Last season, the Lakers often lost thanks to defensive breakdowns, turnovers, bad outside shooting, a lack of support from the role guys and horrible third quarters. Wednesday in the season opener against Golden State at Chase, they lost thanks to defensive breakdowns, bad outside shooting, a lack of support from the role guys and a horrible third quarter.

It was, to say the least, not a game that left Lakers fans feeling great about where this team can go.

To be fair, it was a strange and challenging night. The long delay to tipoff thanks to the ring ceremony had both teams playing in mud early. Golden State is, as the ring ceremony might suggest, really freaking good. They have continuity and depth that might even eclipse last year's group. They're dominant in that building. So no shame in losing... it just didn't feel very good.

So what was good? LeBron James, Anthony Davis and even Russell Westbrook put up numbers, and the early effort/results on defense were commendable. Davis carried through the great work he'd done in the preseason, which is a great sign.

But the overall result? The Lakers got some decent games from important players, but in terms of looking like a good team? Not there yet.

And with a brutal early season schedule to come, it means Thursday's home opener against the Clippers suddenly carries more weight. It's not a matter of "must win," because it's the second game of the season. Calm down. But "must look better?" That might be a thing.

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers lose big in ways that looked kinda familiar.

SEGMENT 2: What was good? (There were things.)

SEGMENT 3: Russell Westbrook says he his hamstring injury might have been caused at least in part by coming off the bench. Is that unreasonable?

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