Lakers tab Gabe Vincent to start while LeBron heals; defense in focus

Treating the preseason finale arsenic a formal rehearsal, manager JJ Redick elevated Gabe Vincent to the starting portion with LeBron James sidelined by a right-side sciatica issue. Vincent delivered 14 points connected 5-for-6 shooting, including 4-for-5 from deep, successful a 117–116 nonaccomplishment to the Kings that closed the Lakers’ preseason astatine 1–5. The defender bolstered his lawsuit earlier successful the week with a blistering agelong against Dallas, scoring 18 points successful 4 minutes connected cleanable three-point shooting.

Vincent said the unit informed him of the commencement Friday morning. “I deliberation I conscionable bring what I’ve been doing since I’ve been here,” helium said. “Just defending, effort to support astatine a precocious level. Playmake erstwhile I person opportunities, abstraction the level portion our creators are getting downhill.” Redick emphasized the determination is situational, noting injuries and matchups volition dictate rotations. “I person a beauteous bully thought who’s going to commencement Game 1; aft that, I don’t know,” helium said. “There’s a batch of shooting successful that group, and Gabe is different shot handler, different pugnacious defender.”

James is not expected to instrumentality until mid-November, per aggregate reports. The regular play opens Tuesday successful Los Angeles against the Warriors.

Defensive concerns overshadow lineup talk

Results aside, the loudest connection from the nighttime was astir stops. Sacramento scored 59 aft halftime, shooting 54.7% from the tract and 44.8% from three. Players and unit pointed to physicality arsenic the missing piece. “We request to enactment connected our physicality,” a squad person said postgame, summarizing a taxable from camp.

Help whitethorn travel from within. Former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, who posted 14 points and 4 steals disconnected the bench, promised to acceptable the standard. “Just travel my lead,” helium said. “I’m going to effort to acceptable the code each and each night.”

The Lakers besides await quality connected halfway Jaxson Hayes, who exited with a right-wrist contusion aft a first-quarter lob finish. X-rays were negative; the squad volition update his presumption astatine Sunday’s practice.

The starting 5 volition evolve, Redick reiterated, yet the precedence is clearer: rise the antiaircraft floor, support the spacing intact, and bargain clip until the roster is whole.