Lakers' preseason gives fans an idea of life without Kobe Bryant

Lakers’ preseason gives fans an idea of life without Kobe Bryant

By Eric Pincus

Oct. 27, 2013 12:41 PM PT

Kobe Bryant is typically among the league leaders in scoring, but the Lakers will have to make do without him while he recovers from an Achilles’ heel injury.

The Lakers’ preseason numbers give an idea of what the team will look like while waiting for Bryant.

Pau Gasol was the team’s leading scorer through the exhibition season, averaging 13.7 points a night.

Four of Gasol’s teammates also tallied double figures. Nick Young scored 13.1, followed by Jordan Farmar (13.0), Xavier Henry (11.9) and Chris Kaman (11.2).

Kaman was the Lakers’ best rebounder at 7.8 a game, along with Gasol (6.3) and Jordan Hill (6.0). Rebounding, in general, may be a weakness for the Lakers this season.

Farmar was the team’s assist leader per game at 5.0 with Steve Blake a close second (4.6).

Steve Nash played just 18.4 minutes a night, averaging 4.0 points and 3.6 assists.

Gasol led the team with 1.29 blocks per game. Farmar had the most steals (2.25) and turnovers (3.0).

Kaman was the only player to shoot over 50% from the field at 51.1%, although both Farmar and rookie Elias Harris both shot an even 50%.

Henry was a camp surprise, shooting a team-high 54.5% from three-point range.

A big turnaround after Dwight Howard’s difficulties at the line last season, the Lakers bigs of Kaman and Gasol combined to shoot 35 of 38 from the free throw line, or 92.1%.

Jodie Meeks, Shawne Williams, Young, Henry, Blake and Hill were the only Lakers to play in all eight games.

Of the team’s 653 shot attempts, 31.4% were from three-point range (205 baskets). The Lakers’ shot just 33.2% from long range while their opponents shot 35.9% against them.

Coach Mike D’Antoni will settle on a rotation once games start Tuesday against the Clippers in the season opener at Staples Center.

The Lakers finished the preseason with a 4-4 record, an improvement over last year’s 0-8.