Both L.A. teams are filled with stars, but the talk of the first preseason matchup between the Lakers and Clippers was second-year guard Talen Horton-Tucker, writes Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. Horton-Tucker only got into six games for the Lakers last season, spending most of the year in the G League, but he erupted for 19 points and nine rebounds on Friday night.
The performance drew online raves from his teammates, with LeBron James tweeting, “Telling you right now! This kid is flat out SPECIAL! Mark my words.” An injury slowed Horton-Tucker during last year’s training camp, but he got to display his skills during the restart and is now aiming for a rotation role.
“He’s young, but he’s got all the tools,” said new Laker Wesley Matthews. “He’s a dog. He’s tough on the offensive end, the defensive end. He’s crafty. He’s got some stuff to him, and he’s only gonna get better. I mean obviously he’s learning from one of the best (James) to ever touch a basketball.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Montrezl Harrell said he felt “definitely weird emotions” playing against the Clippers after leaving the organization to sign with its cross-town rival, according to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. Harrell talked briefly with Reggie Jackson and Patrick Beverley during warm-ups before Friday’s game. “As far as seeing my old teammates and communicating with those guys, I did that after the game, for the most,” Harrell said. “Lou (Williams) and Pat, I kind of spoke to before the game just ‘cause I’ve been around those guys my whole career. But this is my job. This is where I’m at. … This wasn’t a come out, ‘Hey, how are you guys doing?’ and laughing it up. Nah, I had a job to do and I had a mindset of what I came here to do.”
- The Warriors are hoping Alen Smailagic can develop into the same type of player as Davis Bertans, writes Connor Letourneau of The San Francisco Chronicle. Golden State recognized that Smailagic would be a project when he was drafted in the second round last year, so he’s virtually guaranteed a roster spot this season, Letourneau adds. “I think there’s a lot there to work with, and he has a really good chance to be a really good player in the NBA,” Warriors two-way coach Seth Cooper said. “I’m glad that the organization is willing to see that through and hopefully reap the benefits from this investment down the line.”
- Kings coach Luke Walton hopes Marvin Bagley III and Hassan Whiteside will be ready for preseason action next week, tweets Jason Jones of The Athletic. Bagley missed workouts because of COVID-19, while Whiteside is dealing with a mild calf strain.
Isn’t it supposed to be quite rare for the onset of dementia to begin at age 36?
Almost 36
It’s just another bad day for harden(, no need to get philosophical.
I’m sure you’re quite younger, so with all your delusions of the Rockets, wouldn’t it be even more rare for you to have not onset, but at this point full blown Dementia?
Hope that hate helps you get to the draft night – rockets only highlight this season)
Imma laugh so hard when they trade Harden for PENNIES on the dollar. Remember this was the same guy who had a trade market for Westbrook and kept reiterating that he is worth THREE first round picks, that tells you everything you need to know about him.
Good ole Dionnis came back here after all.
No dementia. Just Lakers derangement from you.
THT will have a 10 yr career in the NBA when all is said and done
Longer than that. Dude can play on both ends, wouldn’t be surprised to see him starting next year. Kuzma is gone at the deadline for a role player or perhaps a late first. Tht has replaced kuzmas production
When Lebron gives his stamp-of-approval on a rookie/young player, then it’s all but guaranteed ……. said player will surely have a great career.
Just look at Shabazz Napier.
What’s your point?
Do you think players can’t get it wrong?
I remember 2/3 years ago Kevin Garnett said he had no a single doubt in the world that Thon Maker would be an NBA MVP one day…
How ’bout that?
At least what LBJ says seems a lil’ bit more reasonable, right?
Chill kid. If I say Lebron is the GOAT, would it take your pain away?
Everyone gets it wrong, especially the stars, who can never be competent GM’s or team owners.
Magic has a whole boat-load of horrible takes e.g. MCW, Jimmer, Brandon Knight for chrissakes.
MJ has shown he’s also a GOAT of horrible team owners.
There’s 3 horrible misses for every Tatum that Danny Ainge drafts. His overall draft hits are spotty at best.
KG should be shot for saying such a thing about Thon Maker …….. and he’s trying to buy the TWOLVES.
Or maybe Bron was just being nice to a teammate?
More like giving the kid some confidence.. but of course the lebron haters figure out a way to bash lebron for being a good teammate
The Dubs have an arrogance about Light Years that won’t let them admit when they are wrong. And they are probably wrong on Smiley, a choice that is based in front office nepotism. He’s lost, 90% of the time, when on an NBA court.
Dude, don’t you dare say anything bad about the DUBS, even if it’s deserved or not. Lots of devotees reside in these threads.
The DUBS lost a lot and tanked last season. To the eyes of said devotees, this was totally excusable and expected – not even acknowledging that they still had 1 or 2 all-stars at many games last season.
To the eyes of these devotees, the DUBS organization can do absolutely nothing wrong.
So just stop with your Smailagic blasphemy. He will be the next Splash Brother.
Yeah those fans have been “fans” ever since Curry got his first ring. Prior to that they were Kings fans while they were competitive and bailed on them as soon as they were not. Northern California is just completely fair weather. I lived there for 15 years and never met one Warriors fan. Now they all act like lifelong fans.
Jep, that’s correct.
Loyalty is important for a Fan. That’s my meaning
@chief So, you lived in Sacramento for 15 years and didn’t meet any Warriors fans. Who would have thunk?
I never said I lived in Sacramento. I was in the Bay Area.
@chief So, you lived in Dixon when the Kings had Weber. That’s why you never met any Warriors fans.
Same old sad comment by Chief but he is not a fact checker because the Warriors sold out their building even when their team was the worse in the NBA. He also lived in Kings territory not Warriors land. Its the same as living in Baltimore and saying there are no 76er fans when the Wizards are closer. SMH must be sad to have that much hate for a team.
The many Warriors games I went to in the early 2000’s had half of the arena empty unless the Lakers were in town. Nobody was showing up to see Baron Davis.
Not true. They were still averaging almost a sell out a game. 2007 they averaged over 18,000 a game. Obviously you are bias and only seeing Laker games. I went back in the early 2000 the stadium was always over 2/3 full with a last place team. I should know because we would buy the cheap seats and try to go down close like with MLB games and couldn’t. Only thing true is at Laker games more than half were Laker bandwagon fans living in the bay area.
You are high. Nobody was at any Warriors games between Run TMC and Linsanity. I’m not biased being a Laker fan, I saw many teams play including the Supersonics with Durrant. Tickets were cheap and plentiful because NOBODY WAS THERE AND THE WARRIORS SUCKED.
The Warriors have averaged over 14,000 a night since 1985, when they sucked.
Linsanity did not happen with warriors. He was Curry’s back up and their bench player before he became good so that shows how little you know. According to facts the warriors averaged over 18,000 a agame at that time for a arena that seated less than 20,000
When Baron Davis was a Warrior, they averaging 18,000 a night in an arena that holds 18,000. Your claim of a half empty arena is bogus. What is your next lie?
I went to a Warriors Clippers game and this Warriors fan cut a truly disgusting toot and tried to blame it on this 10 yr old Clippers fan. Absolutely despicable no one in the section bought it and he left early. The kid meanwhile was embarrassed. Clippers ended up winning but there was little joy.
I would thumbs-up that post except that it includes unlikable emissions. Also, my experience is that Warrior home games have good lands-end atmospheres. There’s just a lot of Norcal-folk into other things, not a bad thing.
I think it’s dangerous to generalize about an entire region of ppl. I’m telling you…they pass wind in nor cal too…and its not less disturbing than in Detroit where people eat skyline chili from a can
Y’all are arguing about fans farting?
??? Hey sherlock there is no fans at the arenas right now. I doubt you went to a game at the new stadium because they only played the clippers on opening night. That was a tough ticket and over priced. Do you think with a pack stadium anyone knew who farted? I doubt anyone cared about a fart unlike you. I rate your post as a complete LIE.
It OBVIOUSLY was not this season…and maybe that why they had to build a new venue because the old one was filled with stinky oakland gas
you mistaken it for staples center where you go and never see your car again. Top place to get car jacked in LA
Yeah and after a Warriors game you’ll need your car — to get away from the farts as fast as possible. P U!
@tonyinsingapore When has Kerr ever had an opinion about Light Years? I don’t think he has ever been asked about that. He is not a Physicist. So, how could he be arrogant about it.