Why Lakers Fans Should Be Excited for This Year's Team (Despite Carr, Thiero Injuries)

It's Opening Night for the Lakers, who will be hosting the Warriors at Crypto.com Arena to kick things off. And it's a game they need to win, not just to get things off to a good start, but to take advantage of a shorthanded Warriors squad. 

But beyond that, it's the start of what truly feels like the beginning of the Luka Dončić Era, not the Luka and Era. This is his team, assembled to leverage his skills and preferences. It does, as JJ Redick has liked to say, feel more coherent than squads they've had in the last few seasons, and it certainly feels like something more permanent. It's the start of something with this roster, rather than a feeling of playing out the string. Where it goes, nobody knows, but there are lots of reasons to be excited. 

It starts with Luka, and moves to Austin Reaves, who had a really good preseason after signing his huge offseason deal. Walker Kessler gives the Lakers real rim protection they've lacked since Anthony Davis, and guys like Sandro Mamukelashvili have quickly become fan favorites. Without trying to be homers, we do feel like the team is being undersold. 

So how many wins? Any big surprises? We discuss. 

Plus, some news that does put a bit of a damper on the start of the year. While Collin Sexton is questionable to play and has been trending in that direction, Adou Thiero is out with swelling in his surgically repaired knee, and Cam Carr won't play either, thanks to an oblique injury. 

So while the Lakers can certainly get buy without them -- only Thiero was really projected to play much early, and even that is with the understanding that the minutes might not be heavy -- Lakers fans will be disappointed, and remain quite conscious of how much trouble the team has had keeping young players on the floor. 

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky 

SEGMENT 1: Why it's ok to be bullish. 

SEGMENT 2: Predictions? Surprises? 

SEGMENT 3: Health alerts! Thiero and Carr out, Sexton questionable. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images

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