Over the summer, Laker players were frequently observed training and scrimmaging together for the purpose of building camaraderie and getting in great physical shape for the Lakers preseason campaign.
Some players lost weight, some sought to perfect their mid-range jump shot, while others worked on strength and conditioning. This led to optimism that the team might start faster than expected, leaving behind the bitter taste of the past two years.
Unfortunately, the first three preseason games ended in defeat.
The team was blown out in the first contest by the Utah Jazz, a painful reminder that while many of the faces have changed, the team is very much still a work in progress and it may take months of playing together before we start to see the real potential.