuggets in San Diego. Although Kobe will steal all the headlines after his first game back in almost 10 months, plenty of the new faces on the squad made their presence known.
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A lot of positives can be taken from the first of eight preseason games with rookies Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson making an early impression. Clarkson led the Lakers in scoring with 14 points while Randle added 10 while ripping down eight rebounds.
Despite a decent showing in his preseason debut, head coach Byron Scott said the following about the Kentucky product via Lakers Nation’s Serena Winters:
Byron Scott on Julius Randle (1/2): "The one thing I told him at the end is you've got to learn to play harder, longer but…"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 7, 2014
Scott (2/2): "I think in spurts he was really fantastic on both ends of the floor but he has to do it on a consistent basis all the time."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) October 7, 2014
As it is with any rookie in the league, it’ll be a learning process for Randle and Clarkson. Even though both rookies are raw and need to improve in different areas, they’ve both shown potential right out of the gate.
Clarkson and Randle have an ability to be a scoring threat off the bench while the seventh overall pick can also be a force on the glass. It appears that Scott will give both players the opportunity to earn minutes with Clarkson able to play multiple positions and Randle potentially putting pressure on veteran Carlos Boozer for the starting role at power forward.
Randle and Clarkson will make their Staples Center debut on Thursday with the Lakers heading back home to take on the visiting Golden State Warriors.
[divide]Kobe Bryant After His First Game Back
