EL SEGUNDO — Other than “phenomenal,” the word “competition” might be Luke Walton’s favorite phrase to utter with the Los Angeles Lakers so far this season. The surprising Lakers’ start has cooled a bit recently, but the team’s new head coach has spoken at length all year about how the open competition for minutes and roles has made them better.
Spectrum SportsNet is in quite literally the opposite situation. The regional sports network is the only one carrying Lakers games, and that lack of competition could have allowed them to rest on their laurels.