The first game, although ending in a loss to the Warriors, wasn’t all for not. For one, the roster was less than stacked. Despite some hopeful accounts, Dwight Howard was ruled unable to play last night, and starting in his place was rookie Robert Sacre, who was the team’s only draft pick in last summer’s NBA Draft. Although Sacre did well, it’s understandable to assume that with Howard, last night’s game would have ended differently.
Mike Brown also took a different approach in terms of playing time. One of the better parts to pre-season games is the ability to play around with the roster and see where each player would fit. Brown implemented a 20 minute limit for starters, and attempted to get all 19 players on the current roster into the game at some point.
In the end, the Warriors defeated the Lakers 110-83. However, fans and the organization got to learn some valuable things about the team, see areas in which they can improve, as well as congratulate themselves on what they did right.
Fan favorite Dwight Howard is still appreciative, no matter what last night’s outcome was. The big man didn’t play, but will hopefully do so soon. Despite all the ups and downs he has underwent to get to L.A., Dwight still believes that coming to the Lakers was “one of the best things that has happened in my [his] life.”
A few fans, including myself, were frustrated over watching the Lakers first game last night against the Warriors on TV. For now, ONLY Time Warner Cable subscribers can see the games, which has posed a problem to Lakers fans at home and elsewhere. Good news; at least one other pay-TV provider has struck a deal with TWC to bring Lakers games (along with LA Galaxy and LA Sparks games) back into Southern California homes. Bright House Networks (the sixth largest cable company in the U.S.) has become the first other provider to strike a deal with TWC and will carry both the SportsNet channel as well as the the Spanish language channel with original programming–Deportes.
Elizabeth Benson concludes her series on Lakers competition this year by analyzing the last team in the East she finds to be a threat; the Philadelphia 76ers. Although they may not come to mind as the Lakers number one competition priority, they do have a new player Lakers fans all know too well. Andrew Bynum now starts in Philly, and is more than hungry to play against L.A. Make sure you also read the first two pieces in her series, on the Miami Heat and the Celtics.
Thanks to Lakers Nation’s generous friends over at 2K Sports, we’re very pleased to announce that we will be giving two lucky fans the opportunity to win a brand new copy of NBA 2K13, the best basketball video game on the planet. To see how you can win your copy, click here for details.
Want to be the coolest guy/gal in your office? Then show your Lakers pride with an LN exclusive Steve Nash desktop wallpaper. Now everyone will know you are a super fan.
Lakers Nation News
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Lakers News
Kobe Bryant’s Left and Right Shoes are Purposely Two Different Colors, and Named ‘Snake Pools,’ Because Why Not [Ball Don’t Lie]
Kobe Bryant Nonchalant About Shaq’s Digs at Dwight Howard [LA Times]
Baby Steps For Nash, Lakers Debut [Hang Time Blog]
Lakers/Warriors: Steve Nash’s Debut & The Starters Look Good (This Is Not a Coincidence) [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers’ 110-83 Preseason Loss to Warriors: 5 Things to Consider [Lakers Now]
Stream #1: Warriors Def. Lakers 110-83 in Fresno [Silver Screen and Roll]
Meet Dwight Howard, Court Jester [LA Times]
No Hawaii Training Camp, but Lakers Might Head Elsewhere in 2013 Preseason [Lakers Blog]
Nash as Laker [Silver Screen and Roll]
Metta World Peace Says He’s Hitting Las Vegas [Lakers Now]
Rapid Reaction: Warriors 110, Lakers 83 [Lakers Report]
Does Phil Jackson Want to Coach the Los Angeles Lakers? Who Knows? Wouldn’t You Want To? [Ball Don’t Lie]
Nash’s Lakers Debut Features Focus [OC Register]
Lakers Laying Down Strong Foundation During Training Camp [Lakers Now]
Preseason Preview and Chat: The Golden State Warriors [Forum Blue and Gold]
Jordan Hill Continues to Come on Strong [Lakers Blog]
The Forum: Will the Defense Improve? [Lakers Report]
Los Angeles Lakers 2012-2013: All In [Silver Screen and Roll]
NBA News
Shelden Williams Defends his Wife Candace Parker in an Understandable Post-Loss Twitter Rant [Ball Don’t Lie]
The Minnesota Timberwolves Have a Secret Weapon [The Basketball Jones]
Missing Shots: Where Allen Iverson is an All-Time Great [The Wages of Wins]
Enes Kanter Dancing Machine [Hang Time Blog]
Player Capsule (Plus): Kevin Durant and the Leaps of Youth [Gothic Ginobli]
The 10-Man Rotation, Starring the San Diego Clippers [Ball Don’t Lie]
True Hoop TV: How Not to Recruit [True Hoop Blog]
Dream Chasers – Santa Cruz Warriors Open Tryouts [Warriors World]
Lebron Better Than Jordan? [HoopsHype]
James Anderson, Danny Green and Stability [48 Minutes of Hell]
Top Guards for 2012-2013 [Hang Time Blog]
The Fantasy Jump Off: Top 100 Fantasy Players, Tiers 1-5 [The Basketball Jones]
Kevin Durant Wishes All of You Would Stop Talking About his One Offseason Workout with LeBron James [Ball Don’t Lie]
Bernard James: “My Experience Gave Me an Advantage” [HoopsHype]
Clippers-Nuggets Notes From Vegas [True Hoop Blog]
Rudy Gay Does Not Like the Los Angeles Clippers [Sports Radio]
Sullinger Could Be Key for Celtics [Hang Time Blog]
