Training camp for the Los Angeles Lakers is officially underway with new head coach Byron Scott already making an impression on his players. Following the first practice under Scott, Kobe Bryant said that he has never had to run that much in a practice throughout his entire 18-year career.
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In the second day of practice in El Segundo, Scott may have shown who he intends to be the starters heading into the 2014-15 NBA season. Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times pointed out which players were on the floor toward the end of practice on Wednesday:
Possible Lakers starting five? Kobe scrimmaging with Boozer, Nash, Hill and Wesley Johnson.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) October 1, 2014
The potential starting five for the Lakers went head-to-head against the majority of the newcomers outside of Nick Young and Robert Sacre, via Mike Trudell of Lakers.com:
Scrimmage to end practice is: (Purple) Nash, Kobe, Johnson, Boozer and Hill; (White) Lin, Clarkson, Young, Davis and Sacre.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 1, 2014
With the Lakers yet to play a preseason game, there’s still plenty of time left for this starting lineup to shape up. Although it seems safe to assume that Nash, Kobe, Johnson, Boozer and Hill will be the starters come Oct. 28, anything can happen over the next few weeks. Scott will want get to know his players and figure what the best combination before simply assuming the veterans being the best fit.
Point guard Jeremy Lin and rookie Julius Randle are the only two players that appear to be creating some buzz in terms of being in contention for starting roles. That could quickly change over the course of the next few weeks.
[divide]Lakers Practice Report: Kobe, ‘I’ve NEVER Run This Much In An NBA Practice’