All that Jazz

The Los Angeles Lakers have soaked up the Hawaii sun for nearly a week. The Utah Jazz are only now putting on sunscreen.

Two NBA franchises had starkly different approaches leading into today’s preseason exhibition at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Lakers wanted training camp away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles so they could focus on melding aging superstar Kobe Bryant with up-and-coming playmakers Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.

The Jazz? Well, they’re already about as low key as it gets. Coming to Hawaii has the potential to add distractions, not eliminate them. They held their first practice in Honolulu on Saturday after a handful back in Salt Lake City earlier this week.

"I told them I’d rather go to some steel town in the Midwest to practice," Utah coach Quin Snyder said with a smile. "I want to have that grit. I mean, that’s the challenge, to be in an environment like this for us to kind of maintain focus."

Today’s sold-out 3 p.m. affair will be the first NBA preseason game in Hawaii since the Lakers played the Golden State Warriors eight years ago. The Lakers, who used to routinely camp in Honolulu every two or three years, are still firmly in "home team" territory. The teams meet again at the Sheriff on 6 p.m. Tuesday in another sold-out exhibition before playing out the rest of their preseason schedules on the mainland.

Bryant, 37, suffered a season-ending rotator cuff injury halfway through L.A.’s abysmal 21-61 season last year. The five-time champion and third-leading scorer in league history rehabbed all summer and is nearing full strength; he’s has been in and out of the Lakers’ scrimmages all week as he tests his shoulder and conditioning. But Bryant resolved to play Sunday for the local fans and to test his rhythm.

"I’m definitely playing," he said Saturday. "To come all the way out here, people come to the game and you got me sitting on the bench, that’s not cool."

The Jazz might not be as heralded as the third-leading scorer in NBA history, but they have considerable talent. Gordon Hayward tied for 16th in NBA scoring last season at 19.3 points per game.

"It’s good to be here in Hawaii. Great weather so far," Hayward said. "Looking forward to playing somebody else. We’ve been playing against ourselves the last couple days. Good to get the season going."

The Jazz were 38-44 last season but closed in exceptionally strong fashion. They were 17-33 at one point, then went 21-11 to nearly contend for a playoff berth in the stacked Western Conference.

Seven-foot-1 French center Rudy Gobert — the "Stifle Tower" — was a breakout defensive performer last season. Derrick Favors is a six-year veteran at power forward.

Like the "Black Mamba" Bryant, Utah shooting guard Alec Burks is just coming back from season-ending shoulder surgery.

"It’s Mamba. Everybody wants to play against the greats," Burks said. "My first game back too, so I’m ready to compete. I think everybody’s ready to compete."

Second-year Jazz point guard Dante Exum is out with an ACL injury, but Utah still has third-year point Trey Burke and other options.

Lakers coach Byron Scott has pulled no punches in taxing drills during camp and let his young playmakers push the pace. He said Saturday he still hadn’t made up his mind about a starting lineup, but added whoever he starts will likely play about 15 to 20 minutes. The reserves — the players he needs to see more to determine their roles this season — could see more time than the starters.

"I just want them to compete. That’s the biggest thing," Scott said of what he wants to see today. "Every game we want to compete and give ourselves an opportunity to win."

Utah’s Snyder wants to see if his team can build on its late-season camaraderie and defensive identity in an unusual setting.

"I want our team to embrace it, and understand through some of the, whether it’s chaos or enthusiasm, sunshine, whatever the case may be, that we … use it to get better," Snyder said. "A different type of challenge. Obviously the Lakers are a much-improved team."