The Lakeshow Review

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  • 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.

  • Lakers Rebound to Beat Hornets As AR Returns To Lineup

    The Lakers resumed their early-season road trip on Tuesday as they took on the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The team was riding fresh off the disappointment of having endured an embarrassing collapse two nights ago in Atlanta, and in this game, they made sure to get back on the right foot. LA also welcomed back Austin Reaves to the starting unit, as they prevailed 121-111 in a fun, yet often frustrating performance. But a win is a win, and now they get to go into Oklahoma City, their toughest test of the season thus far, with some measure of momentum.

    Early on in this game, it looked like it might have the potential to be a repeat of the Atlanta game. The young Hornets made sure to throw their best punch to start. Miles Bridges seemingly couldn’t miss, as he scored 16 first quarter points for Charlotte, going a perfect 6-6 from the floor, including 4-4 from deep. Bridges finished with a team-high 34 points, and showcased they type of athletic wing that routinely gives the Lakers fits. Charlotte’s youthful pace and energy had LAs defense scrambling during the early portions of the game, who were often late with their rotations and closeouts; which resulted in many great looks for the Hornets. Consequently, they drained eight of their 12 attempts from three, further building a 40-36 lead after 12 minutes. Thankfully, Luka Dončić provided the requisite early offense to keep the Lakers in the game, with 13 points in the opening quarter. The Hornets dictated the pace early on, looking to push the ball early in the shot clock in order to get LAs defense out of sorts, much like Atlanta did two nights ago.

    The Lakers’ ability to slow down the tempo would be a big key in this game. In the second quarter they managed to do just that. But they still found themselves trailing an energetic Hornets unit, that utilized their athleticism to swarm the Lakers defensively in the half-court, forcing them to play late into the shot clock. LA had defensive answers of their own, as the energy brought forth by guys like Marcus Smart, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia helped turn the game around. Smart played a great game, scoring 13 points, dishing six assists and collecting seven steals. He continues to do a bit of everything and provides just the right spark of toughness that the Lakers were lacking last season. Whether its diving for loose balls, aggressively playing the passing lanes, or simply being a third initiator on offense so Luka and AR can operate off-ball, Smart’s talents have been invaluable and will continue to be for LA going forward. As the Lakers managed to cool off the sizzling Hornets, they took a 65-65 into the break, after a last second drive by Austin Reaves. Reaves scored 11 of his 24 in the second period, as his presence certainly gave the team an offensive lift.

    LA opened the second half the same way the closed the first, as they further slowed down the tempo, and got into their half-court sets more comfortably. They made a conscious effort to attack the paint, where they set-up Deandre Ayton for some quality post-ups. Ayton finished with a decent 14 points and six boards for the night. Rui Hachimura also came alive in the third, scoring 13 of his 21 points on perfect 5-5 shooting. Rui’s offensive burst came at just the right moment, as the Hornets started doubling Luka as soon as he caught the ball, leaving Rui open to step into his shot. Rui is the Lakers’ best off-ball scorer, and continues to be a deadly catch-and-shoot option who makes defenses pay once they help off of him in the corners, or at the slot. His ability to drive and pull up from the midrange is also a key factor in late shot clock scenarios where the half-court offense has stiffled, where he continues to be a prime bail-out option. If the Lakers end up moving Rui (and his $18M expiring contract) it ought to be for an equally impactful piece, as he’s currently covering a lot of ground offensively and on most nights is the team’s third best scorer. However, it will be interesting to see if and how his role shifts once LeBron James returns to action.

    As LA started dictating things offensively and defensively, they built a healthy 98-76 lead heading into the fourth, a lead they’d hold onto despite a late push by the Hornets. It was somewhat disappointing to see the team allow Charlotte back into the game, as they managed to make it an eight point affair with a little over four minutes left. A drive by Luka, and a dagger three by Marcus Smart helped push the lead back into double digits, and the Lakers had the game by then. Not the finish you would have liked, but at least they pulled it off. It was a decent effort following a tough loss, but against the elite teams, the Lakers will have to do more. With that said, it was great to see Austin Reaves back in the lineup, after sitting out the last three games. Luka Dončić continues to make a strong MVP case, as he scored a game-high 38 points (on 14 of 28 from the field) to go with six rebounds and seven assists. The Lakers also did a good job of taking care of the basketball, only turning it over 11 times to the Hornets’ 25. LAs perimeter defense, led by Marcus Smart played a big role in that. The team also found their balance with Reaves back in action, as all five starters scored in double figures. Despite being outshot (52% to 50%) and outrebounded (37-36) by Charlotte, the Lakers managed to take control of the game thanks to their dominating run late in the first half, and early in the third quarter. As they navigate their current road trip, they’ll need more of that energy for 48 minutes, particularly against the stronger competition. That will be right up the corner when they take on OKC on Wednesday. While a good rebound performance, the Lakers will need to keep searching for that next gear as the competition keeps getting tighter. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Fall Short In Atlanta to Open Road Trip

    The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off a five-game road trip last night, starting in Atlanta where they took on the Hawks. In stark contrast to the last couple of games, the Lakers put forth a very pedestrian effort on both sides of the ball. They were also out-hustled and out-executed by a much more focused Hawks team, en route to a 122-102 defeat. This had the makings of a game were the Lakers were simply going through the motions, playing careless and lethargic basketball, to which the younger Hawks took full advantage. This could have been a winnable game for a team with LAs talent, but with the type of effort they laid out, it’s tough to beat any team in the NBA.

    The Hawks came out highly energized in the first quarter, opening a 31-20 lead at one point. Their ball movement was crisp, as was their outside shooting. LAs lazy help defense didn’t help matters, as Atlanta easily collapsed the Lakers’ defense with drive-and-kick actions that routinely left them scrambling with no low man responsibilities and poor outside rotations. Dalton Knecht often found himself in the crossfires as his help defensive instincts continue to disappoint, often getting backdoored and losing sight of his man. Despite a good offensive game (14 points on 11 shots), he will struggle to be a consistent rotational contributor if he can’t be a two-way presence. Despite LAs defensive woes, they were able to stay within distance thanks to another hot start by Luka Dončić, whose 12 first quarter points (on 3-7 shooting) helped make it a 37-29 deficit after 12 minutes.

    Unfortunately, the Hawks resumed their offensive barrage in the second quarter, as LAs lackluster transition defense, starting with their inability to stop the ball, allowed the Hawks an easy path to the paint on virtually every possession. They had been doing a relatively good job of this lately, with guys like Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt able to to pickup the ballhandler full-court. Last night, that effort simply wasn’t there. The Lakers’ help defense was also quite simply lazy, often getting caught ball-watching and leaving the corner open for a triple. The Hawks made 16 of their 39 shots from range, good for 41%, They also committed less turnovers; 11 to LAs 20. Overall, Atlanta produced a well-balanced attack, with all five starters clocking in at double figures in scoring, and getting another 46 points from their reserves. After two quarters, the Hawks led 68-54, and would go on to hold that lead.

    The third quarter would go on to see the Lakers further collapse, as Atlanta’s lead eventually ballooned to 30. This prompted Lakers Coach JJ Redick to call a timeout midway through the third period to sit his starters for the remainder of the contest. The end of the third and all of the fourth was essentially extended garbage time, as Atlanta had all but put the Lakers and the game away. Luka Dončić ended up playing just 27 minutes, and scoring all of his 22 points in the first half. Disappointing, considering that the team has been playing quality basketball as of late, all the while beating good opponents. This game, the team clearly didn’t show up, and proceeded to get embarrassed.

    This is the type of game that serves as a wake-up call for a team like the Lakers. They’re clearly a much better group than they showed, but if they play the way that they did last night, they’re prone to lose to anyone. You can’t take nights off in the NBA. Atlanta came into the game severely undermanned, as did the Lakers. Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Trae Young all sat for Atlanta. While for the Lakers, LeBron James continues to rehabilitate from sciatica, and Austin Reaves sat out his third straight contest due to groin soreness. The Lakers clearly overlooked the younger Hawks, and ended up paying for their complacency, as they were very obviously unprepared to match Atlanta’s urgency and effort. We’ve seen LA look much better both offensively and defensively, so it’s all a matter of regaining that tenacity and focus. The Lakers can’t continue to get picked apart this severely in the half-court, and their on-ball defense has to improve, as the Hawks got whatever they wanted with their ballhandlers. It all starts with stopping the ball, both in transition, and within the half-court. They’ll get a chance to bounce back against a young Charlotte Hornets team on Monday, and then on Wednesday they’ll face their first true gut-check game when they take on the defending champs Oklahoma City Thunder. It will be interesting to see if and how they rebound after this loss, as well as what type of adjustments they make defensively to mitigate breakdowns. It’ll say a lot about where this team is headed. Go Lakers.

  • Luka Outduels Wemby As Lakers Win Fifth Straight

    The Los Angeles Lakers returned home to face the 5-1 San Antonio Spurs, who were the second seed in the Western Conference coming into the matchup. It was a highly competitive game, with momentum constantly swinging both ways, but fortunately the Lakers were able to prevail by a final score of 118-116. The Spurs, led by center Victor Wembanyama, are projected to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference, and Wembanyama’s own stellar play has garnered him early MVP consideration. LA fell behind midway through the final period, but were able to rally back and eventually secure a late lead, one which they were able to hold on to. It was a sluggish game for both teams, but as they’ve been doing lately, the Lakers found a way to pull it off.

    The Spurs got off to an early 10-6 lead, but LA, thanks to their half-court pressure on offense, were able to keep pace with them. Luka Dončić led the way, as his 22 first half points helped LA stay afloat. The Lakers, and Head Coach JJ Redick, have been doing a great job lately of getting Luka going offensively early in games. They know they need his scoring, while other players find their rhythm. Last night, the Lakers ran Luka off a ton of off-ball screens, having him curl and catch the ball in motion. This allows Luka to operate on the pick-and-roll with a full head of steam, with the screen setter also rolling to the rim. From there, Dončić can drive, pull up, hit the roller or collapse the defense and create for an open teammate. This has proved to be an effective strategy in generating early offense, and if his defender keeps going over the screen, this play should be there for LA consistently. On-ball, Luka continues to thrive on high pick-and-rolls with either Jaxson Hayes, or Deandre Ayton. If the big manages to slip behind the defense, then it’s an easy dunk, and against the drop, Luka can comfortably pull up for the midrange. Thanks to their timely offensive execution, the Lakers were able to take a 60-59 lead into the half.

    The third quarter saw San Antonio regain the lead, thanks in large part to a barrage of three pointers and thanks in no small part to the referees. The Spurs shot 16 free throws in the third quarter, to LAs eight. The Spurs would go on to win the third quarter 37-28. The Lakers, however, made sure to start the fourth quarter hot. Eventually closing in on the Spurs’ lead, until a late triple by Luka with a little over two minutes gave them a lead. They would go on to get timely defensive stops, and big baskets by Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart helped LA sustain their lead. The Lakers seemingly had the game in the bag, up by two points with only seconds left. That was before Smart made a not-so-smart play, as he inbounded the ball with one foot still planted in front of the out-of-bounds line. As a result, San Antonio was allowed to inbound the ball on LAs side, and potentially tie or take the lead. Thankfully, neither took place, as forward Julian Champagnie was fouled after the inbound and would go on to miss both free throws. The Lakers averted what would have been a disastrous loss, however, the team deserves credit for fighting their way back versus a tough opponent. One whom they’ll be seeing more of throughout the season, and possibly in the playoffs.

    Luka Dončić was once again stellar, scoring 35 points on 9-27 shooting. He also went 13-17 from the free throw line. Despite a poor shooting night, Luka managed to have a positive impact, as he pulled down nine boards and dished 13 assists. He also collected five steals, as he continues to be both aggressive and alert on help defense, specifically in the passing lanes. The Lakers also continue to make good use of his gravity in order to create offense for his teammates. Deandre Ayton had another efficient night with 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Marcus Smart also contributed 17 points, five boards and five assists, in addition to his usual defensive impact. Save for the boneheaded play at the end, Smart continues to show why he was one of LAs best acquisitions last summer.

    Defensively, the Lakers did a fine job of containing Spurs superstar and MVP-hopeful Victor Wembanyama. Wemby finished with 19 points and eight rebounds on 5-14 shooting, before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. LA made a conscious effort to relentlessly front the post and make sure Wemby caught the ball as far away from the paint as possible. They made sure his shot diet consisted of mostly fadeaway jumpers or midrange looks. LA also constantly doubled Wemby as soon as he caught the ball, in order to make him a passer rather than a scorer, and forced a few turnovers this way. Despite the Spurs’ hot shooting, the Lakers’ rotations were generally on point, where I feel this was the best defensive game they’ve played so far this season.

    The Lakers played an impressive game, albeit an ugly one. But they found a way to win it at the end. Despite giving up considerable size to the Spurs’ frontcourt, LA won the rebounding battle 38-37. And despite it being a sluggish performance by both sides, the Lakers did manage to keep their turnovers relatively low, 14 to San Antonio’s 19. Even with the Spurs outshooting them from the floor, the Lakers still had more assists as a team, much of that thanks to Luka’s 13 dimes. Not the most efficient game played this year by either team, but LA found its way to a victory despite not playing their best. That’s always a good sign. Now, they’ll prepare for a five-game road trip where they’ll take on the Atlanta Hawks to kick things off. If the coaching staff keeps making the right tweaks, and the team can continue to bring this type of energy and effort, they’ll be in good shape. Until then, let’s hope they manage to get healthier and continue improving. Go Lakers.

  • Shorthanded Lakers Come Up Big In Portland, Win Fourth Straight

    The Lakers travelled to Portland to take on the Trailblazers, on the second night of a back-to-back. This was LAs second set of back-to-backs for the season, as well as their second time facing Portland on the second night of consecutive games. The Blazers defeated the Lakers last week, taking advantage of a resting Lakers squad. Last night, they had another opportunity, with LA opting to sit both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves (LeBron James has also been out due to sciatica). This time, however, the Lakers managed to get stellar performances from the rest of their rotation, doing enough to earn a hard fought win on the road, prevailing by a score of 123-115. It was a fantastic team effort, that showcased their grit and depth.

    The Lakers got off to a great start, building a 12-6 lead early in the first quarter. That was until Portland starting hitting their shots, and closing in on LAs early lead. The Blazers led 33-24 after one quarter, as they looked poised to put the Lakers away in the first half. LA, behind the Play of Deandre Ayton (29 points and 10 rebounds) managed to stay within striking distance, trailing by a point, 53-52, after a half of play. The Blazers, however, came out hot to start the second half. Led by guard Deni Avdija’s game-high 33 points, they went on a 9-2 run, pushing their lead to double digits.

    The Lakers played with great effort and hustle, as they kept grinding at Portland’s lead. Deandre Ayton’s individual play was a key factor, as his back-to-the-basket game was a consistent source of easy buckets for LA. Additionally, Rui Hachimura also played a great game, as his 28 points were second on the team to Ayton’s 29. Rui’s mid-range game was on full display, and his ability to consistently pull up from 15ft was huge, particularly late in the shot clock when the offense has stalled. With Ayton and Hachimura combining for 57 points, the Lakers were able to stay in the game, despite Portland’s hot shooting through three quarters.

    The Lakers regained the lead, 68-66, midway through the third period. Aside from the combined offensive burst of Ayton and Rui, LA also received great performances from Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia, whose relentless ball pressure on the defensive side helped LA regain the momentum. Smart finished with nine points, five assists and four steals; while not an impressive final stat line, his impact was greatly felt during the game. LaRavia also contributed 11 points and a team-high 6 assists, to go with three steals. Thanks to their defense, the Lakers led 90-86 at the end of three quarters.

    In the fourth, it was Nick Smith Jr., who was recalled from the D-Fenders (the Lakers’ G-League affiliate) providing the final touches, as his 25 points off the bench, with 10 of those coming in the fourth, helped build a 117-105 lead with over two minutes left in regulation. Eventually, that would be enough for the Lakers to secure the win. The Lakers played a great game on both sides of the floor, getting stellar contributions on both the offensive and defensive sides.

    It’s games like this that showcase the depth of the 2025-26 Lakers. Despite all three of their top players in Luka, LeBron and AR donning street clothes, the team showed the grit and resolve necessary to win these types of games. This game also highlights the impact provided by the new additions of Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton. Smart in particular, has shown the leadership, effort and professionalism which has transformed the Lakers perimeter defensive unit. Smart leads by example, as he is the one locking up his man, diving for loose balls and creating havoc in passing lanes. As he sets the defensive standard, others follow suit, and try to match it. LaRavia, to a lesser extent, has had a similar impact. The Lakers will need to sustain this type of mentality in order to compete against the better teams in the Western Conference. Speaking of which, the team will be returning home to face the San Antonio Spurs, who are led by early-MVP favorite Victor Wembanyama. It will be a tough contest, but hopefully these early season trials will have them battle-tested going in to Wednesday’s game. Go Lakers.