Luke Walton posted a new blog entry over on NBA.com in which he discusses the wide range of emotions that went through high during his mini stint at the end of the Lakers bench at the start of the season.
“How does it feel to be playing again? Well, let’s just say the food tastes a little better, the weather is a little nicer and the L.A. freeway traffic isn’t so bad after all,” he writes.
“Are you kidding? I’m having a blast out there playing again. It’s why you dedicate the countless hours of practice, physical and mental preparation along with conditioning because you never know when you will receive the call to action.
“I was definitely surprised when Phil told me I was starting against the Suns last week. I didn’t even see it coming.”
He also discusses his relationship with Vladimir Radmanovic, who essentially traded places with him and now finds himself at the end of the bench.
“There isn’t any awkwardness between us,” Walton writes. “Vlade and I are very close. Who plays and doesn’t play is not our decision. When Vlade was playing instead of me, I wasn’t mad at him. We all want to play. If the coach is playing him, I’m on the bench cheering for him, hoping he’s making his shots, and excited for him when he’s plays a good game and vice versa.”
He also offers some thoughts on the Lakers upcoming Christmas Day game against the Celtics, and admits that the Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers are “playing better than us right now.”
“Even though we feel like we have the deepest and most talented team in the NBA, at 21-3, we’re not fooled by our record,” Walton writes. “We know Boston and Cleveland are playing better than us right now. We know that our defense has to get a lot better and a lot more consistent if we’re going to have an opportunity to reach the Finals and win it.
