Lakers preseason winner: Rui Hachimura
Rui Hachimura impressed the Los Angeles Lakers fans this preseason. He played in every game and cracked the starting lineup three times. If he wasn't starting, Hachimura would make all the difference off the bench. In fact, he helped the Lakers push past a healthy Brooklyn Nets squad, winning 129-126. Hachimura led the team in scoring with 19 points.
The power forward also showed signs of improvement from 3-point range. On three occasions, Hachimura shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc. All in all, Hachimura averaged 10.5 points and 4 rebounds for the Lakers this preseason.
According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, Hachimura is one of the nine rotational locks for the Lakers. Rest assured, he'll get touches this season even if he's coming off the bench with Taurean Prince getting the starting nod. Without a doubt, Hachimura's aggression on offense could have a big impact on the Lakers' success this season.
Lakers preseason loser: Cam Reddish
Reddish struggled to get going this preseason. In his Lakers debut, Reddish's only point came from a free throw. He finished with three turnovers, a minus-22 plus/minus, and shot 0-of-4 from the field. Now, it's worth mentioning that Reddish suffered a sprained ankle during the debut, which could excuse Reddish' poor performance.
A week later, Reddish was back in action against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he looked better, but still far from his mid-season form. Although the Lakers lost to the Bucks 108-97, Reddish finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Good, but far from what the Lakers expect from Reddish.
Across three preseason games, Reddish contributed 13 points, eight turnovers, and two assists in 61 minutes. Hopefully, this was nothing more than an adjustment period for Reddish. At his peak, Reddish can provide for the Lakers on both ends of the ball. However, if Reddish wants to get serious minutes this season, he's going to have to earn them.
Lakers preseason winner: Anthony Davis
This feels like cheating. But, of course, Anthony Davis' play was impressive. Even with limited minutes, Anthony Davis shined in the preseason. Austin Reaves warned us on the Lowe Post podcast, and he was right — AD's jumper looks dialed in. In his five preseason games, Davis made six of his 13 3-pointers, shooting an impressive 46.2 percent. If Davis can keep defenders honest and take what they give him, he'll be that much more difficult to guard. As a result, this could unlock driving and cutting lanes for the Lakers.
Anthony Davis is still the rim protector we've grown used to. During the Lakers' last preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, Davis blocked four shots in the first six minutes. He finished the game with six blocks. Although the Lakers lost 123-100, Davis left the game midway through the third quarter.
Last season, Davis averaged 25.9 points a game. Davis said his approach this season is to take what the defense gives him. "Coach is drawing up plays for me and putting me in the right position and the team, my teammates, have done a good job of hitting me in the pocket or finding me in spots that I like." Davis said. "From there, it's just on me to execute."
Lakers preseason loser: Jalen Hood-Schifino
While it's not unheard of to see a rookie struggle in his first NBA action, in Hood-Schifino's case, it is surprising. At Indiana, Schifino averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. In fact, he finished second on the team in points and assists. However, in four preseason appearances, Hood-Schifino averaged 3.5 points on 17.9 percent shooting and shot just 1-for-11 on 3s.
According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, the former Indiana guard may need time to adjust. Buha wrote, "he clearly needs a lot of reps in the G League. He's unlikely to emerge in the rotation barring injuries to Russell or Vincent, and even then, the Lakers can simply rely on Reaves or James more to fill in. Hood-Schifino projects as more of a project than initially anticipated."
Schifino struggled to create space for himself on offense. Per Buha, Schifino scored 14 points over his 37 possessions with the ball in the preseason, which translates to 0.378 points per possession. This is far from ideal production for a first-round pick. However, Schifino also showed flashes of potential in other areas. He showcased his ability to pass and create for others, averaging four assists per contest. He remains an unproven player, but the Lakers hope his potential can be unlocked with more playing time.
