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The champions always have a target on their backs, and this year will be no different. But the Los Angeles Lakers are ready for it.
In spite of the short break for the champions and the understanding that they have a target on their backs this season, the Lakers aren't coming into the season sleepwalking. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope spoke for the team, dispelling thoughts that the team will take the beginning of the year off.
“We’re going to approach them as if every game means something,” Caldwell-Pope said. “We don’t want to start slow. I know there’s a target on our back. Everybody is going to come in wanting to beat us. Everybody is going to be ready. I feel like our mindset is that we’re going to be ready as well.”
This is a team with competitors who, even if it might be in their best interest in the long run, won't take any games off. Lakers head coach Frank Vogel will have to keep the team fresh throughout the entire season while not losing any momentum at the same time. A challenge that will be made even harder due to the compressed schedule, Vogel has the faith of the locker room and appears to be ready for the challenge of repeating as champions.
While he's focused on winning every game, the Lakers coach understands that the unprecedented nature of the season will lead to some bumps along the way.
“We’re all just trying to make the best of it. We’re going to have some ugly moments early in the season as a result of it,” Vogel admitted Friday. “That’s just the nature of what we’re going through. Nobody’s complaining about it, nobody’s feeling sorry for us. We’re not feeling sorry for ourselves. We’ll be ready to go and make the best of the early part of the season.”
The Lakers start the regular season at home against their crosstown rivals the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
