Lakers head coach Luke Walton didn’t wait long to shake up his starting lineup, replacing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with Josh Hart in just the second game of the preseason. The move paid off as the Lakers’ starters thoroughly outplayed their Denver counterparts during a first half that rocked Staples Center with pace and (sometimes over)passing.
Let’s take a closer look at why Walton may have made the move.
Hart’s ability to put pressure on the rim is important within the context of the new, 1-4 High sets that the Lakers are running.