Key takeaways from Lakers preseason game against Suns

The Lakers played their second preseason game of the year, falling to the Phoenix Suns 118-114 at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, Calif., on Monday. While the outcome was irrelevant, it marked Lakers fans’ first opportunity to see LeBron James and Anthony Davis alongside the rest of the starting lineup under new head coach JJ Reddick and his revamped offensive system.

Let's explore the key takeaways from L.A.’s preseason matchup versus the Suns.

Offense

Redick has made it clear that he envisions Anthony Davis as the “hub” of the Lakers’ offense. During Sunday’s preseason game, Redick revealed some of the new actions he’s implemented. 

In the 2023-24 season, Davis averaged 8.9 paint touches per game — nearly double his elbow touches — primarily working out of the post or scoring off dives and rolls to the rim. However, against the Suns, he dominated the ball from the top of the key. Davis showcased his midrange jumper, attacked seams in the defense with drives to the basket and, most importantly, acted as a playmaker, finding James, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura on cuts to the rack. Davis finished with an efficient 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting along with three assists, leading to a game-high +15 rating.

In a notable shift from last season, it appears that Redick might plan to utilize Reaves as the Lakers’ primary point guard over D’Angelo Russell. In the 2023-24 season under Darvin Ham, Russell typically brought the ball up the court and initiated the offense, but in L.A.’s first two preseason games, Reaves has taken on that responsibility more frequently. He led the team with seven assists in Friday’s game against the Timberwolves and again topped the Lakers with seven dimes in their matchup with the Suns.

Defense

There haven’t been many noticeable defensive adjustments in the Lakers’ first two preseason games. On Sunday, with L.A.’s full starting lineup on the floor in the first half, Davis continued to play drop coverage, similar to last year. He prioritized protecting the paint against drives to the rim rather than jumping out on perimeter shooters.

In 2023-24, the Lakers ranked 19th in the NBA in opponents’ offensive rebounding, an area Redick has emphasized during the preseason. L.A.’s new head coach has gone on record stating that he wants Hachimura to be more active on the boards, limiting second and third chances for opposing squads. So far, Hachimura appears to have taken the message to heart, showing noticeable improvement on the defensive glass by grabbing a team-high eight rebounds in Sunday’s game.

Jalen Hood-Schifino

Jalen Hood-Schifino has emerged as a standout during Lakers training camp.

“Jalen has been great,” Hachimura revealed. “I can see he’s been putting a lot of work in his body. He got way stronger. I can see that he’s just, you know, more confident. ... I think he looks strong and healthy; I like it.”

Still, it has been widely suspected that five-year veteran Gabe Vincent would secure the Lakers backup point guard role. Despite this, Hood-Schifino has logged more minutes than Vincent in L.A.’s first two preseason games, shining as a distributor, flashing an advanced midrange game and playing solid defense.

It’s unclear whether Redick is simply easing Vincent back into action after he played in only 11 contests last season or if there’s genuine competition brewing for the backup point guard spot.

LeBron James

You’ve heard it all before. James is unbelievable. He’s doing things that defy logic and age. He might even have alien blood pumping through his system.

At nearly 40 years old, James was the best player on the floor during Sunday’s game against the Suns, scoring 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting while adding five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in just 16 minutes. He showcased his ever-growing versatility, dominating from beyond the arc, off screens, in the post and off straight-line drives to the rim.