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Lakers’ strong start to be tested on 5-game trip after putting ‘the league on notice’

October 27, 2024

LOS ANGELES — The Lakers haven’t started a season this well in more than a decade.

Their early-season momentum will be tested with their longest out-of-state trip of the season (a six-game trek this winter includes road games against Golden State and the Clippers), starting with Monday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center.

After the game against the Suns, the Lakers will play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors on Friday and the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 4 before closing the trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 6.

“I like where our team is,” Anthony Davis said. “Obviously, there’s a lot that we can clean up on both ends of the floor. But we’ll take the wins. I’d rather be able to clean up things with the win than over a loss.

“It’s been a tough three games, obviously, with three premier teams in the West. And we’ve been able to hold our own and put the league on notice that we’re a different team.”

Davis has been at the center of the Lakers’ early success, with home victories over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, the Suns on Friday and the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

The 31-year-old All-Star big man is averaging 34 points on 57.1% shooting from the field to go with 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 blocked shots and 1.7 steals, taking advantage of Coach JJ Redick making him a consistent focal point of the team’s offensive attack. He is getting to the free-throw line 15 times per game and shooting 80% there.

With his 31-point performance against the Kings, Davis became the fourth Laker to start a season with three consecutive 30-point performances, joining Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Kobe Bryant.

“He is the main focal point for us offensively and defensively,” teammate LeBron James said. “And we got to make sure we continue to get him involved. He coaching staff and JJ, they do a great job of always putting him in positions where him being a recipient of the offense.

“And when A.D. has it going, it’s our job as the ball handlers to continue to feed [him], find [him].”

The Lakers’ start is a dramatic shift from recent seasons in which they struggled through slow starts.

They didn’t pick up their third win last season until their fifth game then lost the following three. The Lakers’ third win in 2022-23 didn’t come until their 13th game. Their third win in 2021-22 didn’t come until their sixth game of that season.

The Lakers’ 3-0 record is their best start since 2010-11, when they started 8-0.

“I told you guys before the season [started], last year we kind of messed around like you guys saw,” forward Rui Hachimura said. “Just the lineup, everything like injuries and all that. And we didn’t have the mindset of ‘OK, let’s take No. 1 in West.’ We didn’t have the mindset. But I think [we’ve had] that since we started training camp.”

Even though their record is unblemished, the Lakers’ on-court performances can be crisper.

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Lakers overcome 22-point deficit to defeat Suns

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They had to erase a 22-point deficit to beat the Suns in their first matchup and relinquished a 15-point lead against the Kings before James and Davis spearheaded a comeback in the fourth.

“It’s a process still for us,” James said. “We’re still learning. We want to continue to get better and better every night and I think through three games we did that.

“But it’s going to be a tough road trip for us coming in. Eleven days, five games. There are some tough opponents. So, it will be a test for us.”

LAKERS at SUNS

When: Monday, 7 p.m.

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix

TV/radio: NBA TV, Spectrum SportsNet/710 AM

Orange County Register

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Lakers’ strong start to be tested on 5-game trip after putting ‘the league on notice’

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