Lakers Week 1 in review

The first week of the 2014-15 NBA season proved difficult for the Lakers.

In addition to a tough schedule, playing four games in five nights (more than any other team in the league), the Lakers lost rookie power forward Julius Randle to a broken leg in the opener on Tuesday. Randle will miss the remainder of the season, dashing some of the team’s hopes.

The Lakers lost at home to the Houston Rockets, 108-90, in a game highlighted by an on-court disagreement between Kobe Bryant and former Lakers center Dwight Howard. Howard later expressed frustration with “stupid” questions about Bryant.

Point guard Jeremy Lin struggled in his Lakers’ debut against the team that traded him during the offseason. The loss to the Rockets was difficult but the Randle injury was a significant blow in a year in which team was already expected to struggle to reach a top-eight seed in the Western Conference.

While Randle underwent surgery, the Lakers were beaten in Phoenix, 119-99. Two games and two blowout losses for the Lakers.

Once again, the Lakers were overwhelmed and Lin struggled to find a starring role. One player who stood out for the Lakers was forward/center Ed Davis, who led the team in shot-blocking and field-goal percentage.

Part of the problem for the Lakers is injuries, with players going down at an alarming pace and Randle and veteran Steve Nash out for the season. The Lakers are requesting a disabled player exception for Nash, and may also do so for Randle.

Ronnie Price, who injured his knee in the team’s final preseason game, was able to play through the team’s first two games -- limiting the team’s need to try rookie Jordan Clarkson at backup point guard.

The Lakers played their best game of the season on Friday night, but ultimately fell to the Clippers, 118-111. Los Angeles may still not be a Clippers town but there’s little doubt they have a better team than the Lakers.

Of course, once upon a time, the Clippers’ Chris Paul was a Laker -- before his trade to the team was nixed by then-Commissioner David Stern. Instead, the Lakers are looking at diminished expectations. Another big question is how much Bryant has left at the age of 36. Coach Byron Scott called Bryant the “last of a dying breed.”

If the Lakers play the way they did against the Clippers, they’ll likely get some wins, but the team finished the week with their fourth straight loss, falling to the Golden State Warriors, 127-104, in Oakland. Lin had his best game of week, giving a glimpse of how he might help the team this season.

Once again, the Lakers were competitive, but the Warriors survived a huge third quarter from Bryant to pull away in the fourth period.

Over the Lakers’ third and fourth games, center/forward Jordan Hill emerged as their second-best player.

The Lakers made Roscoe Smith, Keith Appling and Roscoe Brown affiliate players with the D-Fenders in the NBA Development League. The rookies were in training camp with the Lakers before being cut prior to the regular season.

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus