Gabe Vincent came in as one of the few changes that the Los Angeles Lakers have made this off-season. When the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, Gabe Vincent was anticipated to have a significant impact, but the reality was quite different.
The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference finals, and on the first night of the 2023–24 season, they were humiliated once more by their rivals. The Nuggets defeated the Lakers with a 12-point deficit with the final scoreboard of 119-107. Despite being a key player on the Miami Heat roster for a long time, Vincent could not serve the purple and gold in a similar manner.
Miami Heat’s dark magic will be studied. This not the same Gabe Vincent I was watching last playoffs, bro is a -18 rn
— ᴅ ʀ ᴇ ᴡ (@FeelLikeDrew) October 25, 2023
Fans believe that the “dark magic” he had on him during his time in the Heat while having eruptious performances in the playoffs last season has been exposed after his disappointing game with the Lakers. For the Lakers he came off the bench and scored just six points in 22 minutes. He shot 3-8 from the field and 0-4 from beyond the arc.
Such a stat line is not acceptable coming from him considering his tenure with the Miami Heat was far better, especially in the playoff games against the Celtics. The trio of Gabe Vincent (3-8), Austin Reaves (4-11), and D’Angelo Russell (4-12) were never able to sustain their momentum for a sustained period of time due to Denver’s perimeter strength and defensive pressure. The Lakers were absolutely helpless before the Nuggets.
Gabe Vincent believes the Lakers are yet to build proper chemistry
In his post-game interview, Gabe Vincent admitted that he is confident that his rapport with the Lakers will improve as they spend more time together. While dealing with a sore back, Gabe Vincent missed two preseason games. However, he told reporters on Saturday that he is in excellent health and is prepared to face Denver.
While Vincent was quite vocal about the phenomenal performance of the Denver Nuggets, he believes that more time with the team will result in better results.
The Lakers were down by 18 points early on, but they closed the gap to 63-54 at the half. In the third and fourth quarters, they went on a 13-0 run that got them within 87-84, but Aaron Gordon’s three-pointer ended the run. The Lakers could never close the gap after that. Conversely, Denver has brought back one of the best starting lineups in the NBA, ranking second in net rating only to Golden State’s from the previous season.
The team is attempting to counteract the natural forces that oppose teams fighting for a championship. The two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who recorded his first triple-double of the fresh season with 29 points, 11 assists, and 13 rebounds, took the lead as one might expect. Although it’s too early to judge Gabe’s potential with the Lakers, the fans will not overlook any mistakes.