After an opening day loss at the hands of the LA Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers bounced back with an easy win. They defeated the Dallas Mavericks 138-115 in a crushing victory.

They breezed past the Mavericks without LeBron James and Anthony Davis having to work their socks off, like how it was last season.

Davis ended with 28 points from just 16 shots, while LeBron also chipped in with 22 points and 10 assists. But the highlight of their game was how the Lakers’ newcomers took control of the game.

Montrezl Harrell poured in 22 points from an outstanding 10-13 shooting performance. Dennis Schroder made a case for why he deserves to start as he scored 18 points shooting 7-11 from the field. The duo combined for 40 points and left teammate Davis impressed.

Harrell and Schroder: Bringing in the hustle

Despite being an undersized center at 6’7, Harrell’s hustle makes him a menace in the paint. He had a game-high 5 offensive rebounds, which is more than the Mavericks managed as a team.

His ability to box out and grab the ball is second to none. And not only does he recover the ball but also finishes it with his excellent post scoring. This helps him maintain his efficiency.

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Schroder is also proving to be a great pickup who is solid on both ends. He can occasionally create chances for his teammates, shoot, and is also adept at driving to the rim with his crafty finishing. He is also a scrappy defender who will not let his opponent take any easy shots.

So adding these two to the team is definitely going to make LeBron and AD’s job easier. They can relax in the regular season, while Harrell and Schroder cover for them. The only downside could be Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope having a decreased role.

Is this Lakers roster good enough to beat contenders?

The Lakers start slow, so it is not surprising they lost their first game against the Clippers. So the real test for them will be when they face the Clippers again, or the Nets. They are two of the best teams in the league, and to win the title, the Lakers need to find a way to beat them.

They have a deep rotation, with capable players and veterans. It will be put to the test when those big games arrive, and they will be ready for it.

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