A young-old mix has the Lakers seemingly on a fast track to pass last year's win total, and the players aren't shy about beating their chests over how improved the new era seems coming out of the gate.
With D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle leading the way, the Lakers took down James Harden's Houston Rockets to start the season before dropping games to the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder. The latter, at least, wasn't much of a shock, given the current play of one Russell Westbrook.
Few expect playoffs this season, so the worst news capable of emerging is injury issues to one of the team's developing stars.
It just so happens Brandon Ingram, this year's No. 2 overall pick, continues to battle a knee issue, as ESPN's Baxter Holmes pointed out:
The tweet came during the Lakers' Friday loss to the Jazz, but it wasn't as bad as it might have been. Ingram had an MRI come back clean after a slight scare. He wound up playing 21 minutes Sunday night against the Thunder, second most of any Laker off the bench.
Ingram put up nine points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal in do-it-all fashion during his allotted time Sunday. His sitting the second half Friday night seems more a precaution, as the team wouldn't risk one of its most valuable players this early in the season.
And why risk it, especially when others have stepped up in such a big way?
Russell has looked good with averages of 16.3 points, 4.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game so far. But the bigger story is Randle.
After missing just about his entire rookie season with an injury, Randle hit the court last year and looked like a guy who would be a role player at best. He averaged 11.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 0.4 blocks per game...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
