Less than two months removed from a title run that saw them conquer not only their NBA rivals but a host of challenging circumstances in the NBA bubble, the Lakers feel more prepared for the unknown now than before.
But even the defending champions admit they’re not quite sure what they’re getting into next.
As individual workouts have begun for training camp, the organization is both buzzing about the roster – which is the oddsmakers’ favorite to repeat as champions this season – but the pandemic so far has limited their ability to begin bonding. Jared Dudley was at the practice facility in El Segundo on Thursday morning and saw new teammate Dennis Schröder in passing. While the two hope to play together as soon as Dec. 11 for the Lakers’ first preseason game, they’ve yet to spend any time in the same room together.
“I was hoping when the season happens, it’d loosen up, where we can get back to being teammates and hanging out, talking,” Dudley said Thursday, as several Lakers players spoke to the media via Zoom for the start of camp. “We’ll see if there’s a little leeway. But COVID is here to stay.”
Not long after the Lakers conquered the bubble, a new season, with restrictive protocols, daily testing but standard travel, is getting underway. The players voted with the rest of the league to resume play on Dec. 22, but those returning from last season’s run admit they’re still reeling from the short turnaround.
Aside from brief trips to Las Vegas and San Diego, the normally months-long victory lap of an offseason was cut down to weeks without a parade. Markieff Morris acknowledged he picked up a basketball for the first time this offseason about a week ago. While Alex Caruso said he expected some carryover from last season to this one, Kyle Kuzma was more skeptical that a short offseason would be helpful particularly for the older players.
“Getting their body back ramped up and warmed up, it’s a short amount of time,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be a disadvantage for teams that had late runs in the playoffs compared to the teams that did not make the bubble and had early exits in the bubble.”
Adding to the uncertainty is COVID-19, which has scrambled plans in football and college basketball seasons already as teams deal with the fallout from positive tests. The NBA on Wednesday announced there were 48 positive tests among 546 players tested between Nov. 24 and 30. The Lakers have not disclosed if any players have been unable to train due to a positive coronavirus diagnosis.
It’s a vast departure from the Orlando bubble, which had zero positive tests among the players who cleared quarantine. Part of the mindset of the coming season, the Lakers acknowledged, will be being prepared to step in when players test positive, which will require a minimum of 12 days to clear protocols.
As a veteran group, the Lakers expect a high level of accountability for lowering the risks off the court –wearing masks, isolating and washing hands/sanitizing – but mistakes, they acknowledged, are bound to happen.
“Yeah, obviously it’s going to be tough,” Kuzma said. “As you guys see across the league, there’s been a lot of positive testings from other players in those organizations. It’s going to be an ongoing thing all year. Can’t stop guys from actively doing what they want in life.”
Caruso pointed out the uncertainty with a quirk of the NBA schedule, which will be released in two installments beginning Friday at noon. Several players believe it’s possible that the playoffs could be held in another bubble if the pandemic continues into the spring.
“Last year was just dipping our toes in the water, seeing what it’s going to be like,” Caruso said. “You’ve got to be adaptable. You’ve got to be ready to play different minutes on different nights given the circumstances of rest, COVID, of travel – whatever comes up, just being ready. I think one of the big things this year is gonna be the mental fortitude of all the teams.”
The returning Lakers feel the talent they brought in – Schröder, center Marc Gasol, forward/center Montrezl Harrell and wing Wesley Matthews most prominently – will fit in well to their existing culture. While several players acknowledged that building chemistry will be tougher this season than last, when group activities on road trips helped spur the process, they also think with eight players returning, a big piece of that chemistry is intact.LeBron James, who signed a contract extension through 2023 on Wednesday, will be a key figure in exerting championship culture, they added.
“Shoot, we have LeBron James,” Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said. “His mindset and the way he approaches the game, it’s just going to rub off on everybody else. I know he’s coming back ready to compete. Especially for that second championship and he’s going to let us know from the jump what time it is.”
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