What Lakers need to address after the Warriors preseason game.

After reports of Byron Scott stating that he wanted the Lakers to attempt 10-15 3-pointers a game, one glaring issue came to mind, which is the Lakers ability to keep up with prolific scoring teams.

After watching the Lakers play against the Golden State Warriors one thing was certain, the Lakers are far from being a contender. The Warriors fired away against the Lakers, shooting 57.1% (12-21) from behind the arc, while the Lakers, who attempted only 11 3-pointers, shot an abysmal 9.1%. Although the Lakers had an overall poor shooting performance, a field-goal percentage of 43.8, it still should be noted that the Lakers will no doubt struggle against offensive power teams that shoot well behind the arc, for instance the Warriors, Rockets, Clippers, Spurs, Mavericks, and Suns. The aforementioned teams have a steady balance of shots behind the arc and inside the paint, but what those teams also have are guards who excel at penetrating the paint and play exceptional pick and roll offense. The Lakers unfortunately still struggle at defending the PG position and most concerning the pick and roll.

If the Lakers want any shot at competing against the loaded Western Conference then they must figure out a way to play like those teams, figuring out that perfect balance of shooting from the inside-out. However, the Lakers do not have much firepower from behind the arc. While Swaggy P is out. the Lakers must depend on Ellington, Lin, Nash, and Johnson to produce three's. In regards to penetration, Nash's health is always a concern, Lin struggles with finding the right person to pass to, Clarkson is still learning the ropes, and Kobe will ultimately have the biggest load to bear, which is the worst-case scenario for Bryant.

Another glaring issue that the Lakers must address immediately is their transitional defense. Under D'Antoni, the Lakers ignored the transitions, but with Scott running the team, one can only hope that the Lakers quickly address this issue, or it'll be another stressful season for Laker fans.

Laker fans should remain hopeful though. The Lakers did a great job on the offensive boards, out rebounding the Warriors 17 to 6 and also the Lakers committed fewer turnovers compared to the Warriors (10 vs 14). With a final box score of 120-105, the Lakers still have a lot to improve on, but it appears that the Lakers are moving toward the right direction. Solid performances from Ed Davis, Ronnie Price, and a late run by Julius Randle should keep Laker fans optimistic.