On July 18, Beijing time, Lakers continued to train in Orlando, and coach Vogel revealed some plans for the warm-up match. According to the schedule, the Lakers will play against the Mavericks on July 24, Beijing time, face the Magic on the 26th, and fight with the Wizards on the 28th. Vogel pointed out that James and Thick Brow are unlikely to participate in all three warm-up matches.
"I want to say that the possibility of them playing all three games is not very high, but it has not been confirmed in the end," Vogel said in the interview.
It is reasonable for the Lakers coaching staff to plan this way. On the one hand, James is 35 years old, and Davis has suffered multiple injuries this season, so the team has to arrange their playing time smarter; on the other hand, the Lakers are far ahead in the West, and the US media believes that not to mention the warm-up game, even the regular season does not have to do their best. These 3 warm-up games, even the 11 games before playoffs , are used by the Lakers to polish the lineup and find the best rotation time.
If James and Davis rest in one or two of the warm-up matches, rookie Horton Tucker and two two-way players (Almighty Brother and Carcock) are expected to get some playing time. After all, Rondo and Morris are not in the team, and young people have many opportunities. In addition to these three young people, Witers and JR-Smith , these two new players of the Lakers will also get time to show their form in the game.
Vogel also specifically mentioned Witts and JR in today's interview. "They both inject toughness and control into the team, and these guys are killers. They have a strong competitive spirit and in their careers they have proven their talent and prolific."
Vogel admits that whenever the team has new players join, the chemistry changes a bit. "Their goal is to ensure that the chemistry changes in a positive direction. So far, they have integrated well and shown a positive attitude."
As Vogel said, although JR and Witters have not played a game for the Lakers, the two have integrated into the team and got along very well with their teammates. In a latest video taken by McGee , Waiters and JR practiced a three-pointer in the bottom corner together. The center sighed: "It's all pitchers! The pitchers are here to shoot!"
In less than a week, the Lakers' first warm-up game will begin. What kind of performance will this team with some changes show?
