The Lakeshow Review

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  • Lakers Take Down Heat to Earn Third Straight Win

    The Los Angeles Lakers returned to LA following a brief two-game road trip to take on the Miami Heat. LA has been playing good basketball as of late, and were able to sustain that level of quality versus the Heat, as they prevailed by a final score of 130-120. Both teams came into last night’s contest undermanned, with the Lakers’ LeBron James out with sciatica and Deandre Ayton also being ruled out at the last moment with back spasms. For the Heat, guards Tyler Herro, Terry Rozier and Norman Powell all sat due to injury. Miami are one of the hottest shooting teams in the NBA, and they also play at the fastest pace. They certainly gave the Lakers’ defense fits at times, but fortunately LA was able to tighten up in key moments, and do enough to pull out the win.

    The Lakers made sure to step on the gas pedal early on, as they started the game on an 8-0 run. Marcus Smart was a catalyst, as his defensive activity, particularly his playing of the passing lanes, helped generate early turnovers to get the Lakers running. The pick-and-roll continues to be a featured item in LAs arsenal, and they got good results with both Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić feeding Jaxson Hayes (who started at center in place of Ayton). Thanks in part to some hot shooting, the Lakers grabbed a 43-36 lead after the first quarter.

    Miami tightened things up to start the second quarter, as they decided to full-court press the Lakers on every inbounds play. This slowed down LAs offense, and prevented them from getting into their half-court sets early in the shot clock. For a while it proved effective, as Miami trimmed the Lakers’ lead. That was before Luka Dončić scored seven straight points, and helped push the lead back into double digits. Luka finished the game with 29 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals. His third triple-double as a Laker. He did shoot poorly from the floor, going just 9-22 and a paltry 1-11 from three. His playmaking, however, was great and helped get his teammates involved. As a result, the Lakers took 77-63 lead at half.

    Third quarter blues were once again an issue. as Miami’s relentless pace was able to generate easy looks at the rim, as they drove at will against the Lakers’ scrambling defense. The Heat were led by Jaime Jaquez Jr. who’s 31 points off the bench led all players. It seemed as though Miami’s furious pace would be able to get them the lead, as their constant cutting and off-ball movement gave LAs defense all sorts of trouble. But fortunately, the Lakers were able to slow the game down and play at their own pace. After getting outscored 35-25 in the third quarter, they were able to win the fourth quarter 28-22. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia were both instrumental to the team’s win. LaRavia scored 25 points, pulled down eight boards and dished three assists as a reserve. He also collected four steals. While Smart chipped in with 11 points, four assists and a pair of steals. Both players provide the energy and hustle that has given the Lakers an extra gear in these sorts of games. Their defensive intensity is crucial in pressuring the ball at the point of attack, generating turnovers and swinging the momentum back in LAs favor.

    LAs offense looked good last night. We saw some new wrinkles on their ball screen actions. They started incorporating empty-side pick-and-rolls on the wing. The empty corner makes it so that there’s no natural help defender in that area, which makes helping on the roll man that much more difficult. Jaxson Hayes was able to take full advantage, as he was able to get quite a few easy baskets this way. Austin reaves also continues to impress a playmaker, particularly as an initiator on screening actions. His 11 assists were a game-high, in addition to his 26 points and four assists. AR continues to show why he’s one of the better number two options in basketball, whose playmaking keeps the offense flowing when Dončić is either playing off-ball or on the bench.

    It was a very complete showing from LAs offense, which was their high point all night. They shot 50% from the field and 33% from three. They also dished 33 assists as a team, and turned the ball over just 12 times (to Miami’s 15). When the Lakers play this way, they certainly have the makngs of one of the better teams in the Western Conference. They still need work on the defensive side, however. Especially as far as their rotations and help defense at the basket, where Miami was able to take full advantage by winning the points in the paint battle 66-60. But moving forward, they are looking like a team that can compete against anyone, specifically when they are playing with the type of effort displayed last night. They’ll need to keep up that effort as they’ll swiftly travel to Portland to take on the Trailblazers, on the second night of a back-to-back. Games at Portland are always tough, but if the team keeps this tenacity and focus, a win is certainly within range. Until then, let’s hope they keep things rolling. Go Lakers.

  • Luka Returns to Lineup, Leads Lakers Past Grizzlies in Emirates Cup Opener

    The Lakers resumed action on Friday, as they travelled to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies in what was their second game of a brief two-game road trip. It was also the team’s first game of Emirates Cup action. The Lakers opened Group Stage play with a victory, prevailing 117-112. They were led by Luka Dončić, who made his way back to the lineup after missing the last three contests due to a leg contusion. The Lakers played a solid all-around game, as the offense continued to click in another efficient performance.

    LA couldn’t find their shot early, as Memphis raced to an early 5-0 lead, then 10-4. But eventually, the Lakers’ half-court offense settled in, and they started to take control of the game. They took a 31-27 lead after the opening quarter. But a lazy and sloppy effort in the second quarter saw them give up their lead, as the Grizzlies outscored them by 18 (42-24). The Lakers calmly reclaimed the lead early in the third quarter, only to lose it again shortly before the end of the quarter in a replay of the first half. The fourth quarter saw the team tighten up and secure a lead, which they were able to maintain the rest of the way. Playing in his third game of the season, Luka Dončić led the team with a game-high 44 points, on 14/27 from the floor, to go with 12 rebounds and six assists. He becomes the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to start the season with three consecutive 40 point games, surely a historic start for the Lakers superstar.

    LAs half-court offense, and their pick and roll continued to make great progress. Marcus Smart’s return to the lineup was also a factor, as his playmaking gives the team a third ballhandler capable of initiating actions both in transition and in the half-court. His 12 points and four assists were a healthy stimulus for the offense, which didn’t fall apart when Austin Reaves or Luka weren’t on the ball. Deandre Ayton continues to thrive as a pick-setter and roll man, as he had good moments scoring the ball on ball screen actions. Unfortunately, Ayton exited the game due to back spasms in the first half, but he did contribute 9 points in 17 minutes, and continues to excel in the pick and roll. This time, even with Marcus Smart initiating. LA also got 21 points from Austin Reaves, who after a string of high scoring nights, naturally took a back seat amidst Luka’s return. Jake LaRavia also played a strong game, with 13 points off the bench, to go with six boards and a pair of assists.

    Forward Rui Hachimura had himself an off night, scoring nine points to go with three rebounds in 38 minutes of play. It’s becoming clear that when Rui isn’t scoring the basketball, his game is fairly one-dimensional, as he doesn’t impact the game significantly on the defensive side. He also isn’t crashing the glass at the adequate rate of a player his size. With that said, the Lakers were able to produce enough team defense to hold their own on that end. They outshot Memphis 51% to 44%, and generally looked comfortable generating offense in the half-court, when they were dialed in. At times during last night’s game, the team’s focus waned, as they clearly played to their competition versus an inferior Grizzlies team (Memphis turned the Lakers over 15 times, to only 11). But at least they were able to clamp up late in the game to secure the win. They also showed some more creative looks on the half-court, often running Luka off-ball on curl actions. This is the luxury of having ancillary ballhandlers in the form of Smart and AR. Luka was able to catch the ball in stride and in space where he can be efficient at collapsing the defense thus creating for himself or others. This is better than the dreaded iso-ball any day. Luka also went to work on the block late in the game, to make up for the absence of Ayton, displaying some good offensive versatility. This game certainly did not showcase the peak of their offensive potential, but they were able to find a way to get the job done.

    Through six games, the Lakers have shown commendable progress. They’re currently 4-2, and 3-0 on the road. The offense is trending in the right direction, and the team is generally taking advantage of their talents in the half-court. Not to mention, they’ve had multiple players in and out of the lineup, with LeBron James yet to make his debut. At this stage, maybe it’s better if LeBron sits out until the All-Star break, as he could obviously use the rest, and this team is finding an identity without him. They’re playing hard, for each other and are finding ways to win. The added opportunities have also showcased the full range of capabilities of players such as AR, who has proven more than capable of running a team for sustained stretches. The Lakers need to know precisely what they have with this group sans LeBron, in order to have a clear picture of the types of moves they’ll need to make next summer and beyond. But for now, the team is playing good basketball and finding ways to keep their head above water, with what looks to be substantial room for improvement. The Lakers will now head back home to take on the Miami Heat on Sunday, who are always a very formidable and disciplined team. They’ll need the same effort they’ve put forth the last couple of games in order to keep piling up wins early on in the season. Go Lakers.

  • AR Wins it at the Buzzer in Minnesota

    Following a loss to the Portland Trailblazers in LA, the Lakers travelled to Minnesota to take on the Timberwolves. Both Los Angeles and Minnesota came in to the contest missing several key players. For the Lakers, LeBron James and Luka Dončić continue to work their way back from injury. Additionally, Marcus Smart, who’s said to be nearing his return to the lineup, also sat out of last night’s game. Minnesota was playing sans their top star Anthony Edwards, however, the rest of their lineup was intact. It was a highly entertaining see-saw battle, one that saw the Lakers prevail at the buzzer to a 116-115 final score. It was a much needed win after a disappointing showing against the Portland Trailblazers last Monday.

    Minnesota came out of the gates with every intention of putting away the depleted Lakers, thanks in no small part to the play of power forward Julius Randle. Randle finished with a game-high 33 points, on 50% shooting from the court, including 4-7 from deep. He also grabbed five boards and handed out six assists. His physical play gave Lakers forward Rui Hachimura fits all night. Minnesota managed to build a 19-10 led in the early goings of the game. LA managed to squeeze some good production from Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht early on. Knecht in particular, had his second straight game scoring in double digits, as the recent injury barrage has paved way for his playing time. It’s important for the Lakers to get Knecht going, as his floor spacing capabilities open up other avenues for the offense. Austin Reaves once again put his imprint all over this game, as his three-point basket in the second quarter gave LA a jolt of momentum, tying things up at 51. The Lakers would go on to lead Minnesota 62-58 by halftime. Reaves finished with a team-high 28 points on 24 shots, to go with a career-high 16 assists.

    Determined to break their vaunted “third quarter curse”, LA came out strong to start the second half. Jake LaRavia produced eight quick points, stretching LAs lead to double figures. The Lakers led by as much as 20 at one point in the third quarter, however, Minnesota sliced that lead to 11 before entering the fourth quarter. The Lakers made a strong bid to close out the Timberwolves, with Austin Reaves and Jake LaRavia both connecting on triples to secure an 11 point lead (112 to 101), with just a little over four minutes left in regulation. In a somewhat disappointing fashion, the Lakers allowed Minnesota back in the game as guard Mike Conley (8 points) and forward Jaden McDaniel (30 points) both hit big threes to help Minnesota reclaim the lead with seconds to go in regulation. Julis Randle’s go-ahead layup gave the Timberwolves a one point lead with 10 seconds left. Austin Reaves would then go to work; catching the inbound pass at the top of the key, then accepting a high ball screen from Deandre Ayton. As Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert crept up to hedge, AR swiftly split the screen, getting in the paint and shooting a contested 12-foot runner over the arms of guard Donte DiVicenzo. That was game. A poor defensive effort by LA late in the fourth saved by Reaves’ heroics.

    The Lakers showed some positive signs in this game. Mainly, their ball screen action continues to evolve in a promising fashion. Reaves as an initiator has proven fruitful, as he’s been able to make all the right reads in these situations. Deandre Ayton deserves a lion’s share of the credit as well, as his adept screening angles and aggressive rolling to the basket have opened things up on the perimeter. Often he draws a weakside help defender with him, which opens up either an open corner three, or an open shot to a drifting shooter at the slot. Once again, AR has been hitting the open man consistently. Guys need to make their open shots as well. In this game it was Jake LaRavia, whose 27 points nearly matched AR’s 28. He made five of his six treys, mostly as a result of the threat posed by the Reaves/Ayton two-man game. Ayton’s ability to hit the midrange the short roll is also key, as he doesn’t have to go all the way to rim to score. It’s also a great way to counter teams that play deep drop coverage. I think that LAs ball screen action will only get better once Luka is back in the lineup.

    Defensively, it was a different story. Breakdowns in the half court continue to be an issue. Often do the Lakers over help, or over-rotate only to allow an open shot at the rim or from deep. In this game, their nail help was sloppy all game, failing to rotate back to their man on the perimeter. Jaden McDaniels consistently burned them here. Not to mention, the defense played on Julius Randle was uninspiring. Randle’s physicality often bothered Rui Hachimura and even Deandre Ayton. He was also left open repeatedly, where he made the Lakers pay by connecting on four of his seven attempts from range. Tighter rotations and a more disciplined approach to individual help responsibilities will be needed moving forward, as LAs array of defensive meltdowns nearly cost them this game. If not for AR’s heroics, this would have been. a bad loss. Hopefully JJ Redick and his staff can identify these defensive issues and iron out some of those deficiencies. They will need it in order to be a consistently competitive team in a loaded Western Conference.

    You will have games like this. The team looked up and down, with various peaks and valleys throughout. Fatigue may also be an issue as the Lakers continue to play severely undermanned as far as their rotations. LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Marcus Smart and Gabe Vincent are all sidelined due to various injuries. Yet, the Lakers competed and played hard nosed basketball, which is a great sign. But their is still some more room to improve as far as the team’s organization and structure defensively. Offensively, they are doing fine. Four of the five starters clocked in double figures scoring, and Dalton Knecht continues his rehabilitation tour following another decent 15-point outing. This definitely speaks to a team that’s trying to punch upward, despite their recent shortcomings, which is something they can be commended for. Hopefully they’ll keep their foot on the gas as they head into Memphis this Friday to take on the Grizzlies. They’ll have to win some games in the immediate future in order to stay above water given the recent injury glitches. Until then, let’s hope they keep trending positively. Go Lakers.

  • Shorthanded Lakers Fall to Young Blazers in Second Night of Back to Back

    On the heels of an impressive road win against the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers headed back home to take on a young and up-and-coming Trailblazers squad. In contrast to Sunday’s contest at Sacto, Monday’s game was a bit more of a slugfest for the Lakers. Already missing Luka Dončić (finger sprain/leg contusion) and LeBron James (sciatica), the Lakers announced they’d also be missing Marcus Smart (quadricep contusion) and Gabe Vincent (sprained left ankle) prior to the start of the contest. Big man Jaxson Hayes was also ruled out, and will be out for a while. The Lakers, predictably, played tired and sluggish basketball. Despite a solid team effort, they simply lacked the crispness in execution, as the younger-legged Trailblazers ran up and down the floor against the shorthanded Lakers. Portland prevailed by a final score of 122-108. Despite the loss, there were some positives displayed by the Lakers. It’s always tough to win a game against anybody when half of your rotation is out, but LA certainly gave it a run. Eventually, they were out-attrited by a fully healthy Portland squad, one which was out to put their best foot forward, as all teams do in LA.

    The Lakers came out of the gates strong. They were led (once again) by Austin Reaves, who scored 13 seamless points in the first 7 minutes of action. Reaves picked up right where he left off against the Blazers. Hot on the heels of a 51-point explosion the night before (a career-high), Reaves poured 41 points, a game-high, to go with four boards and five dimes. He did commit eight turnovers, a sign that perhaps the fatigue was starting to set in on the second night of a back-to-back. Nevertheless, Reaves continues his blistering start to the season. He got whatever he wanted once again, getting great results on the high pick-and-roll (with Ayton as the screen-setter) or driving downhill and attacking the rim. Reaves ability to navigate screens is fantastic, as he can weave his way through defenders until he settles on a good angle to score from. The fact that he has the midrange capabilities when driving is crucial, as he can stop on a dime and shoot over an off-balance defender. AR did his best to put the team on his back once again today, but LA simply did not have the horses to run with him. Outside of Rui Hachimura (16 points) and Deandre Ayton (16 points) the Lakers really didn’t get much out of their available players. Not to mention, the team failed to generate much offense whenever AR sat down for a breather. He was the only starter who did not post a negative +/- for the game, which tells you all you need to know about LAs lack of horses. This was just one of those games. Hopefully guys will start to come back soon.

    Where LA really hurt themselves was on the defensive end. The younger Blazers made sure to run against them at every turn. Guard Deni Avdija led all Blazers with 25 points, including 5-8 from beyond the arc. Much of this was due to LAs poor defensive rotations. The Lakers looked lost on help defense all night, which is a clear sign of lack of focus. They were late in rotating to shooters, often botching their individual assignments. Switching was also an issue, as LA consistently failed to get behind the screen-setter, leading to several open slips to basket. Just a bad defensive performance by the Lakers. Yes, they’re tired. And yes, they’re shorthanded. But one expects someone with the bravado of JJ Redick to have his guys prepared at all times. Defense is all preparation, effort, scheme and focus. No matter who’s in the game, if there’s a sound system in place, they should always be able to fall back on it to positive results. It’ll be interesting to see how the defense shapes out as the season progresses.

    Portland won almost every hustle category. They outrebounded LA 49-42. They recorded more team assists, steals and blocks, while committing less turnovers. More importantly, they won the points in the paint battle 62-54 while also making double the amount of threes (14 to 7) than the Lakers. That was the difference. Outside of AR, Rui and Dalton Knecht (who showed signs of life with a 16-point effort off the bench) no other Laker recorded a made three pointer. LA also only managed to produce 18 total bench points, whereas Portland sixth man Jerami Grant (22 points) outscored the Lakers bench by himself. It simply wasn’t LAs night. Given the injuries, the attrition factor, and quite frankly, the lack of preparation. This is the type of game that you flush aside, and move on to the next one. It’s hard to gauge a team with so many vital pieces missing, yet it’s also evident that effort was something that was missing on LAs part. Hopefully the edge and intensity returns as guys make their way back to the lineup. Until then, the Lakers will have to manage and find a way to rely on their grit and determination in order to win some games and keep their head above water while key players are out. LA will travel to Minnesota on Wednesday to take on the T-Wolves for a second time. I expect to see a better effort from a more rested and humbled group. They really need to rebound against Minny. Go Lakers.

  • Austin Reaves Drops 51 as Lakers Take Down Kings in Road Opener

    After a disappointing Opening Night effort against the Golden State Warriors, followed by a great rebounding performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Lakers made their way to Northern California to take on the Sacramento Kings for their first road game of the season. LA prevailed 127-120, on the back of a great team effort; one which was mostly fuelled by one Austin Reaves who produced the best game of his young career. Austin was sensational last night, pouring in an incredible 51 points in a game where the Lakers needed every bucket. It was announced shortly before the game yesterday that Luka Dončić will be out at least a week after sustaining a finger sprain (and a leg contusion) during LAs victory against the Timberwolves. So the shorthanded Lakers had their worked cut out for them. Thankfully, Austin Reaves was up to the task and displayed the tenacity, leadership and drive that he’s shown many times throughout his career. Even though it was a tremendous team effort, Austin stood head and shoulders as the main driving force in this game. If he continues this level of play, it will be tough to keep him off of the All Star ballot, not to mention his big payday next summer.

    To begin with, LAs offense looked very crisp; that was even with the absence of their two main stars in Luka Dončić and LeBron James. The team, and Head Coach JJ Redick, seem to have made the necessary adjustments since coming out flat against the Warriors last week. The Lakers produced great results from their pick and roll last nigh; with Austin Reaves being the catalyst. AR finished with a game-high 51 points, but also contributed nine assists and pulled down 11 boards. He shot a razor-sharp 12/22 from the field, including 6-10 from beyond the arc. All the while collecting two steals and committing only two turnovers (both in the first quarter). Aside from the gaudy scoring totals, which we’ll get to, Austin’s playmaking was phenomenal last night, proving that the Lakers have more than enough playmaking to flank Luka Dončić, when the ball isn’t in his hands. AR was masterful on ball screens, always making the correct read. Whether it was delivering the slip pass to the roller when the defense trapped, or pulling up against a sagging screen drefender, he consistently delivered results for LA on their ball screen actions. A key ingredient in this was the play of Deandre Ayton, who had his best game as a Laker with 22 points, 15 rebounds and a block. Ayton’s ability to set good screens will be crucial for the Lakers’ offense. Last night he was tremendous, often setting them at optimal angles, and even re-screening when the initial screen was less than effective. The Reaves-Ayton dynamic might have gone up a notch in this game, as both players found a synergy on their two-man actions. As a result, the Lakers were finally able to unlock Ayton’s ability as a screen-and-roll big, with AR’s playmaking as the ignitor. Ayton’s motor and focus comes and goes. But when they’re on, he can certainly help this team. LA needs to find a way to consistently keep him engaged.

    Additionally, the Lakers got a healthy jolt of productivity from their other role players. Jake LaRavia chipped in with 11 points and five assists, making some timely threes in the fourth quarter. Marcus Smart also scored 11 points, to go with five assists, and his defense and ancillary playmaking (he hit Reaves on a sweet backdoor cut midway in the first quarter) will continue to provide a boost to the offense, as it allows the Lakers to showcase different looks by playing both AR and Luka off-ball. Jarred Vanderbilt also had a good game, scoring nine points, but it was his defensive pressure which continues to be his calling card. Rui Hachimura was yet another bright spot, scoring an efficient 18 points, and doing so without any three point baskets. He did his damage from the midrange, and as a screen-and-roll partner with AR. Rui’s short roll game can be a factor given that he can both pop for the middy, or finish strong at the basket. Unfortunately, Gabe Vincent came up limping in the second half. He was reportedly wearing a walking boot after the game, which isn’t very promising. Hopefully it isn’t something that will keep him out for long as he’s been playing solid basketball through three games.

    This contest was a see-saw battle from start to finish, with Sacramento coming out hot and trying to put their best foot forward against the hated interstate rival. LA was able to ride the hot hand of Austin Reaves in the early going (and quite frankly for the entire game) in order to stay afloat. The Kings were led by guard Zach Lavine, who scored a team-high 32 points, on 12-24 shooting. Demar Derozan pitched in with 21 points, albeit on 22 shots and familiar foe Dennis Schröder contributed 18 points and 12 assists. Standout bigman Domantas Sabonis was held to only 10 points, and for the most part was outplayed by Deandre Ayton. Winning the matchup at the 5 was key a piece in LAs win. Sacramento was able to match LA basket for basket for most of the contest, even taking a lead at one point in the fourth quarter. That was until Austin Reaves checked back into the game and helped LA regain the lead. The Lakers’ execution down the stretch was commendable, particularly in the playcalling department. JJ Redick did a great job of calling plays, especially after timeouts which gave the team a sense of order and familiarity whenever they were in need of a basket. Kudos to JJ. But once again, it was Austin Reaves who really shined towards the waning moments of the game. His decision-making as a lead ballhandler was both aggressive and precise, always making the right read coming out of ball screens. He’s getting really good at executing the pocket pass whenever the screener defender presses up to guard the screen. Often hitting a cutting Rui or Ayton in stride. This is tremendous development from Reaves, as the Lakers can use his secondary playmaking, behind Dončić, to diversify their offensive playbook. Reaves was also able to make the clutch free throws (he was 21/22 from the line) to eventually seal the win.

    Great win for LA. They showed a level of energy and focus that wasn’t present during their loss to the Warriors last Tuesday. Their next man up mentality merits praise, and hopefully, they’ll keep it up. Having guys like Vando and Smart roaming the defense on the perimeter is a huge asset to this team, as those two can consistently pressure the ball and disrupt passing lanes in order to generate turnovers. This in turn gets the team easy transition opportunities, where even guys like Ayton are ardently running the floor in order to beat his man and get an easy bucket. Great effort, overall, from the team. It’ll be tough to navigate these next couple of games with the absence of Luka, and now Gabe Vincent, who will presumably be out a while. But if they maintain of this level of focus, they can certainly remain competitive and be in position to snatch some wins late in games, as they did last night. The Lakers will head back home to take on the Trailblazers, on the second night of a back to back. Hopefully they’ll bring the same type of mentality and fight that can carry them through the next few games. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Dominate Timberwolves In Early Playoff Rematch

    Fresh off of an Opening Night defeat at the hands of the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Lakers took the floor at Crypto Arena to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves for their second contest of the season. In stark contrast to the season opener, the Lakers looked considerably better, managing to best Minnesota by a final score of 128-110. The Lakers looked like quick learners, showcasing a new outlook, and looking like a different team from the one that fell to the Timberwolves during the first round of last season’s playoffs. In any case, it’s great to see the Lakers come out with a different edge after getting humbled by the Warriors on Opening Night. The ball movement, the execution, the defense, the attention to detail, it was all night and day from what we saw from the team during last Tuesday’s loss. If LA keeps this up, they can start racking racking up wins early on in the young season, which will pay dividends later on.

    The main storyline in this contest was one Luka Dončić, who continued his captivating and dominant play with yet another gem. Luka had himself a dandy, scoring 49 points, grabbing 11 boards and dishing out eight assists. He did so on a minty 14-23 from the field, including 5-12 from deep. Luka also made history, scoring 92 total points during the first two games of the season, the most since Jerry West. On the floor, he did whatever he wanted to. Whether it was stepping back for three, taking it to the hole, if he wasn’t pulling up from the midrange, not to mention being a total wizard on the pick and roll. The Timberwolves opted to play drop coverage, primarily with Rudy Gobert, on Luka’s ball screens. Luka countered by punishing Minnesota, utilizing the open space to create for himself, when he wasn’t feeding Deandre Ayton at the rim, or a wide open shooter at the corner. LA also did a much better job at making shots this game, as Austin Reaves (25 points), Deandre Ayton (15 points) and Rui Hachimura (23 points), all filled the scoresheet on the offensive end. This is the type of balance which the team must strive for in order to be competitive against the top foes of the Western Conference.

    Things did not start out so rosy for LA, as Minnesota bursted out of the gates with a commanding 10-4 run to start the game. They did so on the back on Athony Edwards, who finished the game with a team-high 31 points, and was scoring with ease all over LAs defense. It looked like the Lakers were headed for another lopsided loss. Thankfully, Luka Dončić was up for the task, as he scored seven straight points to keep Minny’s lead from ballooning out of control. At one point, Minnesota led 21-13 early in the first quarter, after which JJ Redick smartly used a timeout that helped LA catch their wind and reset their motors. They began to chip away at the T-Wolves lead, and by halftime, they found themselves leading 68-63. Once again, in stark contrast to Tuesday’s loss, the Lakers managed to produce a prosperous third quarter, pushing their lead to double digits. They eventually led Minnesota by over 20 at one point in the fourth, after which LA decided to sit their starters. It was certainly an impressive win, not to mention a crucial one, as the Lakers got an early taste of the type of basketball they’re capable of playing when they’re engaged and clicking on all cylinders.

    Defense was a pivotal key in this win, as Jarred Vanderbilt and newcomer Marcus Smart both showed the tremendous value that’ll have for this team moving forward. These two have the ability to bring a sense of toughness and defensive tenacity, both elements that the team sorely needs. Jake LaRavia’s play also should not go without notice, as his on-ball defense was stellar, providing the size and toughness at the wing that LA needs in order to hang with the Minnesota’s of the NBA. In this game, we saw LA get after the Timberwolves defensively, creating turnovers by pressuring the ballhandler and battling for all the 50/50 balls that can inspire any team with a burst of momentum. This brand of play is invaluable, as it gives the Lakers an edge against the better teams; if LA can consistently defend at this level, while having Luka quarterback the offense, then they can certainly win alot of games. Enough to be a strong playoff seed in a tough Western Conference.

    Offensively, the Lakers looked much better as well. They put together a well-balanced attack, one which frustrated Minnesota from multiple areas of the floor. Luka is squarely at the epicenter of this, as his play opens up opportunities for everyone else. Against Minnesota, the Lakers got much better mileage from their pick and roll. Luka was masterful all night. He punished the defense for going under the screen by pulling up from three. When they went over, he managed to drive to the middle of the floor where he truly excels as an offensive connecter; he can score himself, hit the open man, or hit the rolling big man for an easy finish. Deandre Ayton also showed why he is so valuable to LAs offense as his screen setting and diving to the basket opens up other actions on the perimeter. The Lakers produced quite quite a number of ‘hockey assists’, whether it was from Luka’s penetration or from Ayton rolling hard to the basket, which triggers help from the outside. With LA making most of their open looks, they managed to capitalize on most of these advantages.

    Once again, this was a much better showing by the Lakers, who’s aggression and focus helped them earn their first win of the year. Crisp rotations, excellent ball movement and timely shot-making all proved to be factors in favor of the Lakers. This is the type of basketball that’s needed more often than not, in order to be amongst the top teams in the Western Conference. Of course it all starts with one Luka Dončić. But if the team can put forth this type of complimentary basketball from their role players, then they’re in great shape to give any team a run for their money. There’s still plenty of room to grow, but this is certainly a step in right direction. Let’s hope that they can keep building and progressing into the type of team that they’re capable of being. The Lakers will take on Sacramento on Monday for their first road game of the year. The Kings are always a tough out, and always show up for anything Lakers related. So now isn’t the time to ease the foot on the accelerator. If we see a repeat effort of Thursday’s dominating performance against Minnesota, then they’ll be in good shape. Hopefully LA resumes their commitment to playing great team basketball with a defensive energy to match. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Come Up Short Versus Warriors in Season Opener

    The day has finally come. NBA and Lakers Basketball is back. Unfortunately, the Lakers could not get off to the start that they would have wanted, as they fell to Golden State during the Season Opener by a final score of 119-109. This was LAs ninth Opening Night loss in the last 10 years; a recurring trend. Despite the loss, the Lakers flashed some positive signs, however, it’s the final score which truly counts. Ultimately, the Lakers were beat by a better team, as well as a team that has been together for a long time and have a good idea of their identity. The Lakers looked disorganized, as well as unpolished. Time will tell how quickly they can turn things around, but in an ultra-competitive Western Conference, the sooner the better.

    The Lakers looked good to start things out. This was mostly off the back of one Luka Dončić. Luka, for his part, was phenomenal. He finished with a game-high 43 points on 16-27 shooting from. He did struggle from three, only connecting on two of his ten attempts. He also added 12 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and a block. He was an offensive catalyst in the first half, as his scoring helped the Lakers stay afloat. He looked particularly comfortable getting to his spots on the floor, specifically in the midrange, an area where he struggled a bit last season. The Warriors made it a point to blitz and trap Luka on ball screens and hand-offs, to which Luka countered by activating his scoring. This strategy worked for the first half. But unfortunately, for the Lakers, Golden State’s more balanced attack was able to sustain and outlast LA.

    The Warriors were led by Jimmy Butler, who scored a team-high 31 points, including 16-16 from the charity stripe, strong emphasis on charity. Stephen Curry also had 23 points, on a relatively efficient shooting performance. Though, as is usually the case with Steph, it’s his gravity that opens things up for him and his teammates. Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield each contributed 17 points apiece. Golden State looked like the more seasoned team, and their experience proved valuable. Their motion offense confused LA all game, who routinely blew defensive assignments, particularly on defensive switching. The Warriors also exploited the Lakers in transition, where their 13 points led LAs 8. This has been an issue since pre-season, and one that the team should look to patch as soon as they can.

    The Lakers did not look like a team that was ready to compete against the Warriors. Even though they managed to stay with the Warriors through one half of play, when the score was 55-54, they simply couldn’t keep up the execution or the game plan. Much of this falls on Coach JJ Redick’s shoulders. Redick failed to find a way to get his rotation players reps during pre-season, save for the last two games. Against Golden State, the Lakers looked woefully underprepared, often relying one one-on-one iso basketball instead of organized set plays. Against the Warriors’ meticulous motion offense, the contrast was glaring. Outside of Luka’s brilliant individual play, the team could not produce substantive production from their role players. They tried to force feed Ayton in the post, as opposed to having him be a factor in the pick and roll, whether as a roll man or as an outlet in the short roll. Traditional post-up aren’t Ayton’s greatest strength. The two-man action with Luka is where he’ll look his best. Austin Reaves is also someone who would benefit from having more motion, and more plays called for him. He was left to attack mostly one on one, where Golden State’s superior perimeter athletes had the upper hand. AR finished with 26 points, but his impact was perhaps less than the scoresheet would indicate. Occasionally, LA ran some high pick and roll, but Golden State made sure to crowd the passing lanes and employ a heavy dose of blitzing. The Lakers had neither the counters nor the floor spacing to offset this strategy. Offensively, there has to be more in store, particularly from players not named Luka Dončić. More set plays will be needed in the half court. LA doesn’t have the personnel to play heavy isolation basketball.

    With that said, this was not a terrible game for the Lakers. Their main issue was a lack of seasoning. More continuity should yield better results moving forward. LA did outshoot Golden State from the floor, 55% to 48%. However, missed free throws, lack of ball movement (no playmaking outside of Luka), careless turnovers and poor outside shooting all played a factor in the the Lakers’ Opening Day loss. These are all treatable issues, and it comes down to how effectively they can be addressed by the coaching staff and players alike. Ball movement and half-court execution should both be areas of focus in the immediate future. This game is the type of wake-up call that for a team that took the pre-season lightly. The lack of reps, the lack of focus and the lack of chemistry are all apparent. If the plan was to use the early portion of the season as an extension of pre-season, then that plan could prove costly in April amidst a Western Conference that offers razor-thin margins. But we’ll have to see the level of urgency that the coaches and the players have in order to bring this team to play the level of basketball that they’re capable of. Until then, let’s hope for a better showing Friday against Minnesota. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Defeat Warriors to Earn First Win of Preseason

    Following a slow start to the preseason, one which saw the Lakers lose its first two exhibition games, the team finally found their footing after taking down the Golden State Warriors by a final score of 126-116. There was some good and some bad, but it was great to see LA get their first preseason win under their belts and have their hard work from training camp pay off. The team looked much more fluid, and the offense seems to be coming along. Defensively, they aren’t quite there yet, as they displayed some glaring weaknesses that will continue to bog them down should they go unaddressed. The positives, however, outweighed the negatives, and the Lakers were able to put together a more balanced effort that showed promise before the season.

    The Lakers started the game with a sense of urgency which they did not have during the first two contests. As a result, the team got off to a hot start. Shooting guard Austin Reaves led the way with 5 consecutive points early in the first. LA found success operating out of their horns series early on in the game, as they either got an open shot for AR at the top of the key, or they were also comfortable throwing it down to Deandre Ayton on the elbow and letting him go to work. Reaves finished with a team-high 21 points on a robust 7-10 shooting (2-4 from three), in only 23 minutes of action. He was eventually forced out of the game after bumping knees with Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (in what should’ve been whistled an offensive foul on Podz). Deandre Ayton also broke out of his early exhibition blues, posting a nice stat line of 14 points, eight boards, five assists and a block. He was particularly effective on the midrange, as his short roll game was on full display and he was able to make the dropping big pay. Forward Rui Hachimura also got in the action early, as he poured in 10 points in the first quarter. He finished with 16 points on 10 shots, including 3-4 from beyond the arc. As a result, LA was able to build a healthy 30-24 lead after the first quarter, a lead which they wouldn’t relinquish.

    This game saw several big names out of action, for both sides. For the Lakers, LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Marcus Smart were all in street clothes. Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler also sat out for Golden State. With that said, it was still a competitive and entertaining affair with both teams providing their share of highlights. For the Lakers, their offensive sets looked alot more polished. They look more comfortable operating in the half court, as their aforementioned horns sets yielded good results. They also made a conscious effort to feed center Deandre Ayton on the block (or at the elbow). Because of LAs five-out spacing, Ayton generally had an open paint to work on. His post-ups looked great as did his midrange looks. He also flashed some prowess as an outlet man on the screen-and-roll, as he dished out five assists, mostly from the post. If Ayton can prove to be this type of offensive hub during the season, particularly with Luka back in the fold, it’ll pay huge dividends for LA offensively.

    Despite a much better effort and tenacity by the Lakers, they still played a very sloppy game. They lost the turnover battle, coughing the ball up 22 times (to Golden State’s 20). They also conceded 24 points off of turnovers and were out-gunned in transition were they were only able to muster nine points, to the Warrior’s 21. Transition defense was an issue all game. The Lakers were slow to get back on defense, and looked equally lost with their defensive assignments, often failing to stop the ball or leaving a shooter open in the slot. Golden State made sure to run on the Lakers all game, not only after misses, but even following makes. LA was disoriented with their transition gameplan all night. Perhaps this is fixable. It comes down to attention to detail. Stop the ball, and stay with shooters on the wings and corners. Players need to be aware of their matchups and assignments. The key is effort and execution. Coach JJ Redick seems to agree, as he had some comments regarding LAs transition endeavors. “Still don’t love our general transition defense… we’re lacking a little bit of urgency to get back after makes and get matched up”, remarked LAs coach. This should definitely be an area of emphasis for the team as they prepare for Opening Night (where they’ll take on the Warriors).

    Fortunately, the Lakers played such an offensive game where they were able to overcome their defensive woes. They never gave up their early lead, and stayed aggressive with the ball. Eventually, their deep end reserves, namely exhibit-10 players R.J. Davis and Nate Williams as well as two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. were all able to keep up the scoring when LA took out their rotation guys. Dalton Knecht also had his breakout performance of preseason. He finished with a solid 16 points on nine shots, including 2-5 from three point range. It’s crucial for Knecht to find his groove, as he’ll be counted on to provide some much needed scoring punch off the bench. Overall, this was an impressive win for LA, against a formidable and familiar opponent. Both Luka and Marcus Smart are slated to make their preseason debuts tomorrow against Phoenix. Hopefully the offense continues to take shape, and we can see more of a meaningful commitment to transition defense. Until then, let’s hope guys keep getting healthier and ready for the season. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Start Preseason 0-2 Following Losses to Phoenix, Golden State

    The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off their preseason with a disappointing showing, after dropping their first two contests to the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. Both games displayed much of the same faults, with the Lakers playing without LeBron James and Luka Dončić and failing to squeeze out good productivity from their role platers. Aside from Dončić and James, LA also played without Gabe Vincent and Marcus Smart for the first game. Vincent eventually returned for the second contest versus Golden State, and even though he clearly brought some balance to the bench unit, the final score still yielded the same result.

    Game one against Phoenix was a bit of a weird one. The Lakers played without Luka, LeBron, Smart, Vincent and Maxi Kleber. On paper, a great opportunity to get an extended early look at newcomers such as Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton. Unfortunately, none of those guys looked particularly good, instead appearing lost and still finding their footing in a new roster and system. Ayton scored all of one point, while grabbing eight boards and swatting two shots. LaRavia was a bit more solid, tallying 7 points on six shots, although one certainly would have liked to see him have a bigger role, particularly with all the aforementioned names out of action. Rui Hachimura aslo had a disappointing outing, scoring 11 points on twelve shots, including 1-4 from three. Austin Reaves was the lone bright spot, dropping a team-high 20 points while shooting 6-11 from the field, to go with three boards and two assists. The Lakers, however, lost handily by a final score of 101-83.

    The early portion of the game looked promising, with Austin Reaves shouldering the scoring load early on, and Rui Hachimura teasing a big night with 5 consecutive points early in the first quarter. The Suns, who were playing close to all of their key rotational pieces, eventually took command of the game midway through the first half and never looked back. Three of their starters hit double figures in scoring, including Devin Booker who had a game-high 24 points and looked quite comfortable scoring the basketball. The Lakers made a bid to make things competitive, after a Rui three pointer slashed Phoenix’s lead to just three. The Suns answered with a scorching run to push their lead back up to double figures just before the halftime buzzer. The second half saw more of the same, with the Suns pushing their lead significantly and leaving LA in the dust. The Lakers looked underprepared, lackadaisical, and were clearly outplayed by a superior side. The offense looked stuck in reverse with all the big names out, and no consistent playmaking engine to spark the offense. It’ll be nice to see more cohesiveness once the big boys are back.

    LAs second game yielded more of the same, with the team falling to a fully-manned Warriors unit by a score of 111-103. Head Coach JJ Redick opted to rest shooting guard Austin Reaves, as Gabe Vincent returned to the lineup. Vincent was relatively solid, scoring 16 points on nine shots and dishing out five assists. The Lakers actually managed to look somewhat more competitive in this game, compared to their first. The offense and ball movement looked to be more cohesive, and the team managed to produce a somewhat competitive showing despite missing all of their key guys. Jake LaRavia had a nice showing with 10 points (albeit on ten shots), while Jarred Vanderbilt provided some glimpses on what could be a new and improved iteration of himself. Vando scored 9 points and even drilled a three, while pulling down seven boards. More importantly, he displayed his game-changing defensive skillset as he was everywhere on that end of the floor. He collected three steals, and hovered around on switches while being the type of defensive disruptor that won over the Lakers a couple of seasons ago. If we can see this Vando on a reasonably consistent basis, that’ is’ll be a huge plus for the Lakers. They’ll need all the defensive help they can get.

    The Warriors, who were making their preseason debut, looked every bit as rusty as you’d expect. To their credit, the shorthanded Lakers took advantage of this, as they led on the scoreboard as late as midway through the second quarter. But as soon as guys like Curry and Butler got going, the Golden State handily assumed control of the game, extending their lead to double digits. Once the game veered into garbage time, LA made a small run, which made the final score look more respectable. Golden state were easily the better team this game and they showed it. The Warrior’s Moses Moody led both sides in scoring with 19 points, including five three pointers. Stephen Curry also chipped in with 14 points. Golden State played their full rotations, and looked like the more organized and experienced team. As far as the Lakers, hopefully they’ll look better once they have their full compliment of rotational players at their disposal, as they have clearly been shorthanded to start preseason.

    It’s tough to evaluate the team after just two preseason games, as it’s also unwise to rush to overreactions. Guys like Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and even LeBron James will surely make a difference. With that said, the team has looked quite lackadaisical through these first two contests. Even without Luka, they should still be able to run their offense, provided there’s a good system in place. The team is also going to require significantly more production out of names like Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton, who will be counted on to fulfill major roles this upcoming season. Guys like Vando and Jaxson Hayes on the other hand have looked fairly promising. Hayes in particular likely won’t be asked to play above his paygrade, as he’ll be backing up Ayton throughout the year without being asked to do too much. So far he’s looked good; swatting shots, setting picks and cleaning up the glass. Occasionally he’ll get his lobs at the rim as well. Team-wide, we’ll have to see a better effort on both ends, even with the starters back. Hopefully we can see a couple of tuneup games with as many rotational guys as possible, so we can hit the ground running when the season commences. Until then, here’s to the team getting better, improving with each game. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Media Day

    NBA media day is upon us, which only means one thing: NBA Basketball is right around the corner. The Lakers gathered last Friday to speak to the media before they kickoff training camp, and we learned quite a bit regarding the outlook of this team. Lots of questions were answered in anticipation to the upcoming season.

    Among those questions is the state of LeBron James, and all that surrounds his orbit. According to James himself, he is in a good place. He’s looking forward to the season, and even praised some of the team’s new additions, namely Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia. Overall, he stressed his excitement and feeling of positivity towards the Lakers and the upcoming season. Personally, I’m calling bullshit on this one. For a guy that spent the entire offseason complaining about his ‘timeline’ and needs not being met, I don’t buy that he’s suddenly bought-in and ready to give this franchise his stamp of approval. With that said, I do appreciate LeBron for not coming out and making a spectacle during Media Day with his patented ‘passive-aggressive’ ultimatums. Not that he would have the leverage to issue such demands, since LA did not offer him a contract extension this summer. Thus, LeBron will be playing this season as an expiring contract. We also learned that LeBron will not be entering the season at 100%, and will be prioritizing load management for the upcoming season. Which once again, good thing LA did not offer him an extension. He’s at the point where it’s all diminishing returns from here on out. No shame in being 40, it’s just the reality.

    Apparently, Jarred Vanderbilt has been working on his three ball this summer. This was echoed by teammate Jake LaRavia, who confirmed that Vando’s deep ball is in fact looking legitimate. In reality, who knows though. Chances are Vando will continue being a subpar shooter, and of course, any marginal (or significant) improvement will be gladly welcomed. However, one thing’s for certain, it’s good to see him enjoy a healthy offseason and show up to camp with a clean slate. At the very least he will have the opportunity to reclaim his former defensive self, which would be a massive boost to the team. When healthy, he’s likely the team’s best and most versatile defender.

    We also had a chance to hear from other incumbent Lakers such as Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves. Rui in particular, looks to be in great shapes and spirits, and the organization definitely has shown him some love. Rui is seemingly in fantastic physical condition, and also said some encouraging things that paint him as a team-first guy. When asked about his preference for staring vs coming off the bench, Rui stated that he plans on doing whatever he has to do to help the team win. Whether that entails starting, or fulfilling a role as a reserve, he’s up for either one. It’s nice to hear these types of sentiments from a player like Rui, as he is the type of guy that can be alternated from starter to reserve, depending on the need or the matchup. It’s great to hear that he’s of this mentality, and willing to put the team’s needs in front of his own. As a result, the organization has thrown out murmurs of possibly adding Rui to their longterm plans, which could be a motivating factor for him to play his best ball this season.

    Austin Reaves also had some interesting tidbits. As everyone knows, AR will be playing this season on the final year of his player contract, with the hopes of cashing in on a big payday during next summer’s free agency. By all accounts, AR has repeatedly stated his desire to remain with the Lakers and certainly seems to relish the notion of wearing the Laker uniform. He also looks determined to take his game to even greater heights, even after a gaudy performance last season, which saw him play the best basketball of his young career. He still feels he can get better, and quite frankly, should he be proven correct, he’d easily be worth the type of payday that he’s seeking. Personally, I’m rooting for Austin. He’s a homegrown kid, and I’d love to see him remain a Laker for the foreseeable future. He is obviously betting on himself, and seems to be confident in his ability to continue enhancing his game. If he cashes out, then it’s a win for both him and the organization.

    Redemption was seemingly a recurring theme during this Media Day session. Deandre Ayton in particular, is someone who is looking to re-establish his league-wide image. During his interview, he revealed that he’s in fact aware that this could be his final opportunity to prove himself at the NBA level. He also is quite keen on embracing this as a challenge. He stated that he intends to play angry. Angry Ayton! So far he’s shown that he can obviously play. He’s an 18/10 guy for his career, which doesn’t happen accidentally. But if he can channel those talents into a winning form of basketball, night in and night out, he will effectively shatter any and all negative stigmas currently attached to his name. It’s good to see a player embrace the pressure of the bright lights of Los Angeles. Not to mention, embrace the idea that he’s playing with a chip on his shoulder. The Lakers don’t currently have a ton of center depth, so Ayton will theoretically get every chance to make good on those goals. If he can bring some defensive prowess to match his offensive gifts, then he’ll definitely put himself on the map and emerge as a hot commodity within the league once again. Of course, this is all just chatter, and it remains to be seen how it manifests on the court. But so far, it’s the type of perspective that you’d like to hear. Like AR, if Ayton helps himself, he helps the Lakers.

    All in all, none of these players seem overly concerned with their individual roles, and are embracing the concept of team unity. Guys seem ready to go, and ready to lock in to whatever role is asked of them. Whether it’s Marcus Smart, or Jake LaRavia, or Austin Reaves, or Rui Hachimura. Team-wide buy-in is essential, and you want to see a group of players that are on the same page and willing to make sacrifices for the greater good of the team. Of course, all of this sounds neat at the moment, right before we kickoff preseason action. Let’s hope this mantra persists deep into the season. If so, it’s a great start and a good place to be. Go Lakers.