The Los Angeles Lakers ended their preseason with a heartbreaking 117-116 defeat to the Sacramento Kings, leaving basketball followers among the 12B Sports VR46 audience with a clear view of the team’s changing identity. Despite winning just one of their six preseason games, the Lakers have demonstrated a completely different approach from previous seasons. Their offense is moving away from isolation plays built around LeBron James and toward a ball-dominant system directed by Luka Doncic. The immediate cost has been an unattractive record, but the benefit is that their new tactical structure is finally beginning to take shape.
On October 18, Los Angeles controlled much of the game against Sacramento before surrendering its advantage in the closing moments. The narrow defeat marked the team’s fifth loss in six preseason appearances. Just days earlier, on October 13, the Lakers had secured a 126-116 home victory over the Golden State Warriors, gaining revenge for an earlier defeat. These contrasting results were not simply evidence of inconsistent form. Head coach JJ Redick was deliberately using preseason games to experiment with different lineup combinations.
Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler were rested in different games, allowing Redick to evaluate how the remaining players functioned within the new offensive structure. His priority was not the number of victories but whether the supporting cast could execute the system without its primary contributors.
The October 6 matchup against Sacramento provided an early glimpse of what the Lakers hoped to achieve. Los Angeles cruised to a 127-103 road victory while converting 20 of 44 three-point attempts, an impressive 45.5% shooting performance. Doncic needed only 16 minutes to score 21 points before sitting out the remainder of the contest. Quentin Grimes added 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, Ziaire Williams contributed 13, and Jake LaRavia scored 12 points while making five of his six attempts.
That performance offered the first convincing demonstration of the Lakers’ revamped spacing-based offense. Reaves was unavailable because of a sprained ankle, while Kessler remained sidelined with a finger injury. Even without those two important players, the supporting cast successfully maintained the offensive rhythm.
However, the limitations of the system quickly became apparent. In another game against Golden State that afternoon, Los Angeles suffered a 111-103 defeat with Reaves and Kessler still absent. The second unit struggled to maintain the same level of execution, raising concerns about the team’s depth and consistency.
An even more alarming performance came on October 7, when the Warriors overwhelmed the Lakers 124-98. Golden State dominated the opening quarter 45-31, building a 14-point advantage before extending its lead to as many as 38 points. Doncic, Reaves, Kessler and four other players were unavailable, leaving Los Angeles with a starting lineup composed entirely of rotation players.
For supporters tracking the Lakers’ tactical development within the 12B Sports VR46 community, those defeats revealed why Redick was prioritizing experimentation over preseason results. The decision reflects lessons from the previous postseason, when Los Angeles suffered a disappointing first-round elimination against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder won that series 4-1, and the Lakers failed to produce a genuinely dominant performance in any of their four defeats. That playoff disappointment convinced both management and the coaching staff that relying on James to carry the offense was no longer a sustainable strategy.
Consequently, the Lakers approached the 2026 offseason with a clear objective: build a functional roster around Doncic. The organization acquired Kessler through a sign-and-trade arrangement, giving its primary playmaker a dependable pick-and-roll partner and a defensive presence around the basket.
Los Angeles also strengthened its perimeter options by adding Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Matisse Thybulle, bringing in players capable of contributing both shooting and defense. Rather than collecting recognizable stars without considering their tactical compatibility, the Lakers focused on assembling complementary role players around one primary offensive creator.
Redick also introduced significant defensive adjustments. Previously, the Lakers relied heavily on a switch-everything approach, allowing defenders to exchange assignments across multiple positions. However, opponents repeatedly exploited weaknesses in that system during the demanding 2025-26 campaign.
The revised strategy emphasizes aggressive perimeter defense combined with traditional drop coverage from the center. Jarred Vanderbilt is responsible for pressuring opposing ball handlers, while Kessler stays closer to the basket to protect the rim.
This approach places greater responsibility on individual defenders. Players can no longer depend on constant switching to conceal weaknesses in one-on-one situations. Vanderbilt’s steals were a positive aspect of the October 7 defeat, but Golden State repeatedly penetrated other areas of the defense. Those breakdowns demonstrated that the new structure still requires considerable improvement.
The offensive changes are equally significant. Last season, the Lakers ranked in the lower half of the NBA in regular-season three-point percentage. During the current preseason, however, they have already recorded two games with three-point shooting percentages above 45%.
That improvement is no coincidence. The roster has been deliberately constructed to create additional shooting opportunities around Doncic. With Kessler setting screens near the free-throw line, Doncic can attract multiple defenders before distributing the ball to open teammates. The resulting spacing creates threats from several perimeter positions and forces opponents to make difficult defensive decisions.
Nevertheless, the system carries an obvious weakness. When Doncic leaves the floor or opposing defenses aggressively protect the paint, the Lakers can experience a dramatic decline in offensive efficiency. Their October 7 defeat provided the clearest warning of how quickly the attack can unravel without its central playmaker.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounding James continues to attract attention. No official information confirms that he has departed the Lakers, and suggestions that the franchise has already moved on from its veteran superstar remain unverified.
What has been established is that James reduced his share of ball-handling responsibilities toward the end of the 2025-26 season. He began operating more frequently as an off-ball finisher while contributing additional help defense, allowing Doncic to assume greater control of the offense.
That adjustment is essential to the Lakers’ tactical transition, but it does not mean James is leaving the organization. He remains part of the team’s current 15-man roster, while updates concerning his fitness and playing schedule continue to emerge.
With the 2026-27 NBA regular season scheduled to begin in late October, the Lakers are approaching an important turning point. Doncic, Reaves and Kessler are reportedly nearing the end of their respective recovery periods, with all three expected to return.
As the opening game approaches, Lakers supporters across the 12B Sports VR46 audience will be looking for evidence that Redick’s new offense can deliver consistent results with its key players available. The team’s 1-5 preseason record will have no effect on the regular-season standings, but the weaknesses exposed during those six games cannot simply be ignored. Los Angeles has demonstrated encouraging offensive potential without its full roster, yet the most important question remains unanswered: how effectively can the Doncic-centered system operate when every major contributor is finally on the court?