I've come full circle with my Lakers. When 2K15 first dropped I used them but glitches kept me from finishing a season out with them. I tried using other teams, countless other teams, but I got bored or it was way too easy. This Lakers squad is terrible, I've seen them first hand as a fan the past two seasons. The lone bright spot is Julius Randle and a possible guaranteed top 3 pick in the 2015 NBA draft. This time around I won't do the exact same trades or moves that's been made in the NBA, gonna let this things play itself out.
The Good: James Harden. After being voted the best shooting guard in the NBA by his peers, James Harden showed why they voted him that against the Los Angeles Lakers. Harden led the way for the Rockets dropping 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assist in 37 minutes against the Laker son opening night. The Bearded One shot 9-of-18 from the field and 4-of-9 from three in the victory.
By The Bad: Jeremy Lin. Jeremy Lin's Laker career did not get off to a good start on opening night. Lin struggled to find his shot as he went 3-of-10 from the field including going 0-of-6 from behind the arc to score 6 points in his debut. Lin did have a team high 9 assist but the Lakers will need him to play the way he did back in New York if they want to make some noise this year.
X-Factor: Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard met his former team again and he dominated even through the boos all game long from the Laker crowd. Howard notched a double-double finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocked shots on 11-of-20 shooting in 33 minutes. Looks like Howard and Harden are ready to lead the Rockets to a championship run this season.
Rookie Watch: Julius Randle. The 7th overall pick in last June's draft made his NBA debut with a nice outing (outside of his bad shooting) in the losing effort to the Rockets. The former Kentucky Wildcat played 29 minutes off the bench and got his first career double-double scoring 11 points while pulling down 12 rebounds on 3-of-16 shooting from the field and and going 4-of-6 at the charity stripe.
The Good: Eric Bledsoe. After the Suns traded away Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas, Eric Bledose was given he keys to the franchise, and so far the Suns made the right choice. In 32 minutes of action, Bledsoe finished with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and a game high 11 assist in the win over the Lakers. Bledsoe shot the ball well going 8-of-17 from the floor and making four of his six three point attempts in the win.
By The Bad: Nick Young. The Lakers super 6th man laid a big old egg against the Suns. Swaggy P only scored 5 points in 25 minutes off the bench for the Lakers has his jumper was flat all night long. Young finished the night going 1-of-8 from the field in the loss.
X-Factor: Brandon Knight. Brandon Knight is the perfect fit next to Bledsoe due the fact he can play off th eball and his a good long range shooter. Knight poured in a game 25 points and 5 assist playing as the shooting guard next to Bledsoe. Knight finished 11-of-18 from the floor in the Suns season opening win.
Rookie Watch: Julius Randle. Julius Randle had a better game shooting the ball against the Suns then he had against the Rockets. Randle went 5-of-9 from the field to score 17 points with 7 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench for the Lakers. Randle has already stolen some 4th quarter minutes from veteran Carlos Boozer.