The Lakers vs Warriors game day story tonight is an audition. The Los Angeles Lakers (2-1) play the Golden State Warriors (2-2) at 7 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on NBA TV, and JJ Redick still has two starting spots to fill next to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. Jake LaRavia, Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili are the names most often mentioned for them. The same Warriors come to Crypto.com Arena for the regular-season opener on October 21.
Our Lakers vs Warriors preview covered Kessler’s return to full practice and the Warriors’ injuries. This piece focuses on the players competing for the last two starting spots.
Lakers vs Warriors Game Day: Kessler’s Status
As of Monday, the Lakers had not said whether Kessler will play. After Saturday’s practice, Redick was careful. “A lot can happen in 48 hours,” he said. “We’ll be smart with it. See how he feels [Monday]. But not willing to commit to him playing Tuesday or not. He’ll get some live play at some point this week.”
Lakers reporter Jovan Buha said on his podcast that Kessler was “technically” being labeled 50-50 with a questionable designation, but “I think he’s gonna play, barring a setback,” according to Heavy. That is Buha’s read, not a team announcement. If Kessler does not play tonight, his last chance before the opener is Friday, October 16, at home against the Denver Nuggets.
The Case for Jake LaRavia
LaRavia has been the best shooting story of the Lakers’ preseason. Through three games he is 14-of-22 from the field (63.6%) and 6-of-11 from three (54.5%), numbers reported by both Lakers Nation and Hoops Rumors. He is averaging 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks, according to Lakers Nation and Lakers On SI. In Thursday’s 114-110 win over Sacramento, he scored 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three.
That matters because of how last season ended. Lakers Nation reports that LaRavia shot 35.3% from three in his first 39 games and 27.9% in the last 43, and he fell out of the playoff rotation. He said the problem was mostly in his head.
“I think a lot of it was mental,” LaRavia said after Thursday’s game. “Also just tweaking a couple things to make the shot a little bit more consistent. Obviously, like I put my shot more to the right side of my body now, to just make it a little bit more linear.”
He has changed how he thinks about makes and misses, too. “I think the one thing that kind of changed for me this year was focusing more on the input rather than the output,” he said. “So not really focused on my makes or misses, but, ‘Am I doing everything in my control to give myself the best opportunity to make the shot?'”
Redick has noticed. “It was small tweaks and ultimately the tweaks don’t matter if they don’t give you confidence,” he said. “I feel like he’s shooting the ball with a lot of confidence right now and he feels confident in his shot.”
Infanity TV has Redick’s comments on LaRavia’s mental approach:
Reaves also praised his teammate: Austin Reaves on Jake LaRavia: “One of the Best Shooters”.
Why This Is a Big Season for LaRavia
Lakers On SI notes that the 24-year-old is in a contract year. In last season’s playoffs he averaged 3.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.3 minutes, shooting 33.3% from the field and 28.6% from three. His defense was never the problem. Lakers On SI writes that his effort on that end “has never been in question,” but once the shot stopped falling, opponents could leave him open. A wing who defends and makes 37 or 38 percent of his threes is exactly what a roster built around Doncic and Reaves needs. He was also the only Lakers player to appear in all 82 games last season, according to Lakers Nation, so availability is not the issue either.
Infanity TV also posted a clip on what Kessler gives the defense when he is on the floor: Walker Kessler: “The Linebacker” of the Lakers Defense.
Grimes, Mamukelashvili and the Other Options
Hoops Rumors lists every wing the Lakers have started this preseason: Adou Thiero, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, LaRavia and Bronny James. Kevon Looney and Mamukelashvili have started at center while Kessler was out. Fadeaway World calls Grimes and Mamukelashvili the favorites, with LaRavia as a dark horse. That is an outlet’s opinion. Redick has not said.
Mamukelashvili’s case is versatility. He can play power forward or center, and he had 19 points and four assists in 21 minutes off the bench against Sacramento on Thursday. Reaves said that if Mamukelashvili gets a rebound, “he should basically play the one,” per Hoops Rumors. Infanity TV’s Monday clips include Luka Doncic on Mamukelashvili: “Passes are very underrated” and Redick on Mamukelashvili: “Being an overthinker”.
Redick has been clear that the injuries have slowed the decision. “I would say we’ve certainly seen glimpses of the things we like,” he said Sunday. “It’s hard because we’ve just been a little disjointed with the guys being banged up, so there’s nothing definitive yet.”
Who Is Out or Limited
- Walker Kessler (left pinkie): not confirmed for tonight.
- Collin Sexton (right lower leg): “a little bit further behind” Kessler, per Redick on Saturday. He has not played in the preseason.
- Ziaire Williams (left foot contusion): missed the last two games. Redick called it “not a concern.”
What to Watch Tonight
- The starting five. Whoever starts next to Doncic and Reaves tonight is the best clue so far to Redick’s opening-night lineup.
- LaRavia’s shooting. The question is whether 54.5% from three holds up against Golden State’s defense.
- Kessler’s minutes if he plays. Expect a limited first look, but even a few minutes would show what the starting group looks like with a true center.
- Rebounding and turnovers. Golden State won the October 6 meeting 124-98 and outrebounded the Lakers 44-35. The Lakers are averaging 23.7 turnovers a game, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The Warriors won that first meeting at Chase Center. Our recap of it is in the 124-98 loss at Golden State.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Kessler, Sexton or Williams plays tonight.
- Redick’s starting lineup. Grimes and Mamukelashvili as favorites is a media read, not a team statement.
- Buha’s view that Kessler will play is a reporter’s expectation.
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