Los Angeles Lakers: Time To Put Kobe In Bubblewrap?

The preseason losses keep piling up for the Los Angeles Lakers, but it seems as though they have avoided the biggest loss of all: Kobe Bryant.

Bryant left the 107-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings and did not return, but should be good to go moving forward.

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Even with Bryant out of action for all but 18 minutes, Byron Scott opted to play only 10 players in the contest. Of the bunch, Julius Randle looked the best, netting 10 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds. Jordan Clarkson led the Lakers with 17 points, and Lou Williams was close behind with 16 points of his own.

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One interesting tidbit to surface in this game was Brandon Bass playing the center position with Ryan Kelly at the 4. This lineup could get Kelly some minutes at his natural position, but it’s still not likely the team’s most optimal lineup in a small-ball situation either offensively or defensively. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on as Scott continues to play around with different groups.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s loss to the Sacramento Kings:

Kobe Bryant Exits With Leg Contusion

Is it time to simply put Kobe in bubble wrap? The Los Angeles Lakers legend exited Tuesday’s preseason game after taking a knee to the calf area and did not return.

While the injury looked, and by Byron Scott’s account is, relatively minor, any type of discomfort in Bryant’s legs is enough to make fans hold their breath. After a multitude of serious injuries the past few years, even a simple contusion strikes fear into the heart of anyone interested in how the Lakers’ season plays out.

Before he left with the injury, Kobe showed some good signs by scoring fairly easily by cutting to the basket and nailing turnaround jumpers on the block. Entering his 20th season, this style of play – made famous by every old man you have underestimated at your local rec center – will be Kobe’s best method of contributing points.

As a side note for those obsessed with Kobe’s efficiency, his 4-of-12 shooting from the field was not exactly what you wanted to see. However, four of his misses came from three-point range (a shot that hopefully is limited in regular season action), so his 4-of-8 mark from two is a bit more bearable.

Playmaking Options Emerge

While D’Angelo Russell, Kobe Bryant, and Jordan Clarkson were projected to be two of the top playmakers for the Los Angeles Lakers coming out of the draft, the team continues to show that they may have more options than anticipated.

Julius Randle continued his excellent preseason by dishing out six assists against the Kings. A few of them came off of simple handoffs or nice cuts off-the-ball by his teammates, but it’s certainly nice to see Randle create for others both off-the-dribble and by reading defenses.

Blue Man Hoop

Lou Williams looked good as a passer once again, and it’s starting to look like he could be a solid option if the Lakers truly ask him to be a playmaker off-the-bench. While I maintain that Williams should be primarily used as a scorer, the team may not have a choice if they choose to hang onto Nick Young, who is often allergic to the pass.

And, while he only registered two assists on the day, I am impressed with what I have seen out of Roy Hibbert’s passing in the post. He will never be close to a primary option, or even secondary option, when it comes to initiating the offense, but it’s definitely a plus to see him being able to make a play here and there.

The Roster-Watch Continues

Through five preseason games, it’s still a tough call when it comes down to the Los Angeles Lakers’ final roster.

Nine players received a DNP on Tuesday, eight of which are likely battling for a roster spot (Larry Nance being the exception).

Byron Scott continues to play Ryan Kelly – a player who was under the microscope coming into the preseason – and the forward has responded with effort and decent production (four points, six rebounds Tuesday).

One of the most intriguing battles is for the backup center spot, a three-way matchup that pits Robert Sacre, Tarik Black, and rookie Robert Upshaw against each other. None of the trio played in Tuesday’s game, though Black and Upshaw have looked good so far this preseason.

Of the backup guards, Jabari Brown, Michael Frazier II, and Marcelo Huertas all failed to play against the Kings. Among those three, Huertas is probably the most interesting, though he has yet to get into any preseason action.

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