When it comes to winning streaks, no team in the NBA knows better than Golden State, which opened the season by winning each of its first 24 games.
So while the Lakers’ back-to-back-to-back wins may pale in comparison to what the defending champs have done, the purple and gold are still feeling good about their unblemished 2016 heading into Tuesday’s meeting with the Warriors.
“Our guys are playing with a lot of confidence, sharing the ball, playing together, competing,” head coach Byron Scott said at practice Monday. “That’s really part of the process that we’ve been talking about.”
The Warriors have kept rolling since losing their first game on Dec. 12, as they currently sit at 31-2 behind the play of Stephen Curry (29.7 ppg), who is the early favorite to repeat as MVP.
“Who doesn’t want to beat the best?” Larry Nance Jr. said. “Who doesn’t want to play the best and play your best against the best? No motivation needed when you’re talking about the Golden State Warriors.”
Kobe Bryant (sore right shoulder) and D’Angelo Russell (sore throat) are listed as questionable for Tuesday’s contest. Both were suited up for the teams’ first meeting on Nov. 24 when the Warriors blew out Los Angeles, 111-77.
Nance had a simple response when asked what the team needs to do better this time around.
“Short answer: everything,” he said. “But mainly we just got to keep them out of transition, limit their 3-point attempts; really try to make them a halfcourt team.”
Praise for Nance After four years of college ball at Wyoming, not many expected Nance to be playing at the level he is right now.
The 23-year-old leads all rookies in field goal percentage (54.8) and is averaging 11.6 points and 10.4 rebounds in his last five games.
“I think if you were to redo the draft, he’d be a lottery pick,” Scott said. “Obviously we’ve got a steal at (pick) 27 with him.”
Nance appreciated the words, but countered that he’s happy where that late first-round selection landed him.
“That’s a heck of a compliment,” Nance said. “That’s a pretty cool thing to say. But at the same time, I don’t know if there’s a place I’d rather be than 27th to the L.A. Lakers.”
Randle Frustrated After playing only 15 minutes and 57 seconds off the bench in Tuesday’s 97-77 rout over Phoenix, Julius Randle expressed exasperation, which Scott noted.
“One thing about Julius that I do know is that he wants this bad,” Scott said. “He wants to perform. He wants to play well, and sometimes you want that too bad. You gotta relax and kind of let the game come to you.
“But again, he’s 21 years old. He’s young. He’s gonna go through these type of things, and as a coach I’m gonna let him go through it. I said my piece last night, and I’m gonna let him go through it.”
Scott pulled out his bench players when they allowed Phoenix to go on an 18-7 run to open the fourth quarter. The coach said that he “wasn’t disappointed” in Randle’s practice the next day, but said his attitude was “just OK.”
“(Randle) took it probably the worst, and he’s gonna have to learn from it,” Scott said. “He’s gotta grow up. It’s simple as that.”
Meantime, Randle — who missed all four of his shots but racked up a dozen rebounds in his limited playing time — plainly said that he was frustrated about playing so few minutes.
“Basketball’s an emotional sport,” Randle said. “I felt some type of way about it. Like I tell you guys all the time, it’s not in my control. Regardless if I feel frustrated, happy, whatever it may be.”
Scott said that Randle shouldn’t embrace being taken out of the game, but rather accept it he is subbed out.
“You can’t be frustrated all the time,” he said. “You can’t be happy all the time. Basketball is a game of ups and downs and emotions.”
