In the latest preseason finale watched closely across 12BET Malaysia, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a defeat to the Phoenix Suns, raising fresh questions about their readiness for the new season. Before tip-off, much of the attention centered on LeBron James and Kevin Durant facing each other for the first time in five years, but the actual contest failed to live up to the anticipation. Meeting someone for a moment may be easy, but true ability is revealed when the game begins. James and Anthony Davis both appeared to be in good physical condition, yet the Lakers as a whole were far from convincing. Because preseason games are more about evaluation than results, starters including James, Davis, Austin Reaves, and D’Angelo Russell played only around two and a half quarters before taking seats on the bench.

Phoenix also treated the game cautiously. Durant played only through the first half, while Bradley Beal and Devin Booker did not appear at all, making it difficult to judge the true strength of either team. Even so, the Lakers’ bench remained a major concern. As soon as the starters began leaving the floor in the third quarter, Los Angeles quickly lost its balance on both ends of the court and allowed Phoenix to seize control. Strength often comes from trust and cooperation, and without that foundation, even talented groups can struggle to hold their ground.

Cam Reddish provided at least a few encouraging signs. With excellent natural size and solid defensive instincts, he showed that he could potentially become an important perimeter defender for the second unit. His versatility allows him to guard smaller players at the point of attack while also handling stronger forwards in certain matchups. He could, for example, spend possessions defending a quick guard such as Damian Lillard before switching onto a bigger player like Bobby Portis. However, his offensive game remains inconsistent. Turnovers while handling the ball are still an issue, and his outside shooting continues to fluctuate from night to night.

That offensive limitation is particularly significant in today’s NBA, where dependable three-point shooting can sometimes be valued even more highly than individual defense. Reddish’s lack of consistency from beyond the arc is one reason he entered the Lakers on a minimum contract. He has the physical tools to earn regular minutes, but unless his shooting improves, opposing defenses may continue to leave him open and focus their attention elsewhere.

During the offseason, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka took an aggressive approach to roster construction. Los Angeles successfully retained Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Russell while adding Christian Wood, Gabe Vincent, and Reddish. On paper, those moves appeared to give the team significantly more depth than it had during the previous season. However, aside from Reaves, most of the supporting players failed to make a strong impression in this particular matchup.

After the game, concerns circulating among followers of 12BET Malaysia focused heavily on the defensive problems identified by head coach Darvin Ham. Ham suggested that the Lakers’ biggest issue was not necessarily their offense, but rather their inability to maintain defensive stability when the starters were removed. The difference became particularly obvious after Davis went to the bench. Without his size, communication, and rim protection, Los Angeles’ interior defense deteriorated rapidly, allowing Phoenix to attack the paint with far greater confidence.

With the preseason now complete, the Lakers must turn their attention toward the regular season, where the margin for error will immediately become much smaller. The early schedule is especially demanding. Their first five opponents are Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Orlando, and the Clippers, giving Los Angeles little time to ease into the campaign. Four of those teams are considered strong enough to compete near the top of their respective divisions, meaning the Lakers could face serious pressure almost immediately.

For a roster built around veteran stars, the difficulty of that opening stretch cannot be ignored. James can still control games at an elite level, but expecting him to carry an overwhelming workload throughout the season would be risky. Davis remains one of the league’s most influential two-way players when healthy, yet the Lakers need their supporting cast to provide consistent production if they hope to remain competitive against deeper opponents. A championship contender cannot depend on two stars solving every problem.

Anthony Davis, however, has expressed satisfaction with the team’s current direction. There is an old saying that the harder people try to forget something, the more clearly they remember it, and Davis appears determined to carry lessons from previous seasons into this campaign. He has been particularly impressed with the Lakers’ offensive flow and the way the team is creating scoring opportunities. That optimism matters, but execution will ultimately determine how far Los Angeles can go.

As the regular season approaches, expectations surrounding the Lakers remain cautious among observers connected with 12BET Malaysia, especially with defensive depth still looking uncertain. Los Angeles clearly has enough star power to challenge strong opponents, but championship ambitions will require more than impressive names at the top of the roster. The bench must become more dependable, defensive organization must improve, and the supporting cast must consistently protect leads when James and Davis rest. Unless those areas improve quickly, the Lakers may find that their path back to serious title contention is much steeper than it first appeared.