Walker Kessler expects Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to be double-teamed a lot off screens, so the Lakers center says he must improve at making plays when he catches the ball behind it: "just playing out of that pocket, it's going to be a big, big part of my expansion."
"Marvin hasn't played. He's been hurt." David Adelman explained why Marvin Bagley III got an extended fourth-quarter run in Denver's preseason finale. Tyus Jones got one too because "Tyus needed to play more minutes," and Adelman said he was very impressed with that group.
Trevon Brazile has "a chance to be in the rotation," Nuggets coach David Adelman said after the rookie played with Denver's starters in the preseason finale. Adelman wants him seeing the ball better when he runs on offense and not getting caught in switches on defense.
Ziaire Williams, back from a hamstring injury, was on a planned minutes limit and has foot soreness. JJ Redick hopes for "3 really good days with him" so the Lakers forward "can play more than 10 minutes" Oct. 21. Luka Doncic sitting the second half was planned, Redick said.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, at center, is to start the fast break off defensive rebounds, Lakers coach JJ Redick said. Told by Redick in a timeout he hadn't looked at the basket, he hit three straight 3-pointers. "Hey, you're a really good basketball player, shoot the ball."
Matisse Thybulle was set to start the Lakers' Oct. 16 preseason game, with a plan to play him 25 minutes "and see how he responds." JJ Redick said his workload will need managing all season. Quentin Grimes, who started the first four, will "start a lot of games," he said.
Collin Sexton missed the Lakers' Oct. 16 preseason game but "had another great day," JJ Redick said, and was set to work on the team's off day. Cameron Carr was out, still dealing with a hit he took against Golden State. Adou Thiero sat for maintenance.
Dalton Knecht is caught in a crowded Lakers wing group. "We added a lot of wings, and he's in a tough spot right now," coach JJ Redick said on Oct. 16, adding that Knecht's rookie season was also affected by the team changing around him.
Cameron Carr is out for the Lakers' preseason finale, JJ Redick said. Collin Sexton "did everything but live" in practice; on opening night, Redick said only he's trending in the right direction, not repeating that he wasn't worried. Adou Thiero practiced: "Just maintenance."
Luka Doncic and Ziaire Williams were both full participants in Lakers practice, JJ Redick said. Before the preseason finale against Denver, he wants better ball security and defensive rebounding, and ran three box-out drills: "It's a point of emphasis for us right now."