Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
Sports:Basketball
Darvin Ham Confirms Taurean Prince Will Start ... at Least Until Jarred Vanderbilt Returns???
2023-10-23
The Lakers kick off the regular season Tuesday in Denver, and after a strong training camp have very few questions of significance still in need of an answer. Over the weekend, Darvin Ham said that Taurean Prince would start against the Nuggets at small forward. He did leave the door open to a dinged up Jarred Vanderbilt, however, to re-enter the starting lineup once he's recovered from the heel injury that has cost him most of training camp.
But while for many teams, "Who is in the starting lineup?" feels like a doozy of an unanswered question, on this squad, less so. The Prince lineups have been great in the preseason. Plenty of early evidence they work well. The Vanderbilt lineups helped the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals last season.
Two good options, it seems.
Most of the bench questions feel pretty minor. It's easy to see how someone like Gabe Vincent fits in, even while he's missed a lot of time. Hachimura is a clean and comfortable fit coming off the bench. Maybe there are some remaining questions about how much Max Christie is going to play? But overall, that's not a huge one.
About the only question that has to do with fit is one with Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes. Having been given a simple, clear directive on how he's supposed to operate, Hayes had a great camp and probably earned more early minutes than expected. That clear role, that generally doesn't involve him having the ball or plays called for him, seems to be a good fit and helps explain the big energy and positive vibes he's brought on the floor.
Wood has had a tougher time. His role is harder to bring along, because he's a scorer who is expected to create and take shots. But from where? What kind? What's the right balance?
It's a first world problem, no question, and while the Lakers need to solve it, on the grand scale of BIG ISSUES this one is pretty minor for a contending squad. And there's lots of time for everyone to get it right.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Reflecting on 19 years covering the Lakers, and the positive vibes around this season.
SEGMENT 2: Darvin has a starting lineup... for now?
SEGMENT 3: Hayes vs. Wood.
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