Anonymous coach gives Lakers blueprint for success without LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers secured their first win of the season on Friday night, dismantling Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110. 
Before the start of the Lakers’ second regular-season game, though, Los Angeles received heavy criticism following their season-opening loss to the
Luka Doncic finished his 2025-26 season debut with 43 points, 11 rebounds, and assists, showing he’s capable of picking up the slack in LeBron James’ absence (sciatica in his right side). However, Los Angeles walked away with a 119-109 season-opening loss in the end.
A day after the defeat, an anonymous coach provided the Lakers with the blueprint for success with James currently sidelined.
"Luka is going to have to do what he did every night just to give them a chance,” the coach reportedly stated.
Doncic can rely on Austin Reaves to hold his weight offensively, as the Oklahoma product is averaging 25.5 points per game to start the year.
However, the same can’t be said about the rest of the Lakers crew, which is a bit concerning in the early going.
Rui Hachimura recorded 23 points against the Timberwolves after netting nine points against the Warriors, but can he be depended upon to look for his shot in the flow of the Lakers’ offense nightly?
Likewise, DeAndre Ayton improved his play in regular-season game No. 2, but will his low motor and tendency to shy away from physicality in the low post affect his production throughout the year?
Who knows, which is why the unknown coach felt comfortable stating that Doncic must perform at a superhuman level for Los Angeles to survive with James temporarily out of the fold.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Lakers perform during their upcoming stretch of games.
Steve Kerr Sends Blunt Message After Warriors’ Loss to Blazers
The Golden State Warriors couldn’t keep their early momentum rolling on Friday night, falling 139–119 to the
Coming off a thrilling overtime win over the Denver Nuggets the night before, Golden State looked drained. They committed 25 turnovers and struggled to handle Portland’s length and athleticism, never finding the rhythm that carried them through the first two games of the season.
Stephen Curry led all scorers with 35 points, six rebounds, and three assists, shooting 12-of-22 from the field and 7-of-14 from deep. But it wasn’t enough to overcome a night where nearly everything went wrong for the Warriors.
Stephen Curry tonight:
▫️35 PTS ▫️6 REB ▫️3 AST ▫️55 FG% ▫️7 3s (50%) ▫️1 STL ▫️2 BLK
Did all he could in the loss
Steve Kerr Doesn’t Sugarcoat It
After the game, Steve Kerr didn’t mince words when assessing his team’s performance.
“They just dominated us tonight,” Kerr said. “Took us out of everything. They were on fire. They deserved it.”
Kerr gave full credit to Portland, refusing to blame the loss on fatigue from the back-to-back.
“Tonight wasn’t about that,” he continued. “It was about Portland — their length, their athleticism, and their style of play. I’d be embarrassed to blame fatigue when a team just came out and took it to us.”
It was vintage Kerr honesty — direct, measured, and built on accountability. The message was clear: the Warriors were outplayed.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said “(The Trail Blazers) just dominated us tonight. Took us out of everything. They were on fire. … They were fantastic and they deserved it, obviously.” Discounted Golden State’s fatigue and credited Portland’s force and two-way play.
Warriors’ Night to Forget — But Not to Dwell On
Golden State’s issues went beyond tired legs. They struggled with Portland’s defensive pressure and spacing, particularly in transition. The Blazers’ youth and energy exposed the Warriors’ sloppy execution, forcing them into rushed passes and low-quality shots.
Still, it’s one loss in an 82-game season. The Warriors know perspective matters. At 2–1, they’ll use the next two days to reset before facing the Memphis Grizzlies.
Curry looked sharp, and
Looking Ahead for the Warriors
Getty De’Anthony Melton of the Golden State Warriors in action.
The Warriors are still shorthanded. De’Anthony Melton has yet to make his debut as he continues ACL rehab, while Seth Curry
Losses like Friday’s sting, but they also serve as reminders. For a veteran group that’s seen everything from championship highs to lottery lows, one blowout in October won’t shake belief.
The Trail Blazers may have handed them an early lesson — but for the Warriors, lessons like this are part of the climb back to where they belong.
