Canadian Connection: Don't sleep on the Lakers Robert Sacre

posted by Romy Aquino

For the Los Angeles Lakers, no one's making more of Dwight Howard's preseason "general soreness" than North Vancouver's Robert Sacre.  The big man has been filling in at the centre spot for the Lakers and is trying to crack that last roster spot.  


He was he 60th pick... yes, the dead last pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but the Gonzaga product is making a name for himself in this year's NBA preseason.  Sacre has been getting minutes with Dwight Howard out, and  got the start for the Lakers in Wednesday night's matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.  

In one of the last preseason games for the Lakers, Sacre put up 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block in the loss.  Showing just another reason for the Lakers to keep him around.  The Canadian centre is doing his best to show that he can do the small things on the court: hustling on both ends and displaying that he can play a role with this team.

For Canadian basketball fans that didn't know, Sacre played for both the Canadian Junior National team and as well as the 2010 Senior Men's National team in the FIBA World Championships in Turkey, playing with the likes of Andy Rautins and Miami's Joel Anthony.

So if anyone can help Sacre crack the Lakers roster is his current teammate and general manager of Canada Basketball, Steve Nash.  The two BC boys already have their Canadian bond and have connected on the court including Wednesday night when Nash hooked up Sacre with a bounce pass   that had Sacre finish with a dunk.

For a guy who went into this preseason with one of the slimmest chances to crack the final Lakers roster, he is making the most out of his situation and Lakers head coach Mike Brown is paying attention.

Via the Toronto Sun 

"He's a big body and he just has to understand that he has to play hard because right now he's getting a ton of minutes," Brown said. "If he makes the team, he ain't getting these minutes. So he just has to let it all out. He's got to run hard, he's got to roll hard, and he's got to set solid screens, and then he's got to box out and rebound. His job is relatively simple. And he's doing a decent job with it. This is a big step for him to start for us in the pre-season and play against starters and stuff like that. But I give him credit. He'll be fine at the end of the day."

As a seven-foot centre, he's doing his best to show every aspect of his game....getting in the paint, rebounding, hustling on D, you name it.  He's even showing off his toughness.  On Wednesday night, Sacre got tangled up with the Clippers' Ryan Hollins and Sacre did not back down.
For a Lakers roster that has an incredible starting five but not the deepest bench....Sacre might be able to squeeze in that final roster spot.  Show'em what you got, Robert Sacre. (photo via NBA.com)

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