The plan, at least how it was conceptualized, was for the Lakers to come to Phoenix on Thursday night and go through an exercise that mimicked a regular-season game.
They would prepare for the Suns by going through a scouting report and the kind of game-day routine theyll adopt for the season. They would extend starters minutes and try to mimic real game substitutions.
But even before JJ Redick became the Lakers coach, he knew plans sometimes arent worth the paper theyre written on.
You dont often get to live in an idealized world in this league and thats OK, Redick said before the Lakers fifth preseason game. You dont get to live out things exactly the way you want in this league very often, and thats fine.
Redick laid it all out. LeBron James, heading into Year 22, was going to get extra rest. Rui Hachimura, who felt a little tightness in his calf, was going to take the time to get right. Austin Reaves wasnt going to push his sore ankle too much. Gabe Vincent wasnt going to take any chances after missing almost all of last season because of a knee injury, and Max Christies minor hip soreness wasnt worth any extensive minutes.
The Lakers dress rehearsal, which ended with a 128-122 overtime win, was going to take a backseat to caution.
The team, Redick said, still was able to go through its normal pregame routine, even if Cam Reddish and Christie needed to move into the starting lineup in the absence of James and Hachimura. James also is expected to rest in thepreseason finale Friday at Golden State.
Anthony Davis likely wrapped up his preseason, playing 34 minutes while scoring 35 points. He started incredibly hot from three-point range, making four from deep in the first quarter.
He wasnt the only Laker to get hot from deep. Rookie Dalton Knecht had his best game of the preseason, scoring 25 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and overtime catching fire while the Lakers bench playfully fanned those flames.
After missing a game-winner against the Suns in Palm Desert earlier in the preseason, Knecht drilled a three over 7-foot-3 Bol Bol to force overtime, one of Knechts eight threes.
Devin Booker scored 22 for the Suns and Kevin Durant added 19.
In addition to the Lakers not getting the ideal rehearsal, the team also wont have its complete roster on opening night. Redick announced Jarred Vanderbilt wont be cleared to return despite his continuing recovery from offseason foot surgeries.
His rehab and return to play is going well and is progressing in a very positive direction. Its very likely that we wont have an update for you probably the next two weeks, so he will not be ready to start the regular season, Redick said. We are taking sort of a long-term approach. The coaching, medical staff, Jarred himself, were all on board. Its a long season, and we want to make sure hes right.
Because even as the preseason is about to end, Redick and the Lakers know they still have time.
