Lebron James and Anthony Davis poured it in for the Los Angeles Lakers and give their team an opening night victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. The usual suspects showed up but the guy fans are extra impressed with was Rui Hachimura.
King James scored 16 points while AD was just outright dominant with 36 and 16. The Japanese forward finished as the second top scorer with 18 points.
Hachimura, who came to the Lakers last year, was visibly more aggressive in the game compared to the games from last season. How did it happen?
The 26-year-old forward said it was due to the advice by the coaches and who was guarding him. He specifically mentioned Julius Randle who joined the Wolves over the summer after getting traded for Karl Anthony Towns.
“For me, I was just trying to be more aggressive,” Hachimura said after the game.
“I think we talked about Julius Randle, he sometimes is just standing and stuff. So we talked about, we got to kind of use that. I know I can be the screener. I can be in the corner to kind of attack the rim. I think we did that.”
Rui Hachimura is Los Angeles Lakers’ unsung hero
Hachimura’s first season with the Lakers could use more improvement. Many criticize him for lacking aggressiveness on both ends of the floor.
He showed that what he is capable of in the Wolves win, including dunking on former Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
He credited his stellar play to their preparations during the offseason and plans laid out by new coach JJ Redick.
“I felt like all the practice I’ve done so far paid off, so I’m happy about that,” Hachimura told reporters after the game.
He feels great about himself to the point that he has a hard belief now that they can contend for the NBA title.
“I think we are a team that can win the championship this year, so I want to do my best to achieve that goal.”
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