National Basketball Association

Lakers: 3 Takeaways From Preseason Loss to the Golden State Warriors

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Lakers drop their second game in Sin City to Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors 112-107

Luke Walton saw a few familiar faces Saturday as the Lakers took on the Golden State Warriors Saturday night in Las Vegas. Walton had his work cut out for him facing the reigning Western Conference champions with a young Lakers team.

Luckily, Walton caught a break with Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala resting for the night. Alas, that alone was not enough for the Lakers to come away with the victory.

But with every game is an opportunity to learn and the Lakers have quite a bit work on the next few days.

Here are three quick takeaways from the loss to the Golden State Dubs.

Brandon Ingram is Starting to Get into a Groove

In his sixth NBA preseason game, Brandon Ingram looked the most comfortable he’s looked all season

Fans got the chance to see the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brandon Ingram, face off against Kevin Durant for the first time this season.

Ingram has drawn comparisons to the Golden State Warriors’ superstar because of his thin build and his ability as a scorer. Durant showed Lakers fans why that’s a good thing Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

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Durant finished with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 22 minutes. A lot of those points came while Ingram was defending Durant.

Ingram had a decent night himself, finishing the game with the most points he’s had all preseason. His 12 points on 3-for-5 shooting isn’t going to get anyone too excited, but any flashes of his All-Star potential is good.

Ingram looked the most comfortable he’s looked all year despite going up against a tough defender in Kevin Durant. He showed his ability to make shots from deep and even was aggressive in attacking the basket.

While he might have a ways to go before he can earn the respect the former MVP has earned in his career, Ingram has all the tools to be a special player in this league.

Nick Young Playing His Way Into the Rotation

Mar 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the NBA game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Not only should Nick Young make the roster, but he should be a key part of the Lakers bench unit

Give Nicholas Aaron Young a hand, Los Angeles. Young went from expendable to invaluable over night for the Lakers. His combination of shooting and defense is something very few players on the roster can offer.

Is it just preseason? Yes, but Young hasn’t looked this good since before he re-upped with the Lakers in 2013.

I’m hesitant to say Swaggy P is back, but only because I’m not sure we’re even looking at the same player. At 30-years-old, Young has found his ways to improve his game.

Even when Young was knocking down shots in bunches back in 2013, he wasn’t the most efficient shooter. That is no longer the case.

Young ended the night with a team-high 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting in 17 minutes.

He has also shown better instincts as both a playmaker and a defender. Again, completely different player.

If Young carries this play into the season, Luke Walton will be hard pressed to find a good reason not to play him.

That’s not to say Walton should prioritize finding playing time for Young over developing Brandon Ingram, but Young has earned the right to hear his number called regularly.

The Lakers Are Not the Warriors

Oct 15, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) goes around Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) during the first quarter at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

The future may be bright in Los Angeles, but it’s clear who the best team in California is right now

Steph Curry lead his team to a record-breaking 73-win season last season with the Golden State Warriors. Along the way, the team dropped some games due to injury or fatigue.

Only nine teams were able to beat the Warriors on their quest to 73, and the Los Angeles Lakers were one of them. On March 6, 2015, the Lakers beat the Warriors 112-95, establishing themselves as the most dominant team in the league (only half kidding).

However, the Lakers were no match for the Warriors Saturday, losing 112-107. Admittedly, the five point margin they lost by is misleading. Steve Kerr called off the dogs and let his second unit play the rest of the game relatively early, giving the Purple and Gold a chance to make the deficit respectable.

The Warriors looked like the 73-win team in the first half.

Klay Thompson single handedly outscored Los Angeles for a large portion of the first quarter. Kevin Durant mercilessly blocked rookie Brandon Ingram at the rim only to drag him to the other side of the court to drop a contested 3 in his face.

And Steph was Steph-ing all over LA’s young core.

The Purple and Gold will have a chance to redeem themselves Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Valley View Casino Center before heading back to Anaheim for their last preseason game.

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