5 Takeaways From the Lakers’ First Preseason Game vs. the Suns
The Lakers’ 103-81 loss to the Suns in their preseason opener wasn’t pretty, but it gave us a first glimpse of what’s ahead for the new-look roster. Here are five key takeaways from that night in Palm Springs.
1. Austin Is Him
Austin Reaves looked like he was already in mid-season form.
He led the team with 20 points in just 21 minutes, attacking the rim, drawing seven free throws (all makes), and stabilizing the offense whenever he was on the floor. While his three-ball (1-for-5) didn’t fall, he was the only Laker consistently getting paint touches and creating open looks for teammates. With Luka Doncic and LeBron James out, Austin carried the offense and proved he’s ready for real games.
2. Jarred Vanderbilt Looks Like Pre-Injury Vando
This was the most encouraging defensive development of the night.
Vanderbilt looked springier and more fluid than he did last season, sliding his feet on the perimeter and pressuring ball-handlers 94 feet. He disrupted passing lanes, collected deflections, and generally moved like the aggressive wing-stopper the Lakers badly need. While his jumper is still a work in progress, the defensive energy and mobility looked closer to the 2023 version of Vando that helped spark L.A.’s late-season surge.
3. DeAndre Ayton Is Already an Upgrade at Center
The stat line (1 point, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks) doesn’t tell the whole story.
Ayton’s rim deterrence and rebounding were obvious the moment he checked in. He provided what the Lakers lacked last season in a traditional center. The Suns hesitated at the rim when he was patrolling the pain. The pick-and-roll timing with Austin is still a work in progress, but once Luka and LeBron are feeding him, the offense around the basket should open up.
4. Transition Defense Is Still Bad
Head coach JJ Redick has been preaching “run, compete, communicate,” but the Lakers failed the first test.
They were outscored 19-6 in transition despite the Suns committing 16 turnovers of their own. Missed box-outs and slow sprints back on defense led to easy Phoenix run-outs. It’s still a work in progress, but conditioning and urgency will need to improve if they want to develop the “championship habits” that JJ keeps stressing.
5. Lakers Are Bad Without Their Two Best Players (Shocker)
Breaking news: the Lakers are garbage without their two best players. Sprinkle in absences from Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent, and you get the result we got against the Suns.
L.A. shot 31% from the field and 17% from three, went nearly seven minutes without a field goal in the first quarter, and posted a laughably low 79.8 offensive rating. It’s almost like missing two generational playmakers makes the team worse. Who could’ve seen that coming?
Bottom Line
It’s only Game 1 of the preseason, so it’s process over results, but the game highlighted both promise and concerns: Austin’s leap, Vando’s defensive bounce-back, Ayton’s presence in the middle, plus the shaky transition defense and the painfully obvious reminder that this roster needs its stars to function. Sunday’s matchup with the Warriors will be another chance to tighten the basics—run, compete, communicate.
