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NBA

James, Westbrook and Davis ask for patience from LA Lakers fans

A week away from the season opener and the 'Big Three' know that there is still a lot of work to be done.

Update:
Acorde al reporte de Chris Haynes, James, Westbrook y Davis tuvieron una conversación telefónica durante el primer fin de semana de la NBA Summer League en la que expresaron su compromiso para que las cosas funcionen en Los Angeles durante la próxima temporada.
Adam Pantozzi

The Lakers are yet to get going in their preseason but there is reason for positivity

Lebron James and Russell Westbrook give their thoughts

After yet another loss in their preseason campaign - they are now 0-5 - the Los Angeles Lakers called for patience from fans as they try to fine tune their new 'Big Three. Speaking postgame having lost 111-99 to the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, the sentiment coming from their new trident of Russell Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis - who were on the court together for the first time - was positive while asking for the fans' support.

"It's going to take a minute for us to become the team that we know we are going to be capable of being," stated Lebron James, who who put up 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals along with 6 turnovers. "We're going to have moments where we're not quite right there. We may take steps backwards. But that's all part of ... I think nothing is worth having if it's not worth working for."

Russell Westbrook, who recently joined from the Washington Wizards was decent on the night but still short of the kind of performance that everyone knows he's capable of. "We had some good spurts," Westbrook said after finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 turnovers. "Obviously, it's the first game. But there are some good things we can take from it... we can be a little encouraged by it."

Lebron James talks leadership and patience

Lebron James is accustomed to winning but that doesn't mean he's lost his drive. Coming into the season James will be on the hunt for a fifth ring, however, his focus remains entirely on getting the full potential out of his teammates.

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"Me, as a leader, my job is for myself not to get frustrated," he said. "If I don't get frustrated, I think it will trickle down to everyone else. I've never been a person that's OK with not being excellent. But I understand things take time as well. As long as I keep the main thing the main thing, stay even keel throughout whatever is going on with our ball club, then we'll be fine."

Anthony Davis looks the part

Against Golden State, Davis most definitely looked the part. The big man led the Lakers with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting alongside 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Speaking on what the future holds for the new look Lakers he was more than encouraged by what he saw as he started along with James, Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Kent Bazemore.

"We saw some great things with me, Bron and Russ in action," Davis said. "There's endless possibilities, the things we can run and we can do. ... And even though there were good things, a lot of things that we can do better." Lebron James echoed his teammates' opinion saying, "It's going to take a minute for us to become the team that we know we are going be capable of being,"

What's ahead for the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers preseason comes to an end on Thursday when they go on the road to face the Sacramento Kings. They will then have a week to prepare before the regular season begins at home to Warriors - who they just lost to. They will assuredly be concerned with the work to be done as well as a number of injury concerns. At the moment they are without the services of Trevor Ariza (ankle surgery) who is expected to miss at least two months, Talen Horton-Tucker (thumb surgery), Kendrick Nunn (right ankle), Wayne Ellington (left hamstring) and last but not least Malik Monk (groin), who will be sidelined for at least another week."So, if these guys don't play, now how do we incorporate them?" Davis questioned.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel also weighed in on the situation saying, "It could take all year to really be at our best, and ideally, that's when we are at our best - going into the playoffs, but we have the mindset to hit the ground running and come out of the gates really strong with things clicking as best as we can. ... But it's reasonable to think that there's going to be some bumpy nights early in the season, but we had the expectation coming in two years ago and we jumped out of the gates pretty strong. So, that's what we're hoping for."