The Lakeshow Review

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  • Lakers Get Embarrassed by Suns, End Homestand on Sour Note

    A game like this was inevitable.

    After weeks of getting by on their talent and starpower, the Lakers found out the hard way that you can’t overlook your opponent nor play without the requisite intensity to consistently win at the NBA level. The Phoenix Suns thoroughly beat the Lakers by a final score of 125-108, with the Lakers putting forth the type of no-show performance they’d been teasing about for weeks prior. This time, they ran into a serious opponent and did not recalibrate their focus. A final outcome of this magnitude had been brewing for LA for quite some time, as they’ve been making a bad habit out of playing down to their competition. This was arguably the team’s worst performance of the season, considering that they were at home, in Crypto, and had their full compliment of rotations (excluding Marcus Smart who has been recently sitting out due to back spasms), while playing an opponent that ill good, still eminently beatable. This was certainly a game to forget.

    LA did manage to get out to a hot start, behind yet another brilliant 20-point quarter by Luka Dončić (who finished with 38 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and NINE turnovers). They took an early 15-9 lead and looked to be on their way to another solid outing. The Lakers’ effort however, was off from the get-go. Their lackluster transition defense allowed the Suns to get several easy baskets early on. The discrepancy was glaring, as the Suns produced 28 fast break points to the Lakers’ two. Unacceptable. While also very indicative of the type of effort laid forth by LA. You can’t get bamboozled in that fashion on the open court and expect to win the game.

    Despite Suns’ star Devin Booker (11 points) exiting the game early due to a groin injury, his costars were more than capable of carrying the scoring responsibilities. Dillon Brooks had a robust 33 points, on 15-26 shooting from the floor. While guard Collin Gillespie had a sterling 28 points (a career-high), on 8-14 shooting from deep, with 16 of those points coming in the fourth quarter as the Suns blew the game open. The Lakers did an incredibly poor job at running Gillespie off of the three-point line, often resulting in inadvertent fly-by closeouts that simply led to a more open look. The Suns also did a great job of moving Gillespie around off-ball, in order to keep the Lakers defense off balance. The Suns quite simply looked like the hungrier team, on both ends of the floor, and particularly in transition.

    The Suns, thanks to their hot three-point shooting, managed to push their lead to up to 21 points late in the third quarter, and they did not look back. Late in the fourth, LA pulled their starters and let their bench finish the game. But not before LeBron James stayed in to preserve his “Consecutive 10-point game streak”, shortly after which he exited the contest. That’s now 1,297 straight games that LeBron has scored at least 10 points in, as he finished the night with 10 points after connecting on a trey with a little under seven minutes to play in the fourth. All of which is utterly meaningless. The Lakers lost the game, and the fact that LeBron is trying to preserve a trivial record, amidst his team getting blown out, says a lot about his priorities at this stage. But this should come as no surprise.

    Phoenix outplayed the Lakers in every way, on both ends of the floor. The Suns outshot, out-assisted, out-hustled and out-performed the Lakers in virtually every statistical category. They took care of the basketball more efficiently, and dominated the points in the paint as well as the points in transition. It comes down to effort,. And LAs stars, namely Luka and Austin Reaves (16 points and five turnovers), failed to set the tone. LAs backcourt combined for an atrocious 14 turnover, in a performance that saw neither star bring forth the adequate intensity. Games like this are bound to happen. But the key separator between pretenders and contenders is the latter’s ability to minimize these types of games and flush them away. hopefully the Lakers can put these types of performances in the rearview mirror, as they keep progressing through the season. Tactically, the Lakers must figure out how to score effectively off of their ball screen action against heavy switching teams like the Suns (or the OKC Thunder for that matter). But philosophically the team must understand that they simply can’t expect to get by with this type of effort on a regular basis. They’ll get a chance to right some wrongs, as the team will head back out on the road starting Thursday against the Toronto Raptors. Let’s hope the short memory kicks in, and we can start seeing more of the team that’s held the second best record in the Western Conference through the young stages of the season Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Stay Hot With LeBron Out of Lineup, Beat Pelicans

    The Los Angeles Lakers resumed action last night, as they took on the New Orleans Pelicans in what was the first night of back-to-back contests for the Purple and Gold. LA sat out starting forward LeBron James as well as reserve guard Marcus Smart, while their opponent was also without some of their key players, namely Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. The Lakers, despite not playing their best game, managed to take care of business, beating the Pelicans by a final score of 133-121. The defense continues to show cracks, but the offense also keeps showing signs of promise. It continues to be somewhat of a mixed bag for the team, but they keep piling up the wins, which is the bigger goal at the moment. But as Coach JJ Redick aptly put it, there’s still room for improvement even after the team’s 15-4 start.

    The Lakers got their offense in gear early on, as Luka Dončić led the way with 20 first quarter points. The midrange jumper and stepback three were both in full bloom, as Luka gave the team yet another early offensive outburst. He finished the game with a game-high 34 points (on 9-22 shooting) to go with 12 rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block. LA also did a great job of creatively moving Deandre Ayton around in their elbows sets, in order to get him some early touches on the block. Ayton had six early points in the opening quarter, on 2-2 shooting. He finished with a stellar 22 points and 12 boards. His consistency has been an incredible addition to the team. The Lakers opened up a 46-27 after 12 minutes.

    The second quarter saw the Lakers get a bit sloppy with the basketball, committing four out their nine team turnovers in the quarter. New Orleans upped their intensity by aggressively attacking the Lakers off the dribble, as they got into the paint at will. The Pels also shot a scorching 57% from three for the quarter, and didn’t cool off much more for the rest of the game, shooting 50% for the contest. With that said, LA somehow managed to win the quarter, 31-30, thanks in large part to 13 points by Austin Reaves. AR finished the game with 33 points, five boards and eight assists, to go with a steal and a block. Another terrific performance by the Lakers guard, who continues to make a strong bid for the All Star Game. LA took a big 77-57 lead into the half.

    In the third, New Orleans continued pressing, with the Lakers seemingly coasting, as the Pels won the quarter 35-31. They kept the pressure on LAs perimeter defense, which continues to show weaknesses. The team gets broken down at the point of attack far too often, leading to poor backside rotations and closeouts to shooters. Second chance points also favoured the Pels this quarter. The Lakers also went on to lose the points in the paint battle, 62-46. Much of this can be attributed to poor effort. LA has a bad habit of playing down to their competition, assuming that the proverbial ‘switch’ can be turned on or off at their behest, which can be a dangerous game to play. Especially for a team that still has much to prove. Ideally, the intensity and effort level will start to uptick, particularly as we inch closer to the tail end of the season.

    New Orleans, by all accounts are not a great team, so the Lakers managed to put them away in the fourth, ultimately building a 20 point cushion in the final minutes. In a favorable turn of events, the team managed to rest some of their key starters including Luka (who played 35 minutes last night), in order to preserve their legs for the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. With that said, it’s important for the team to not learn all the wrong lessons after these types of games. The Lakers, for their part, played a great offensive game, shooting 48% from the field, as well as 37% from three. They’re relying heavily on the dual brilliance of Luka and AR, both whom have been terrific so far. They also recieved robust anicillary performances from Ayton and Rui Hachimura, the latter of who had 14 points, as a fourth option, and continues to show why his midrange mastery and deep corner threes are invaluable commodities to the Lakers offensive arsenal. Defensively though, there’s still much left to be desired, as rotations and lackluster effort continue to be an issue. Against the teams in the bottom brackets, these aren’t pressing issues. But against stiffer competition, it could be the difference between winning and losing. Of course, having Marcus Smart back in the lineup will help. But maybe the coaching staff should look to bring back Jarred Vanderbilt out of the doghouse, as his skillset could definitely provide the defense with a proper jolt. In any case, it’s starting to become clear that the team quite simply needs more defensive-minded players at the top of the rotation.

    LA will receive a slightly tougher test against the surprisingly competitive Phoenix Suns today. We’ll see if they’re able to get up for this game, or if they continue to surrender substantial advantages on the defensive end. The Lakers starters will be well-rested, after having a slightly reduced load Sunday night. Deandre Ayton exited the Pelicans game late, and will likely be a game time decision against Phoenix. In either case, the Lakers should look to finish their homestand with an exclamation point, before they hit the road again later in the week, where they’ll take on some of the Eastern Conference’s heavy hitters. Hopefully the team can keep the winning, and the momentum as they look to keep rolling. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Top Mavs, Stay Undefeated in Emirates Group Play

    After clinching their Emirates Cup group stage with a victory over the Clippers last Tuesday, the Lakers were back in action last Friday when they took on the Dallas Mavericks in Los Angeles. In their final group stage contest, the Lakers emerged victorious, following an uneven but promising 129-119 win over their Western Conference foe. LA was up and down throughout the game, but managed to turn on the jets towards the latter stages, eventually putting away the younger and more inexperienced Mavericks. With the win, the Lakers wind up undefeated in Emirates Cup group play, which is of lesser importance, but still substantial at least in the sense that the team seems to be building solid chemistry. While there’s still plenty of room for improvement, the team seems to be figuring things out on the offensive end.

    LA started the game with good energy, running their patent high pick-and-roll with Luka Dončić and getting great results. The team also got out and running early by aggressively attacking the passing lanes, while disrupting Dallas’ half-court actions. Dončić also showed some flashes as an off-ball scorer early on, as the Lakers ran a few intricate screening actions for him while LeBron initiated the play. Great to see LA start to diversify their offensive playbook more and more. The Mavs, for their part, managed to stay hot, and only trailed LA 28-22 after one quarter.

    The second quarter saw some of the Lakers’ lesser tendencies rear their ugly heads, as Dallas riled off a 40 point quarter, eventually taking a 62-60 lead after one half. Offensively, the Lakers remained sharp, managing to manipulate the defense with their crafty half-court sets. Defensively, however, the team continues to be plagued by lazy defensive rotations, as Dallas feasted on open three pointers in the first half of the game. Specifically, the backside defensive help was somewhat sloppy, as Dallas routinely broke down the first level of defense, only to quickly hit an open shooter once LA over-helped in the paint. Dallas hit 47% of their three-point looks in the first two quarters, led primarily by Klay Thompson and former Laker Max Christie. Most of these coming via haphazard defensive breakdowns.

    The Lakers’ porous defense carried over into the third quarter, which saw them give up another 32 points to the Mavs, who by the way are the worst offense in basketball thus far. Thankfully, the offense kicked it up a notch, as Luka Dončić activated his scoring prowess. Dallas opted to primarily hedge on Luka’s ball screens, to which he countered by splitting the trap and finding his way to the rim. Other times, he connected with Deandre Ayton on the short roll, who finished with a very solid 17 points and eight boards on 8-9 shooting from the court. Because Dallas was trapping Luka at the top of the key, Ayton found himself guarded by a smaller defender near the rim, and Luka smartly exploited the mismatch. In the fourth, Dallas once again reclaimed the lead momentarily. But a 13-1 Lakers push late in the game helped seal the affair, as LA ‘turned on’ the proverbial switch.

    This game showcased both good and bad elements. LAs offensive output was very balanced, with Austin Reaves leading the way with a stellar 38 points (leading all scorers) and eight boards, on 12-15 shooting and 6-8 from three. AR continues to make a strong bid for the All Star Game, and of course his eventual payday next summer. Luka was his MVP self with 35 points, five boards and 11 assists. And Rui Hachimura played a robust complimentary game with 14 points on 4-8 shooting from three. LeBron James chipped in with a useful 13 points, five boards and seven assists, on 13 shots. The bench, however, encountered another barren outing producing only 12 points. Defensively, the team can still do much better. They did hold prized Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg to just 13 points on 11 shots. But the team’s lackluster and chaotic defensive rotations keep hurting their defensive ceiling. As stated before, backside help, and scattered low man responsibilities continue to be an issue, as any breakdown of the first level of the defense usually leads to mass confusion on the interior. Off-ball defense is another area where the team struggled last night, often getting beat on backdoor cuts. Perhaps Marcus Smart sitting out (due to back spasms), and Jarred Vanderbilt’s recurring ‘dog house’ residency has stripped the team’s lineup of capable defensive minded players. In any case, LA must get whatever players are on the floor to commit to playing smart, tough and organized defense. On the positive side, the offense has seen a big resurgence. LA shot 51% (18-35) from three this game, as we are starting to see a positive reversion to the mean, following a slow start. Ball movement and offensive execution, particularly late in games, continues to be an area of strength. The team has shown they can tighten up when they need to. With this in mind, the next logical step is for the team to figure out how to sustain that level of execution, on both sides of the ball, for 48 minutes. They can get away with it against the Dallas Mavericks of the world, yet, against the elite teams in the NBA, it’s a different story.

    The Lakers will be back at Crypto Arena this Sunday, for the third game of their current four-game homestand when they take on the New Orleans Pelicans. At this point, we can’t expect perfection from a team that is still figuring things out, and is still getting guys back from injury. But it is important to keep finding ways to win. LA is currently riding a six-game win streak, and it’s imperative that they keep racking up the wins. This way they’re in good shape in the standings if and when they start putting things together, and at worst, they’ll have some headroom if and when they hit a rough patch. GO Lakers.

  • Lakers Roll Clippers, Clinch NBA Cup Group

    The Lakers made their way back to Los Angeles, to take on the dreaded crosstown rival Clippers. In a matchup chock full of starpower, it was Luka Dončić who rose above the crop with a dominating performance, one that saw the 26 year-old Slovenian drop 43 points, pull down nine boards and distribute 13 assists, en route to a 135-118 Lakers victory. The Lakers got off to a poor start defensively, but this was one of those rare games where the team put forth a full 48-minute effort in terms of hustle and intensity. They also produced a combined 99 points from Luka (43 points), Austin Reaves (31 points, nine rebounds) and LeBron James (25 points, six rebounds and six assists), all three of whom were able to successfully carry the offensive load throughout different portions of the game. The Lakers got a full team game last night, and these are the types of performances they should strive to produce more of.

    LA got off to a hot start offensively, as Luka Dončić poured in 24 first quarter points. Amazingly, the Lakers failed to take a lead following the opening quarter, as the Clippers, led by James Harden (29 points, five rebounds and nine assists) managed to give LAs defense all types of fits. The Lakers’ lax defensive rotations, combined with the Clippers’ relentless switch hunting (primarily with Harden on-ball), led to several defensive breakdowns. Despite Luka going off for five three-pointers in the initial 12 minutes, the Lakers still found themselves down 38-37.

    The Lakers managed to tighten things up in the second period, as both Austin Reaves and LeBron James went to work. AR continues to be a stud in high pick-and-roll scenarios, this time mostly with Jaxson Hayes and his lob partner, as regular starter Deandre Ayton sat out the game due to knee discomfort. The Clippers, however, managed to stay afloat, as Kawhi Leonard (19 points and five boards) displayed the midrange shot mastery that’s made him an elite scorer for the better part of his career. LA managed to take a 69-66 lead into the break.

    The second half saw things get even more competitive, as the Lakers opened a double-digit lead, spurred primarily by LeBron’s playmaking, as he seems to be finding a niche operating out of the post, often connecting with cutters on the weak side. We also saw LAs coaching staff implement some elbow pick-and-rolls, with LeBron as the initiator, something that’s been an LBJ staple since his second stint with the Cavs. These were able to generate some clean midrange looks, which James successfully converted. This was easily LeBron’s best game he’s played thus far, with one being able to make the case that he carried the offense in spurts, particularly when Luka sat. His playmaking was key in keeping the offense flowing during his shifts as the primary initiator.

    James Harden, however, was dialled-in offensively, and his one-on-one play kept the Clippers in the game. His step-back jumper is still a weapon, and the Lakers had no answers for the Clippers matchup hunting, often getting Harden attacking against a big, where he was able to break down the first level of the defense. The Clippers fought back to make it a one-point game late in the third, before Luka checked back in to provide an offensive lift, guiding LA to a 98-93 advantage before the final quarter. In the fourth, the Lakers seemed to have a bit more gas in the tank, as they kept running their offense, building another double-digits lead, this one they would not relinquish. Austin Reaves found some success as a spot-up man, particularly on the single side of Luka’s pick-and-rolls. LeBron also had a great night as a secondary distributor, often hitting AR or Rui Hachimura on crisp off-ball actions. Things got chippy late in the fourth, as Jaxson Hayes and Clippers’ guard Kris Dunn got into a “light scuffle”, after Hayes stepped in to stick up for Luka, which produced an ejection for Dunn. The game had been decided at that point, and the Lakers rode out the final minutes to a double-digit blowout.

    This game was the type of team effort that the Lakers should look to pattern. Even though the defense was suspect, at times, and the Lakers had no answers for Harden’s isolation play early on in the game, they still put forth the type of all-out hustle that is complementary to their starpower. LA won the rebounding battle (38-29) while also producing more team assists (29-24), fastbreak points (24-8), points in the paint (62-48) while also giving up less turnovers (11-16). Even though the Clippers threw some successful haymakers, LA eventually landed the knockout blow. The return of LeBron has also helped the offense, as opponents are weary of full-court pressing Luka, or Austin, as the LA usually has at least two elite playmakers on the floor at all times. The half-court offense has also seen an uptick, with more quality looks being consistently generated. Additionally, even with a depleted frontcourt, they still managed to swarm Clippers center Ivica Zubac, and showed impressive physicality with the players they had available. When the team plays with this type of tenacity and focus, they’re capable of beating most teams. Hopefully it continues. LA will now have two days off before they take the court against the Mavericks this Friday in LA. With the win, the Lakers have now also clinched their group stage in the Emirates Cup. But as things are shaping out, it’s important for the team to just keep winning, currently sitting at 13-4 and second place overall in the Western Conference. Hopefully, the team can finish their current homestand on a high note. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Survive Jazz to Improve to 12-4

    The Lakers were back on the hardwood last Sunday, as they took on the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, for the second time in a four day span. Although it was a similar outcome to last Tuesday’s contest, with LA prevailing 108-106, the game did uncover some shortcomings for the Purple and Gold, all of which they’ll have to shore up sooner rather than later, as they look to continue positioning themselves amongst the Western Conference’s top teams. With that said, the team was able to pick up the win, which is of most importance right now. But moving forward, the Lakers must tighten certain holes offensively and defensively if they’re to continue improving as a team.

    LA opened the contest playing somewhat careless basketball, which helped Utah build an early lead. Luka Dončić went to work soon after, leading a 10-0 charge which gave the team a 32-30 advantage after 12 minutes. Dončić finished with another stellar game, scoring 33 points (on 10-24 shooting) while also grabbing 11 boards and dishing out eight assists. He also had a pair of steals, while playing some good defense. The Lakers then continued adding to their lead, as they took a 62-55 into the halftime break.

    Unfortunately, LA lost center Deandre Ayton to a knee injury midway through the second period, after he played 13 minutes (scoring two points). Ayton has also been ruled out of Tuesday’s contest against the Clippers, which is not a great sign as he’s been playing tremendous basketball in the first weeks of the season. The Jazz swiftly went on a run to open the third, regaining a 72-68 lead, before the Lakers took a timeout. However, the Lakers’ starters, led by Luka, Austin Reaves (who finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds) and LeBron James (LeBron scored 17 points and dished eight assists), made a late push to reclaim an 84-81 lead heading into the final quarter.

    In the fourth, LA managed to build a healthy 11-point lead with about three minutes left in regulation, before things started to collapse. Utah mounted a furious rally, powered by forward Lauri Markkanen, who scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth. Shooting guard Keyonte Geaorge was also key, scoring a team-high 27 points for the Jazz, including some timely buckets in the fourth, to help narrow the deficit. After an ill-fated stepback three from LeBron, which rimmed off on a long rebound that was snatched by Utah leading to a wide-open Markkanen trey in transition, the Lakers saw themselves up just a point with 40 seconds left in regulation. On Utah’s following possession, Markkanen proceeded to miss a jumper at the nail, prompting Utah to foul, sending Luka to the line where he split his free throws. In the final possession of the game, LA held just a two-point lead, and were able to secure a stop for a 108-106 final score. They got the W, but they barely escaped.

    This game highlighted some glaring deficiencies for LA, on both ends of the floor. Defensively, they continue to fare poorly on switching, as their soft switching often leads to an open look from the ballhandler. They aren’t communicating, or swiftly executing their switching, which leads to many breakdowns. The half-court defense has also been an issue, as the team usually gets out-executed via backdoor cuts and off-ball movement for open sprints to the basket. The coaching staff has to institute better backside help rotations, on top of the fact that the perimeter defenders have to play with more awareness, and aggression, while also taking fewer gambles. Transition defense was also an issue late in the game, as the Lakers didn’t get back to cover the boundaries, which led to some open three pointers by the Jazz. Once a player is in front of the ball, the others should cover the wings. On the offensive side, the team cannot find a rhythm from beyond the arc, shooting just 26% (10-38) for the game. The team continues to hover around the bottom echelon in team three-point shooting, which is not a sustainable formula, given that they rely so heavily on Luka Dončić pick-and-roll. They simply must be able to make teams pay for putting two on the ball on Luka ball screens, and so far they’ve been unsuccessful at doing so. It should be noted that several players such as AR and Luka have shot well below their averages, so perhaps a positive regression to the mean is due. If not, LA should look to address their shooting woes in February.

    Despite the win, this was a lackluster and uninspiring effort by the Lakers. The Jazz aren’t a good team, and some would say they’re even trying to tank. The way LA almost gave the game away left a lot to be desired. They’ll have to shore up some of their deficiencies in the coming weeks, as they’ll be without Deandre Ayton for at least the next couple of games. Ayton has been one of the team’s cornerstones on their ball screen actions, given his ability to set a good screen and roll hard to the rim. Not to mention his deadly midrange shooting. Many of the player roles have also fluctuated recently due to LeBron’s return to the lineup. Primarily, Rui Hachimura, who started out the year at power forward, and has recently been moved to small forward. The Lakers must get their half-court offense organized, as well as shoring up their defensive rotations. They’ll be able to get to work starting on Tuesday, as they travel back home for a relatively lax four-game homestand that includes games versus the Clippers, Mavericks, Pelicans and Suns. All winnable games. The competition will start to pick up afterwards, as they’ll get back on the road for another six-game road trip. In the meantime, they’ll need to focus on tightening their loose screws, as they try to offset the absence of Deandre Ayton. Hopefully, they figure some things out. Go Lakers.

  • LeBron Returns to Lineup, As Luka Leads Lakers Past Jazz

    On most nights, this would just be your average mid-November game on a Tuesday night. For LA however, every game seems to carry a storyline. Last night, it was LeBron James, the NBAs all-time leading scorer, making his season debut for an unprecedented 23rd time. LeBron had been sidelined with sciatica since training camp, and missed the team’s initial 14 games. After ramping up basketball activities in the past few days, even being assigned to the Lakers’ G-League affiliate the D-Fenders, LeBron was ready to rejoin the team. In fact, the Lakers also welcomed back guard Gabe Vincent, who had been sitting out due to a left ankle sprain, as well as guard Marcus Smart back, who’d been nursing a right quad contusion, back to the lineup. Even though it was a shoddy performance, LA managed to topple their opponent, the Utah Jazz, by a score of 140-126. It was the team’s first game where they sported a clean injury list, and hopefully it’ll stay that way, as the Lakers truly need continuity and reps in order to build chemistry with their current roster. For this game, the team took care of its business, coming back home from their first road trip of the year, and now sit at 11-4 for the season.

    The Jazz came out white hot to start the game, as they opened up an early 16-6 lead on the Lakers. Early on, LA were plagued by terrible defensive execution. Namely, they had issues with their defensive switching, as their ‘soft’ switches often left the ballhandler open for a three. They often also failed to get behind the screener during switches, leaving the screener free to slip the pick and sprint into easy an look at the rim with no backside help. Jazz guard Keyonte George had it going early, as his 13 points shredded LAs defense, guiding Utah to a 36-27 advantage after the first quarter. George finished the game with 34 points and eight assists, as the he gave the Lakers guards, including Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart, fits all night.

    LA settled in during the second quarter, outscoring the Jazz 40-35 for the period, as the offense started to click with both Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić tallying 11 points apiece. Luka would go on to have another brilliant game, scoring 37 points to go with five boards, 100 assists and four steals. They eventually tied the game late in the first half, before Jazz power forward Lauri Markkanen converted on a four-point play to give Utah a four point lead, 71-67, lead before the half buzzer. Markkanen proved unstoppable for the game, scoring 31 points to go with five boards, as he routinely hurt LA primarily as a pop man on screening actions. The Lakers encountered all kinds of defensive outages this game, particularly with their switching as well as their defensive help responsibilities. They often left two on the ball, while letting the shooter roam free for an open shot. Or in other instances, they’d simply lose sight of their man, leaving open for a shot or a cut to the rim. Sloppy offensive execution also gave way to many transition opportunities for the Jazz. These all come down to effort and communication, and the Lakers certainly seem to play down to their competition far too often. Last night, it was obvious that the team took its foot off the gas against a lesser opponent. Thankfully, they never really allowed the game to get too far out of hand.

    The Lakers managed to tighten things up to start the second half, as they won the third period 37-22. Their execution looked much crisper, with LeBron James leading the charge. LeBron deserves some credit, as he managed to keep the flow of the offense without taking anything off the table in his first game back in action. His 11 points and 12 assists were complementary of the team, with his playmaking in particular helping to organize things offensively in the second half. He was very effective operating out of the post, as well as being a facilitator in transition, helping LA win the fastbreak points battle 15-11. Both LeBron and Austin Reaves showed great chemistry, going back to their level of play last season pre-Luka trade. AR finished with 26 points and four rebounds. The Lakers still committed some mistakes defensively, but their offensive execution greatly picked up in the second half.

    They’d go on to close out Utah in the fourth, wining the quarter 36-33. LA sat their starters around the two minute mark, as the contest had already been decided. The game went about as you’d have expected it to go, with the Lakers getting off to a sluggish start, as they welcomed three players (James, Smart and Vincent) back to the rotation. They managed to tighten some screws in the second half, where they asserted their dominance and cruised to what looked like am easy win. It also doesn’t hurt that Utah is terrible, and will likely be tanking at some point in this season, but right now the Lakers just need to a.) win games and b.) stay healthy. They’ve been doing the former, and are starting to do the latter. After that, they definitely need to polish some things, particularly on the defensive end. Their switching and rotations need work, as they’re often caught doing a lazy switch with no backside help. They should also look to solidify the low man’s responsibilities on ball screen actions and drives to the rim, as there seems to be confusion on their part regarding it. On the bright the side, they’re winning games, while still figuring out their identity, which speaks to a team that has the raw talent to compete. Now it comes down to ironing things out. Fortunately, the team will have four days off before they travel to Utah to take on the Jazz once again, this time in Salt Lake City. After that they’ll go back to LA for a four-game homestand, and it’s imperative that they keep playing with the necessary effort and tenacity to maintain their place in the current standings, where they sit at fourth place in the Western Conference. With LeBron back in the fold, and a relatively healthy squad, now’s the right time to make a bigger push in the standings and try to reach that next gear. Go Lakers.

  • Evaluating the Lakers’ Needs After a 10-4 Start

    The Los Angeles Lakers are 10-4 through their first 14 games of the season. Following an opening night clunker against the Golden State Warriors, the team managed to find its footing and settle into a consistent groove. The Lakers haven’t lost consecutive games so far in the young season, which is not too shabby considering many of the media’s experts prognosticated their ceiling as that of a play-in squad. They currently sit as a top four seed in a jam-packed Western Conference, which is promising seeing as how the team has yet to play their best basketball, in my opinion. While we can certainly look at the Lakers’ output thus far and be reasonably optimistic, there is still plenty of room for improvement. With that said, it’s not a stretch to surmise that this team could be a move or two away from being a legit championship contender.

    To start with, it’s clear that the team needs an upgrade at backup center. Jaxson Hayes is a nice player. And for as much hustle as he plays with, he simply isn’t the ideal big man to supplant Deandre Ayton, who at 16 points and 8 boards per game, has played great for LA. However, the ideal foil for Ayton would be a center that’s a bruising and physical presence on the interior. Someone like Steven Adams, or a Nikola Vučević. Jaxson lacks the physicality and rebounding prowess to complement a center like Ayton. It’ll be interesting to see which names become available as the season rolls along, but such acquisitions for backup bigs are usually done via the waiver wire. Which is why it’s important for the Lakers to retain an open roster spot post-trade deadline, which will allow them the flexibility to execute these types of moves. While Hayes has been a great pickup and is playing quality basketball, the center position remains an area that the Lakers can improve on.

    Offensively, outside shooting remains an area that leaves some to be desired. The team currently ranks 25th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage, and 29th in three-point field-goals made. They’re simply not producing the requisite floor spacing to consistently be a top flight offense in the modern game. Marcus Smart is currently shooting 23% from deep. Jake LaRavia is at 33%. Dalton Knecht? 32%. Jarred Vanderbilt? 29%. What about Gabe Vincent? 20%. The only player shooting the lights out from range currently is Rui Hachimura, who is converting at a blistering 50% shooting on four attempts a night. And as good of a shooter as Rui is, we can still expect those numbers to cool off slightly. Even Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić are shooting below the league average from beyond the arc this season. The Lakers rely heavily on those two’s offensive excellence, but they can still further optimize their offensive production with improved floor spacing. For instance, it would certainly dissuade teams from constantly blitzing Luka on the pick-and-roll, as they could swing the ball to an open shooter for a high percentage look. It would also help against the elite defensive teams like the OKC Thunder who like to pack the paint, with the Lakers unable to make them pay. Perhaps we can expect a positive reverting to the mean with the current players. Guys like Dalton Knecht, Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić and Gabe Vincent are all better three-point shooters than they’ve shown. But alas, the team should still be proactive as far as making the necessary upgrades should the right opportunities present themselves.

    Defensively, one glaring area that seems to rear its head frequently is the lack of athleticism on the perimeter. The Lakers’ defense, on a bad night, gets broken down at the point of attack by athletic wings far too often. Their best defensive weapon on the perimeter is Jarred Vanderbilt, but the main issue with Vando is that the coaching staff is starting to lose faith in him due to his offensive limitations. LA simply does not have the type of two-way players that can compliment their stars and be productive on both ends of the floor. Against the elite teams, this becomes glaringly obvious. The Lakers will have their hands full when looking to add these types of talents, given that they’re such rare commodities and are always in high demand. LA will have some ammunition for trades this season, with Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura ($18M expiring contract), Gabe Vincent ($11.5M expiring), and several draft picks being amongst their best bargaining chips. However, in the most optimal scenario, the Lakers should look to move LeBron James’ $56M expiring contract to bring back the requisite complimentary pieces to take this team to the next level. James, at 41, brings a somewhat redundant skillset to this team, a team that has proven it can win without him. He also happens to make the type of salary that can fetch the high-level talent that will compliment Luka Dončić and the rest of the core. It’s all a matter of finding the right destination for LeBron, given that he does possess a no-trade-clause, but if the stars align, then it’s worth the trouble.

    When looking at trade scenarios, it’s easy to throw in Rui Hachimura’s name into the mix. Seeing as how he’s playing on a reasonable expiring contract, and he’s insanely productive on the floor, which could make him a coveted piece. However, the Lakers should be wary of trading away a player the caliber of Rui because of what he brings to this team. He is the only knock-down shooter that is presently on the roster. This is something that has great value to a Luka Dončić-centric offense, given that any time Luka draws an extra defender, particularly if it’s Rui’s defender, that will yield a high-percentage shot for Rui every time. Help off of Rui in the corner? That’s almost an automatic three points. He’s the only player on the roster with that type of impact. Additionally, he also shoots the mid-range at a remarkably high level, which comes in handy as a high-level bailout option late in the shot clock. LAs offense can stagnate at times, and shot-makers like Rui are tend to show their worth in those moments. The only scenario in which you move Rui is if he can bring back a player of equal offensive value, that is also an upgrade defensively.

    Another area this team can improve, although it would be more of a luxury, would be in acquiring a pick-and-pop stretch big man. Perhaps Maxi Kleber can step into this role, if he manages to stay on the floor. With that said, a big man that can set a screen and then float out to the perimeter would do wonders in terms of floor spacing and forcing the defense to make concessions. The Lakers currently don’t run many pick-and-pop actions, and when they do it’s usually with guard to guard (for example Austin Reaves setting a screen for Luka, and then popping behind the arc). We’ve also seen them occasionally run Spain pick-and-roll with AR setting a back pick on the screener’s defender, then popping out in space. However, a big man that can be a threat to both roll and pop would help out tremendously, as it would make opposing defenses think twice before packing the paint on ball screens, thus forcing them to cover all areas of the floor.

    As this team currently stands, they can certainly compete. But are they amongst the upper level elite teams? Probably not. But they can get there with a couple of shrewd moves should the right avenues come their way. For the short-term, the Lakers can definitely keep stacking wins with the current group, and it’s important that they do so that when the trade deadline comes along, they’ll be incentivized to pull the trigger on a potential move. JJ Redick and his coaching staff have done a laudable job in pushing the right buttons and getting players to play motivated team basketball. Health permitting, they can certainly continue doing this for a couple more months, after which they’ll have the opportunity to assess their position and look for the necessary trades if need be. With that said, the organization certainly shouldn’t rush to make moves just for the sake of making moves. As much as they’re playing for the present, they’re also playing for the future. The last thing you’d want to see is the team make a trade that marginally moves the needle, while also financially handicapping them in future off-seasons. It’s got to be the right move, for the right price. Short of those two things, they’re actually better off standing pat. The organization’s patience has payed dividends as of late, and they should remain of that mindset. However, if the right move presents itself that would vault this roster into legitimate contention, then by all means jump all over it. In the meantime, hopefully the team can continue winning games and getting the most out of their current group. Go Lakers.

  • LA Cap Off Road Trip with W in Milwaukee

    The Lakers concluded their five-game road trip in Milwaukee with an exclamation point, as they convincingly defeated the Bucks by final score of 119-95. The team was coming off a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans where they played somewhat inconsistent. The put forth a much improved effort versus Milwaukee, which showcased the team’s full capacities on both the offensive and defensive ends. In doing so, LA concludes its first lengthy road trip of the season on a high note, and avoid the let-down of returning home on a dour disposition. Despite some ups and downs durig their road trip, the Lakers managed a 3-2 record, and now sit at 10-4 overall, which shows that they’re still finding ways to win even when they don’t play their best basketball. There’s still ample room for improvement however, even if the team can be proud of how they’ve played thus far.

    The Lakers raced out to an early 13-point lead, behind sound ball movement and execution on offense. The team employed the use of drag screens to get their offense going early, as Milwaukee opted to trap in the early stages of the game. Unlike the OKC game, Austin Reaves was ready to come off a pindown to demand the basketball, and relieve the pressure off of Luka. AR had it going early, and finished the game with a robust 25 points, six boards and eight assists. Dončić however was not to be outdone, and very quickly figured out Milwaukee’s defensive tactics. The Bucks guarded Luka’s ball screens at the level for most of the night, to which Luka countered by either splitting the screen, stepping back for a three (if the screen setter slipped the screen, leaving him one-on-one), or hitting the roll-man/screener once he was past his man. He did this to devastating effect, finishing the game with 41 points, nine rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocks. Luka scored 12 of those points in the opening quarter, as LA marched out to a 30-18 advantage after 12 minutes.

    They’d go on to open that lead even further during the following quarter, as the team established a 65-34 advantage by the half mark. LA held Milwaukee to just 10 of 41 from the field (24%) and 4-19 from three (19%), which marks easily the team’s best defensive half thus far. LAs effort on that end was tremendous, as they actively swarmed passing lanes, deployed crisp rotations and did a relatively sound job of staying in front of the basketball. Their shell defense also saw its best results. A tip of the cap must go to Deandre Ayton, whose 20 points and 10 rebounds marked his second consecutive double-double of the 20 and 10 variety. This game, he was once again able to be a force in the paint, consistently being the recipient of Austin Reaves or Luka Dončić feeds as a roller on screen-and-roll actions. His play was also key in keeping pace with Bucks star big man Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored a team-high 32 points and 10 boards. However, Ayton having the capacity to make him work on defense was key. Aside from Giannis, no other Buck truly killed LA, as Milwaukee was held to just 40% shooting as a team. Defense was certainly the Lakers’ high point in this contest.

    Unfortunately, the team endured yet another third quarter dry spell, as the Bucks awoke from their slumber to shoot 63% for the quarter, good for 38 points, to LAs 27. The Lakers once again took their foot off the gas pedal, allowing a 20-5 run by Milwaukee, as careless ballhandling (5 turnovers) and poor shot-selection gave the opposition some hope, when the game had been firmly in LAs grasp. At one point, the lead was trimmed all the way down to 14 points, before Luka gave the Lakers a swift eight points to push the lead up to 20 before the final quarter.

    LA clamped down during the fourth quarter, and were able to put the game away midway through the period, as their 27 points outpaced Milwaukee’s 23. The Lakers played a very complete game, shooting 49% from the field to go with 39% from beyond the arc. They also went 30-33 from the free-throw line, an area that’s been an issue in recent games. Their 47 rebounds, 23 assists, 13 steals and four blocks were impressive and indicative of a team determined to refrain from making the same mistakes that undermined them in recent performances. They can still push for a better sustained effort for 48 minutes, but this is certainly a step in the right direction. LA should get a boost once Rui Hachimura (calf tightness) and Marcus Smart (illness) presumably return to the lineup. LeBron James is also due for a return in the coming days, after missing all 14 games so far. Now they get to go back home, where they’ll take on the Utah Jazz this Tuesday, before travelling to Utah to take on the Jazz for a second time. After that they’ll enjoy a healthy four-game homestand, where they should look to make a push to improve their record and begin to claim their stronghold as one of the top seeds in the Western Conference. Despite the ups and downs so far, the team is 10-4 and still looking to get better. We’ve yet to see a stretch of dominant basketball with a healthy lineup intact. Fortunately, they’re still in good schedule to start ramping things up. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Bounce Back In New Orleans

    The Los Angeles Lakers resumed their five-game road trip last night in New Orleans as they took on the Pelicans. After being humbled against OKC a few nights ago, LA was looking to get themselves back on the winning track. Additionally, the game was their second contest in the Group B Emirates Cup stage. The team restored order, as they cruised to a 118-104 victory, while also improving to 2-0 in the group stages of the Emirates Cup (but who cares, all that’s important is the win). The Lakers did not play their best game, but did just enough to earn the victory. It’s clear that the team is not going through their best stretch at this moment, but right now, the goal is to rack up as many wins as possible, so when they peak later in the year, they aren’t playing behind the eight-ball.

    The Lakers built an early 21-11 lead in the first quarter, on the back of great offensive execution. The screen and roll looked a lot better this game, with Deandre Ayton setting quality screens and rolling purposefully to the basket. Ayton got some good work in this contest, scoring 20 points and nabbing 16 rebounds. Against New Orleans’ drop coverage, he was effective as an outlet man on the short roll. With that said, he can still use some improving as far as making quicker reads when catching the ball in the middle of the floor and hitting the open corner or slot man sooner. Ayton also continues to show great touch around the basket, as his soft hands allow him to finish consistently in a crowded paint, where he constantly jockeyed for position both offensively and defensively. The Lakers really need him to produce these types of games with more frequency. Thanks to solid ball movement and execution, LA got out to a a healthy 35-25 lead after 12 minutes.

    The team had much improved balance this game, as all starters scored in double figures, including Marcus Smart’s 13 points to go with five rebounds, five assists and two steals, as well as Rui Hachimura’s 14 points, on 2-5 shooting from beyond the arc. As LA got their starters rolling, they finished the first half up 65-52. The starters once again led another push to start the third quarter, upping LAs lead to 88-66 midway through the period. However, this is when the team got a little too comfortable and took their foot off of the accelerator. New Orleans chewed off LAs lead to start the fourth, getting to within 8 points following a quick 12-0 run, taking advantage of LAs sloppy execution and turnovers, when they weren’t settling for poor shots on the offensive end. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves were able to provide enough offense to push the lead back up to 15, and with LAs bench struggling (only 16 total bench points), they pretty much had to. Mercifully, LA didn’t look back after that and were able to deliver the win.

    Following their beatdown at the hands of OKC, this was a much needed win for the Lakers. However, it does feel eerily similar to their win against the Hornets, where they played inconsistently, and then proceeded to get thrashed by the Thunder some nights later. If LA loses its focus, we could certainly see a repeat performance against the Milwaukee Bucks (on the second night of a back-to-back). With that said, we did see some encouraging signs from Austin Reaves, who after a poor showing managed to bounce back with 31 points, four boards and seven assists. It was good to see AR activate his scoring once the Pelicans started trapping and blitzing Luka on ball screens. AR did a fantastic job of getting to his spots, whether in the paint or on the midrange, and the Lakers overall did a much better job of attacking their opponent in space, as their off-ball movement produced better looks at the basket. Luka meanwhile was his usual self, scoring 24 points, pulling down seven boards and dishing 12 assists. His scoring wasn’t up to his usual standard, but that wasn’t an issue as he focused more on his playmaking, where he constantly fed Deandre Ayton alley-oops when coming off a screen. Offense is not really an issue with this team, it’s more their commitment to defending at a high level, particularly against the better teams, against whom they tend to fall behind early. We’ll see how the team chooses to respond, as they’ll have their work cut out for them when they turn around to face a quality Bucks squad on the second night of a back-to-back. This team has shown that they can compete with anyone, even going back to last season. But it all depends on what version of the team decides to show up. Hopefully they’ll have enough competitive juice left to push for a strong finish to their road trip this Saturday. Go Lakers.

  • Thunder Blow Out Lakers In First Big Test Of Season

    The Lakers travelled to Oklahoma City to take on the defending champion Thunder in the third game of the team’s five-game road trip. Instead of putting forth a performance that would inspire confidence moving forward, LA proceeded to lay an egg. Or perhaps OKC was just that much better, as they thoroughly beat the Lakers 121-92. The Lakers were outplayed at every facet, as OKC led wire-to-wire for 48 minutes and clearly looked like a team that is a full gear above everyone else, including the Lakers. LA will now look to rebound and finish the road trip on a high note, but for now it appears as though the team lacks the horses to hang with the defending champs.

    The Thunder started the first quarter in dominant fashion, as LAs sloppy execution led to an array of early turnovers which OKC took full advantage of. In fact, LA turned the ball over 20 times, to the Thunder’s 11. It’s virtually impossible to compete with the Thunder while playing this way, because they diligently take care of the basketball. And their swarming defense will constantly turn opponents over, giving them an edge with more offensive possession, where they are extremely effective operating within the half-court. The Lakers only managed 18 first half points, as the Thunder’s defense stiffled their half-court offense, forcing them to initiate far off the three-point line. OKC also opted to blitz Luka Dončić (who only managed 19 points on 7-20 shooting) on ball screens early on, to which the Lakers had very little counters. This is where they need to find a way to get Austin Reaves going offensively in order to ease the scoring burden on Luka, similar to Kyrie Irving’s role on the 2024 Mavericks. Unfortunately AR had a rough night too, scoring just 13 pints on 4-12 shooting. LA trailed 30-18 after 12 minutes, and it looked as though it was going to be one of those nights.

    OKCs defense kept swarming in the second quarter. They did a great job of jamming passing lanes and creating havoc on LAs high pick-and-roll actions. The turnovers continued to flow for the Lakers, as OKC grew their by a soul-crushing 32 points, as they led 70-38 after the break. The Lakers failed to get much of their trademark offensive staples off the ground, as they couldn’t establish their high pick-and-roll and generally failed to get to their spots offensively. Much of this of course thanks in large to OKCs elite defense. But the Lakers’ effort level was not there in this game, which is disappointing seeing as though it felt like a repeat of the Atlanta game. Not to mention, the Lakers beat OKC late last season after the Luka trade (and probably should have beat them twice). So seeing this level of disengagement from the the team was disheartening, or perhaps the Thunder simply beat them into submission, which is also possible since they are a great team.

    In any case, the Thunder kept rolling in the second half and did not let up. Midway through the fourth and down by about 30, Lakers Coach JJ Redick pulled the starters, officially making it extended garbage time. The Thunder were well on control of the game by this point and would go on to win by 29 points, in dominating fashion. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved yet again why he was both league and finals MVP last season, pouring in 30 points, five rebounds and nine assists, all while controlling the offensive pace for OKC. He clearly got the better of Luka last night, who played his worst game of the season thus far. OKC were clearly the better team, outshooting LA 50% to 40% from the floor. They also distributed the ball to much greater effect, tallying 28 team-assists to LAs 19. The Lakers’ ball movement was miffed all night, as they failed to create momentary advantages and get OKCs defense to scramble. It’s a great coup for the Thunder’s defense, as the Lakers came into the contest sporting the best field-goal percentage as a team so far in the NBA season. The Lakers settled for many bad shots, often jacking up threes late in the shot clock. Luka’s shot selection in particular left much to be desired. Surprisingly, the rebounding battle was a wash, at 42. But the discrepancy in turnovers, as well as points in the paint (48 by OKC to 30 from LA) put the Lakers at a handicap, and against great teams, that’s simply an impossible hill to climb.

    These games are part of the learning curve, as the Lakers still have much to learn. The defense has been starting to show cracks, so far in this road trip, as OKC fully exposed last night. But the team can hang their heads on a solid 8-4 start thus far, and hopefully they can finish the current road trip on a positive note. They need to get back to the level of execution that we saw early on, namely tighter half-court precision, taking care of the basketball, and more importantly sharing the basketball. They’ll get the chance to show that against the New Orleans Pelicans this Friday, after which they’ll travel to Milwaukee where they’ll take on the Bucks during the second night of a back-to-back. Hopefully the team will have the pride to prove how this game was an aberration, if not then this might be the start of a rough patch in the early goings of the season. We’ll see how they respond. Go Lakers.