When the Lakers went into their final game of the preseason against the Sacramento Kings with nearly their entire roster available — minus LeBron James, obviously — it was largely believed this would be a dress rehearsal for their season opener that would come only four days later. Head coach JJ Redick intimated as much in a previous media availability and had similarly hinted that the starting lineup he deployed against the Kings would double as his opening five against the Warriors.

So, when the lineup was revealed roughly 20 minutes before the opening tip and Gabe Vincent was the fifth starter flanking Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton, I’d be lying if I said I was not a bit deflated.

Gabe had played well in the Lakers exhibition games, no doubt. Just a game

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