Preseason stats may not officially count, but the impressions they leave are telling. The LA Lakers’ back-to-back losses have raised questions about their overreliance on star players. While missing LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves played a role, it wasn’t the only factor. Forward Rui Hachimura’s performance drew criticism, yet many believe he cannot be blamed. Rui’s limitations stem from external factors beyond his control, and the struggles exposed in these games reflect broader team issues rather than any individual shortcoming.
While chatting with Raj Chipalu on the Lakers Lounge podcast, Lakers Insider Anthony Irwin came down heavily on the Lakers roster after the first two preseason games. “So I’m not, I still want to be fair in some of these asks, but I do think there