In San Antonio, Jeff McDonald wrote for the "first time in 25 years" the Spurs have a "legitimate chance of claiming the top prize in the 2023 draft." They "just have to ride out the 2022-23 season first." The team is armed with a "youthful roster" that features "only two players over the age of 30 and zero All-Stars." If "all goes well," they will "post a worse record than the 49 Spurs teams that came before" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/15).
NEW ENERGY: In California, Kyle Goon wrote the Lakers will open their regular-season schedule tonight "humbled and retooling after stumbling in their last campaign." There "isn’t room for nostalgia -- but how to start getting back toward the top." There is a "lot of new energy in El Segundo: a new coach, new schemes, several new (and younger) players." But a 1-5 preseason has not "exactly inspired the kind of confidence that accompanies a contender." The Lakers have "yet to show they’re demonstrably stronger while the Western Conference arguably got tougher," and there is a "sense that another shoe will eventually drop after the Lakers spent the summer shopping" G Russell Westbrook (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/17).
HEALTH CONSCIOUS: In California, Janis Carr wrote the Clippers, whom many have "tabbed as early favorites to contend for the NBA title this season," will try to "avoid a similar fate when they reached the 2021 Western Conference semifinals" when F Kawhi Leonard tore his ACL. Entering their fourth year with the Clippers, Leonard and F Paul George have "yet to fully show what they can do together over an entire season" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/17).
