Lakers News And Rumors: Lakers Look For Win Against Hawks

Dan Duangdao
3 Min Read

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Los Angeles Lakers

After the first week of the season where they went 1-2, the Lakers have decided to make some changes. With Nick Young and Shawne Williams struggling, head coach Mike D’Antoni has decided to insert Xavier Henry into the starting line-up and plans on playing Jordan Hill more minutes tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.

When the Lakers signed Young in the off-season, there were expectations he would be able to score enough points in Kobe Bryant’s absence. However, Young hasn’t looked comfortable as a starter where he has only averaged 8.3 points while shooting 27.3 percent from the field. Instead, he will go back to being the team’s sixth man, a role he has been comfortable playing throughout his career.

With Shawne Williams struggling from the field, there were questions about D’Antoni’s decision to not play Jordan Hill until the fourth quarter against the Spurs on Friday night. While he can’t stretch the floor and isn’t the ideal player in Mike D’Antoni’s system, Hill provides much needed energy and rim protection for the Lakers’ frontcourt. If the Lakers want to win tonight against the Hawks, Hill will need to be on the court against Atlanta’s dynamic duo in the frontcourt, Al Horford and Paul Millsap.

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Lakers News

Xavier Henry To Start Instead Of Nick Young For Lakers Tonight [LA Times]

Lakers Hit The Learning Curve [ESPN]

Lakers Practice: Hill To Get Minutes, Henry Ready [NBC Southern California]

Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni Looks To Find Minutes For Forward Jordan Hill [Lakers Examiner]

Lakers News: Steve Nash Accepts ‘Challenge’ Of Playing At An Advanced Age [Lakers Examiner]

NBA News

Derrick Rose: “I’m Not Playing Well Right Now” [ProBasketballTalk]

Sixers Improve To 3-0 With Comeback Win Over Bulls [ProBasketballTalk]

HOFer Bellamy Dies At 74 [Bleacher Report]

Boston Needed Russell’s Statue [SB Nation]

Westbrook Will Play Against Suns [SB Nation]

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Dan Duangdao was the managing editor at Lakers Nation (2013-16, 2018-20). He is currently the founder at LA Sports Media, Lake Show, Raiders Nation, Rams Nation, Kings Nation, Galaxy Nation, and MMA Rumors. Born and raised in Southern California and a lifelong Los Angeles sports and mixed martial arts fan, his first NBA game was Kobe Bryant and the Lakers against the Golden State Warriors with Michael Jordan in attendance during the 1998-99 NBA season. He was previously a contributor at HOOPSWORLD (now Basketball Insiders) and an NBA editor at ClutchPoints. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @DanDuangdao.