![](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/imageedit_1_48913844-16x9-1.jpg?w=978)
Lakers guard Gabe Vincent controls the ball and Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox defends it during the second half of a preseason game Wednesday night at the Honda Center. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM — There is no direct correlation between preseason and regular season success.
Four of the six teams with the best preseason records in the Western Conference last season didn’t make the playoffs, and two of those teams didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament. The Milwaukee Bucks, the team with the league’s best regular season record last season, are winless (0-5) in preseason play.
The preseason is used to work on concepts, re-establish rhythm after four to six months off the court, and sort out questions about lineups and rotations before games actually start counting in the standings. .
But positive results like the Lakers’ 109-101 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night at Honda Center will help.
So while the focus is more on process than results than usual, the Lakers are encouraged by their 2-1 run through preseason games.
They will face the Golden State Warriors on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, face the Milwaukee Bucks in Los Angeles on Sunday and close out the exhibition against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Springs on October 19th. It’s planned.
“It’s always good to see what you’re working on on the practice field, what you’re working on in your photo session, what you’re talking about. It’s the message you’re preaching,” coach Durbin said. Hamm said. “And to see that turn into a W, even if these are just a series of test runs, to see the information being transferred to the gaming floor, evaluated, accepted, and executed. It’s still a good thing. It’s always nice to have success at the end of it.”
Preseason play can sometimes set the tone for the start of the regular season.
The Lakers went 1-5 in the preseason last year and started the regular season with 0-5 and 2-10 records. Conversely, the 4-0 preseason record in 2020-21 was achieved before the regular season started 6-2 and 11-3.
“It’s always nice to win, but it’s all a process,” guard Gabe Vincent said. “Especially now during preseason. We’re moving in the right direction, but there are some things we’re trying to focus on.”
Hamm said the focus this season will be on improving the team’s transition defense, an improvement from last season.
They also utilize different types of setups on offense, trying more five-out actions to create space in the paint and forcing the defense to spread out.
The Lakers are still a work in progress, despite already having won more games in the preseason than their last two games combined (1-11).
When asked what the Lakers need to improve on in their remaining exhibition games, Vincent said, “Everything.” “As far as playing in June, we certainly have to sort everything out a little bit. We’re heading in the right direction. It’s a long season. It’s going to be a process. But we’re getting there. Masu.”
lakers warriors
when: Friday, 7pm
where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Spectrum Sportsnet, ESPN2, 7:10 a.m.