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Lakers Game Preview: The Chicago Bulls

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 22:42:32 GMT

After a convincing win over the Bucks on Thursday, the Lakers moved to 8-0 on the road and started out their 7 game road trip the right way. They played with good energy and focus and LeBron — who has started out this year playing with more purpose than anticipated — carried the team home with a magnificent 4th quarter. Tonight, the Lakers are in Chicago to battle the Bulls and hope to keep that momentum going.

Winners of 3 in a row, the Bulls are playing well of late and have climbed back to only a game under .500 for the season. Wendell Carter is out with a quad issue, but Lauri Markkanen’s return has given the team a big boost offensively and given Zach LaVine a natural pick and pop partner who allows him more space to operate. Markkanen being back has also allowed the bench to settle in more, and in these last 3 wins that (mostly veteran) group has really made a difference on both sides of the ball.

The Lakers, then, would be wise to understand that this game is going to be a real test. The Bulls have real scoring punch and even without Carter have quality depth to go 10 deep. Remember too, the last time these teams played the Bulls took the game down to the buzzer with some excellent outside shooting from LaVine and Coby White, only falling short at the end when a LaVine pull up J missed.

From a motivation standpoint, I hope an AD homecoming can help rally this group from an energy and focus standpoint, but also help get AD out of the “funk” he said he’s been in. AD’s gone 5 straight games now scoring under 20 points and while he’s been contributing in other ways on both ends of the floor, I’d really like to see him break out soon with a big night.

Some of that will require more assertiveness from Davis — particularly in looking to get into the paint and establish deeper position in the post when working off the ball (which includes on the break and in early offense chances by running the middle lane more rather than trailing so much). But some of that will also require his teammates to look for him more often, especially in the P&R either on the roll or when he’s pops to the midrange where he can either get off an easy jumper or drive the ball deeper to get off a floater or all the way to the rim.

Defensively, the Lakers must focus on defending the 3 point line. The Bulls are 11th in Offensive Rating this year and much of that is on the strength of their accuracy and makes from behind the arc (where they rank 7th in both). As we saw two weeks ago, LaVine and White are more than capable of going off from distance and are not shy firing away. With Markkanen now back too, he’s another threat from out there and with him playing either PF or C, he will space the defense out and make the rotations longer and more difficult.

Being sharp in their coverages is a necessity tonight for the Lakers, then, and things can get away from them quickly if they’re not attentive or show any sort of laziness — not only in recovering to the arc, but in their rotations behind that first closeout. The Lakers ranginess defensively will serve them well here, but as the old Wooden saying goes you cannot mistake activity for achievement. Show understanding of what you’re supposed to do and then do it with purpose in order to be successful. Both work hand in hand and one without the other will fall flat.

Offensively, being down Carter should only encourage the Lakers to attack the paint more. The Bulls are not a particularly big or physical team even with Carter, but without him it’s even more true. Those guys will play hard, but if Bron and AD show a commitment to getting into the paint, they should score consistently. And, if they do that, the help will come with even more consistency, opening up the team’s shooters who have been so hot to start the year.

In the end, the Bulls are a good team and shouldn’t be taken lightly. But, if the Lakers come out and play hard and smart, this game should go their way. Take nothing for granted and play hard to get AD (and THT) a win in their return home.

Where you can watch: 6:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet.

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LeBron James Continues to Defy Conventional Wisdom

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:53:38 GMT

If there were ever a time when you’d expect LeBron James to slow down, it would be this year. Not because of eroding skills or because of sapped athleticism, but because conventional wisdom said there was no better time for him to choose to.

The challenge of last season cannot be overstated for LeBron. From the Darryl Morey tweet that sparked controversy in China right as the Lakers flew there for preseason games to Kobe’s devastating and untimely death in a January helicopter crash and the subsequent grieving to COVID-19 shutting down the season in March to the Orlando Bubble restart and the resulting isolation from July through October, the mental burden James carried as a leader of the franchise and face of the league was all too real.

Over the course of the 2019-20 season, no player was asked to do more than James. And, by the close of the campaign, no player actually did more than him. The #washedking #revengetour culminated with him on the top of the league once more.

Then, only 10 weeks after his team won the championship (where he collected another Finals MVP) the new NBA season began with him and his remade roster positioned by pundits to repeat. Considering the short turnaround and all that he’d just done to get his team to the perch they were elevated on, LeBron, embarking on his 18th season and at 36 years old, was supposed to take it easy.

Maybe he’d “load manage” more and take nights off. Maybe he’d show less effort on the defensive end and turn to his younger teammates — in particular Anthony Davis — to carry the load during the regular season. Before the season started James even joked that would be the case in a great interview he and Maverick Carter did with former President Barack Obama.

LeBron, though, didn’t turn those jokes into reality. Through the season’s first 16 games, the Lakers have the league’s best record and he is the one setting the tone night to night; he is the one leading the team forward in their quest for a repeat title.

Sure, he’s had some uninspiring nights — the MLK Day loss to the Warriors stands out as the chief example. But in Thursday’s win over the Bucks, it was Bron who carried the Lakers home. Burying dagger 3’s and dunking home the victory over the reigning MVP’s eastern conference powerhouse. LeBron James is here, showing through his play, that he’s not going to take any steps back just yet. Conventional wisdom be damned.

I could rattle off a bunch of stats here, but there’s little point in that. His scoring, rebounding, and assist numbers are right in line with his career averages. He’s again part of some of the league’s best performing lineups, finding instant chemistry with Marc Gasol — another 36 year old basketball savant — to form the NBA’s best performing duo in terms of net rating when they share the floor. His shooting accuracy from beyond the arc is unprecendented for him considering the volume he’s taking.

His impact on winning remains among the league’s highest and after his performance in Milwaukee the whispers are getting louder about him being near the top of the league in MVP discussions.

Again, it really wasn’t supposed to be this way. With Davis’ playoff ascension and the additions of Schröder (in particular) and Harrell, James was supposed to ease back some. His scoring and playmaking responsibilities were supposed to go down. His activity level on and general commitment to defense was supposed to fall way back from where it was last season. He was going to coast through the regular season and ramp up for the playoffs in order to best position himself for that 5th championship he’s chasing.

But none of it has really happened that way. Sure, the new additions have helped him pace himself more. And the nature of how he’s scoring and the level to which he’s the focal point within and initiator of offense has been more subdued. But, scour Basketball Reference and there he is: team leader per game in points and assists while being 2nd in rebounding.

It’s his 18th season. He’s 36 years old.

But, he’s just still so good. And while that was assumed, I did not expect LeBron James to be showing it in this way at this early stage of the season. Conventional wisdom was that it was going to go different. But he continues to defy it and watching him do it each night should serve as a reminder to appreciate him while we can.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Milwaukee Bucks

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:19:22 GMT

I’m having a hard time remembering the last time I was as frustrated about a Lakers game as I was during and after Monday’s loss to the Warriors. I can understand not playing well, but I cannot understand playing with the type of arrogance and utter disregard of an opponent that the Lakers showed in the process of blowing a nearly 20 point lead in losing to Golden State. With the Bucks first up on a long road eastern road trip, the Lakers would be wise to remember that they’re still in the mode of building good habits and understand that the approach they showed on Monday isn’t one of them.

Just to clarify, I’m not overly concerned with what transpired on Monday. I think the Lakers will be fine and aren’t the type of team to perpetually show that specific type of disrespect to their opponents in a way that would trigger the type of loss they suffered Monday repeatedly. I think their leadership is strong, from the coaches on through Bron and AD, to set the right tone. I particularly think that vs. a team like the Bucks — a contender who should be seen as a real threat — the right mindset will be there. But, I do think there needs to be an acknowledgement that the approach they took vs. the Warriors was fundamentally wrong.

*Wipes hands*

With that out of my system, tonight’s game vs. the Bucks is a real test for the Lakers. They have the reigning MVP, added Jrue Holiday in the offseason, and Khris Middleton has been absolutely phenomenal this year. Add in Brook Lopez and some solid (though, in some cases, defensively challenged) guard depth and this team is sure to be a top regular season team again this year. The Lakers will have their hands full simply trying to defend Giannis, but Middleton playing to the level he is and Holiday a better version of the already good Bledsoe he replaced, there’s a layered and multifaceted challenge to conquer.

This all starts with Giannis, in both similar and differing ways than the past. He remains a monster in transition, so getting back and building a wall to cut off driving lanes is most important. He continues to work from the post, effectively, both in turn and face situations and with a developing back-down game that leads to jump hooks. Ensuring the proper help is there and ready to disrupt these attacks is key. You still feel comfortable letting him shoot long jumpers, even if they fall. You can’t, after all, take away everything.

But, one thing that Giannis is doing more of this season is operating as a screener in the P&R with the Bucks ball handlers. The volume of him setting these on ball picks is way up from season’s past and finding ways to effectively contain both the man with the ball and Giannis in his roll can create problems — particularly when it’s Middleton, Jrue, Bryn Forbes, or DJ Augustin who is the partner. Those four can all hit the pull up jumper effectively, so the Lakers must ensure their bigs are not dropping too far in this action. Dropping or bailing early in order to catch back up with Giannis is going to be the first instinct, so they just need to be aware and trust the help behind them to do their jobs.

Considering Vogel has mentioned this is an area the Lakers need to improve in as part of their overall rim protection defense makes this point even more important. The Lakers need to be sharper here in general and the Bucks are going to test them repeatedly to see if cracks exist.

Another challenge when gearing up to protect the paint will be the shooting big men the Bucks deploy. We know Lopez will camp behind the arc in order to space for Giannis and crew. But new addition Bobby Portis will do the same. There will also be the 5-out lineups with Giannis at C that need to be countered and schemed for. Marc Gasol will be put in situations where he’ll need to defend more space than he’s accustomed to, particularly when put into rotation. How effective he is at doing so will determin the overall success rate of the team’s defense, both because of how vital he is in their best performing units, but also because the team’s rim protection will suffer when either Trez or Keef sub for him.

On the other side of the ball it’s important to note that the Bucks are not the same defensive monster they were last season. Having Holiday helps, but swapping DiVincenzo in with Wes Mattews now a Laker, George Hill replaced by Forbes and Augustin, and Portis playing a prominent role mean a weaker defense overall. The Lakers will have more advantages in specific matchups, particularly as the bench units face off against each other.

Today, then, my hope is to see a bounce back game from the bench units that struggled so much against the Warriors. Yes, I get that LeBron was a key driver of those low energy units and if he’s better today then it can cure a lot of those ills, but beyond him I’d like to see consistent paint attacking from Caruso, Kuz, and Dennis rather than settling for jumpshots. I’d like to see these goups push the pace, and really force Augustin and Forbes to defend at the point of attack and get into rotation on the back side.

I also hope to see Anthony Davis get going tonight. AD has scored under 20 points in 4 straight games and while those first couple of games were blowouts where he didn’t take many FG’s, in his last 2 contests he’s shot a combined 11 for 32. AD is sure to see a lot of minutes with either Giannis or Lopez defending him, which won’t make breaking out very easy. But he’s talented enough to score well against anyone in the league and I’d love to see him get back on track.

It’s too early in the season for any single game — even against a top flight opponent — to mean too much. Last year’s group didn’t break through against either the Clippers or the Bucks until losing to both in their first games vs. them. And we all saw how last season ended. So, I’m not looking at this game as some sort of measuring stick game or anything. That said, coming off the performance the Lakers had on Monday, I’d love to see a spirited game from them vs. the Bucks tonight. Win or lose, just compete hard and let the chips fall.

Where you can watch: 4:30pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet and TNT.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Golden State Warriors

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 19:44:13 GMT

I’m waiting for a larger sample of games (15 to 20) before I begin to dive into stats and lineups and bigger things that may or not be trends about the Lakers, but at 11-3 and winners of 5 straight they are at the top of the NBA for record, defensive rating, and net rating. They project to be the league’s best team and, much like the Warriors of several years ago, the big favorite to win the title.

That’s a long way off, of course, and the games now require habit building and commitment to structure, identity, and culture that can carry you through the finish line. The team’s stars matter in this pursuit, so Bron not yet missing a game and AD’s public admonishment of the team’s defensive effort and then on-court commitment to lifting their level show real leadership the team is lucky to have.

Frank Vogel’s steady hand in not overreacting to any one result and showing a calmness as his team slowly ramped up to begin the year also cannot be diminished in importance. He clearly has his finger on the pulse of this group and his understanding of how to manage things in the wackiness of this unique year should not go unnoticed.

As the team heads into a game vs. the Warriors today and then transitions to a monster 7-game road trip that sees them visit the Bucks, 76ers, and Celtics that patience and commitment to building the right habits matters more than ever. This team is currently winning at nearly an .800 clip. That’s not going to continue. But if the team shows the want to play the right way, keeps to its principles, and continues to make positive strides, a few losses here or there shouldn’t bother. Remember, this team is built to win the title. You don’t do that in January, but the habits you form are part of the foundation that can carry you in June.

Regarding today’s game vs. the Warriors, there are several layers to this onion that intrigue me.

On a matchup level, Schröder (or KCP) vs. Steph should be very fun. Draymond vs. Bron or AD also excites. When the Lakers have AD at C, I hope to see him get some minutes vs. rookie big man James Wiseman in order to see two really great athletes go at it in the pivot. Also, the Bron vs. Wiggins matchup is always a fun game within the game, particularly due to their connection from the Cavs trading the just-drafted-#1-overall Wiggins for Kevin Love right when Bron returned to Cleveland for his 2nd stint with the organization. Just watching all these matchups play out and all these guys compete against each other will be really fun.

In the bigger picture of X’s and O’s, I wonder how Vogel is going to treat Steph and approach defending him. Showing higher at the point of attack in ball screens is a given as Steph will kill drop coverage with pull up 3’s. But, will he go a step further and influence the direction he comes off picks? Will he run two defenders at him to get the ball out of his hands before a screen is even deployed? How will the bigs defend and help on Steph in off-ball screen actions that Steve Kerr loves to run so often? The answers to these questions will not only help determine what types of looks Steph gets, but how open his teammates are within the Warriors various actions.

Another question I want answers to is how will Vogel defend Draymond. In past matchups with non-shooters, Vogel has been happy to have AD or Bron simply lay off that guy and act as a helper in order to put that non-shooter in positions to have to shoot. Draymond, however, isn’t your typical non-shooter. He’s such a smart facilitator of offense via his passing, screen setting, and initiation of handoffs that laying off him can become problematic. He’s just so good at driving gaps and then forcing help in order to pass to another open teammate that he can hurt you when you play off him too much. My guess is that AD will start on him and see if he can just blow up these actions anyway, but I’m intrigued by the chess match.

On the other side of the ball, the Warriors have some legit issues to tackle when defending the Lakers. First, the Lakers are just so big and physical that keeping them out of the paint and off the offensive glass will be difficult. While Wiggins and (especially) Draymond are good matchups for Bron and AD respectively, there’s a cumulative effect of having both them working for good shots inside all night. So, I hope to see both them, but also Dennis, Trez, and Kuz, attacking the paint and trying to establish dominance at the rim early and often.

If the Lakers can get to the rim, it will then set up their shooters for the types of open shots they’ve been feasting on to start the year. I’d love to see KCP, Wes, Kuz, Caruso, Keef, and Dennis hit some shots too because if they’re knocking down their looks that only allows more driving lanes and makes the help decisions that much harder when Bron and AD threaten the paint.

This will also be a game where the Lakers need to take care of the ball. The Warriors play at a breakneck pace and love to run out and put you in scramble situations in order to get Steph open 3’s as he runs out or brings the ball up with everyone retreating. If the Lakers can take care of the ball, they can limit those running opportunities and force the Warriors to play more in the halfcourt where the shotmaking from Oubre, Wiggins, et al take on more importance.

So, in the big picture, control the tempo via ball security and by playing bully ball in the paint. Force the Warriors to defend from the front of the rim out and deep into the clock if need be. Put pressure on Steph and Draymond to try to get the ball out of their hands and put pressure on others to be shot creators and shot makers off their own dribble. Leverage your size and superior talent by playing hard and smart. Do all that and you’ll be okay.

Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on TNT.

Lastly, and this isn’t game related, it is not lost on me that today is the day we as a country celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and all he represented. I feel like this is an important day every year, but that it is especially true this year with all that has been happening in the pursuit of social justice, equality, and equitable solutions to some of the racial, social, and economic problems that plague this country.

Finding solutions to these problems are not easy and will not be popular. Too many enjoy the status quo for that to be the case. And on the day we celebrate Dr. King, the day you’ll see his speeches and quotes relayed across the internet, I think it’s always good to remember that he was not popular during his time. One only need to look at how he died to understand the forces that were against him and what he believed.

So, when you think of what’s important today and we highlight the things that Dr. King stood and fought for — things that are still relevant today — please do not be deterred in your pursuits for a more fair and equitable world for everyone. Because just as there were 60 years ago, there are opponents who do not want that. If there’s a lesson to be remembered, at least for me, on this signficant day, that is it.

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Lakers Game Preview: The New Orleans Pelicans

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 00:13:00 GMT

After sweeping another road trip, the Lakers are now undefeated away from Staples (7-0) and boast the West’s best record at 10-3. Their latest wins (Rockets twice, Thunder) were all blowout wins, directly coinciding with Anthony Davis raising his level defensively and the team, as a group, putting the clamps on their opponents. With the Pelicans in town tonight, the Lakers will look to keep that level going.

New Orleans comes in a bit banged up, already down Lonzo (sore knee) and with Eric Bledsoe questionable. That’s a fair amount of ball handling either missing or potentially not at their best, but the Pelicans are particularly deep in guys who can handle the ball to varying degrees and can compensate accordingly. At the top of that list is former Laker Brandon Ingram, a true rising star and someone who, personally, I am happy to see thriving as an offensive force to be schemed and gameplanned for nightly.

Of course, as much as this game can be billed as Brandon Ingram’s return, the opposing player who is at the top of the marquee remains Zion Williamson. The 2nd year forward is out of the league’s health and safety protcols and has been cleared to play tonight after missing the Pels’ game vs. the Clippers on Wednesday. Zion, though far from a fully formed player, is still averaging 22 points and 8 rebounds a night, with nearly have of those coming on the offensive glass. He is a wrecking ball inside, a foul drawing machine, and is just scratching the surface on what he can be long term.

The other new addition worth mentioning is big man Steven Adams. Observers of the league know all about the big Kiwi and what he brings to the floor each night, but it’s important to note that for this specific team, his screen setting and size as a paint defender and rebounder really help the Pelicans in several facets of the game — particularly in helping to establish their early offense and/or transition game.

In regards to tonight, there’s a ton to look forward to in this matchup, particularly if Bledsoe plays. His matchup with Schroder, especially on the defensive end, would be a good test for Dennis (and his want to create off the dribble) and one that could be worth the price of admission on its own.

Of course, the AD/Zion matchup also has massive potential to excite, particularly after AD has picked up his defensive intensity to the level he has of late. I’m also very intrigued by potential possessions where Bron is guarding Zion — last season when these teams battled, Bron stoned Zion in the post on more than one occassion and forced turnovers while doing it.

Defending Ingram is a different story, though, and I wonder who the Lakers deploy on him as the primary defender and who all gets chances over the course of the full game. Will Bron start on him? Will KCP? I’d imagine both will get their chances, as will Kuz and maybe even THT or Caruso.

None of these matchups are ideal (for Bron it’s less his ability to do it and more the ask of having him chase Ingram all over the floor), but slowing him will be the first priority for the team’s defense in the big picutre. If I had to guess, Bron will get the first chance (just like he did vs. DeRozan in the Spurs games), but as the game goes on the Lakers will throw several bodies at him in the hopes of wearing him down.

Offensively, the Lakers need to simply keep up what they’ve been doing of late. Obviously, they can help themselves tremendously by forcing some turnovers and getting out into transition for easy baskets. But, in the halfcourt, they should make Zion and Ingram defend all over the floor, putting them into screen actions on and off the ball to force them to be decisions makers and remain attentive as the game swirls around them. Also, I would not be surprised to see new Pels coach Stan Van Gundy send some double teams at both Bron and AD, forcing the other Lakers to hit shots and make plays against a scrambling defense.

In the big picture, the Lakers are the more talented team and if they continue to play with focus and defensive intensity they’ll be fine. I think their ability to stretch out Steven Adams with either Gasol or AD and then attack the gaps of the defense to force Zion into help situations at the rim where either scores in the paint or kickouts for open 3’s become commonplace will be difficult for the Pelicans to navigate for a full game.

Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet and ESPN.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Oklahoma City Thunder

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 23:28:21 GMT

After taking two straight games from the Rockets in truly dominating fashion, the Lakers are now in Oklahom City to face the Thunder. It’s the 2nd night of a back to back and after getting up to play a Rockets team with a lot of star power (regardless of the dysfunction), they now play an OKC group who lacks big names but play a much more together form of basketball.

That makes a this game somewhat of a trap game for the Lakers and one that could easily find them out of sorts or less attentive than the games in Houston. So, if there’s nothing else to watch for this game, how into things they look in the early minutes, particularly defensively, will be a good indicator of which version of this Lakers team we’re going to get tonight.

I, for one, think the Houston games give us some insight into the direction this team is going. More focused, more cognizant of the level of effort needed night to night in order to build the habits and structure that will serve them well come playoff time. I think the scores in Houston and thoroughly the Lakers dominated those games was certainly influenced by the level of connectivity the Rockets had — and was revealed more today when Harden got traded to the Nets — but the Lakers flexing their own muscles certainly contributed to.

Now, maybe you’re wondering how I’m saying that, if on the one hand the Lakers have turned a corner, how on the other hand this is a trap game? Well, it’s because it can be both things. Last year’s Lakers played a more engaged brand of basketball from the outset than this year’s team has. But last year’s group also had some stinker performances where they sleptwalked for long stretches. It happens. Particularly if you’re a good team that understands the long grind of a season and, as is human nature, won’t get up for every single opponent.

Which is why this game is one where, going in, I feel like they could take their foot off the gas. It just wouldn’t surprise me. Of course, the Lakers continuing to play hard and winning comfortably wouldn’t surprise me either. As is the case every year, we’re so early in the season that I, too, am learning what to expect night to night from this specific group of guys.

In saying that, there’s some interesting things to watch for this game from the standpoint of individual matchups.

First, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to Luguentz Dort taking a stab at defending LeBron. Dort is built like an outside linebacker and plays exceptionally hard defensively. He’s strong enough to battle Bron in the post and moves his feet well enough to slide with Bron on the perimeter. Of course, Bron is Bron and can find an edge in any matchup. But Dort is good enough on that end to make him work and I’m very interested in seeing how their matchup plays out.

The other matchup I’m looking forward to is KCP/Schröder vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA is the team’s leading scorer and assist man, and the type of young player I love to watch as he continues to develop. He plays at his own pace and is showing good comfort in creating shots for himself and teammates. Schröder, of course, has a history vs. Shai from their time together last season. He surely has some ideas of his strengths and weaknesses, and some of his pet moves to create space and score. I’d love to see those two get a lot of time defending each other because, as I’ve started to learn more about Dennis, he’s just that super competitive type that will surely want to get over on his former teammate.

Lastly, both matchups in the PF and C slots intrigue me. On the Gasol/Horford side, you have two veteran guys who both space the floor, move the ball, and play good team defense. As a spacing big, particularly in P&R actions with SGA, Gasol is going to have to navigate his on ball commitments with recovering back to Al on the perimeter. That said, Al will need to do the same whenver Marc is parked up high and particularly when Bron enters to the ball to him and then cuts off of him or circles back for handoffs or P&R’s of his own. Seeing who can get the better of who between these two bigs should be fun.

On the AD and Darius Bazley side, I expect AD get the better of the 2nd year forward, but it should be a fun matchup regardless. Bazley, beyond having a wonderful first name, is a bouncy and rangy athlete who is totally comfortable operating out on the perimeter. He’s taking five 3-point attempts a night (only hitting 28%), but can attack closeouts and shows some pop as a finisher when he has a lane. I’m not saying AD is going to have his hands full, but there’s enough there from Bazley’s side to make this one fun.

Again, I hate to hammer this point home, but it’s important: OKC is not a glamour team and getting up to play against them will require the Lakers to show a bit more mentally than they’ve shown in previous matchups like this one earlier in the year (the games in Memphis come to mind). OKC plays hard and they play together, making them dangerous. Add to the fact that they’ve yet to win a home game while the Lakers have yet to lose on the road, and this game offers a bit of streak busting motivation for them that shouldn’t be swept aside.

So, come out and play hard and with the right urgency, Lakers. If you do, you can head back to Los Angeles feeling good about another undefeated road trip. Don’t and…well, things get trickier.

Where you can watch: 5pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Houston Rockets (again)

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 22:32:36 GMT

The Lakers got an “identity win” against the Rockets on Sunday, playing inspired defense, getting a dominant performance from AD, a great boost from KCP who came back from his ankle injury, and strong bench performances from THT and Montrezl Harrell. It really was their best game of the season, particularly from the standpoint of how hard they competed and the level of seriousness they brought to all that they did.

Tonight, in the rematch, my hope is that we’ll see the same from this team and that Sunday night was more the beginning of a strong stretch of play rather than an outlier performance in a “one for you, one for us” type of fan appeasement way. We’ll see, I guess.

One thing that could help it be the former is that there was a bit of bad blood in Sunday’s game. After Markieff Morris got called for a foul for knocking down a Rockets player, Boogie Cousins responded in kind by knocking Keef to the ground with a shoulder of his own. Keef, not known for taking anyone’s bullshitAt least as it is perceived by him., quickly got up, rushed Boogie, and shoved him. This led to technicals being called and Keef being ejected. Fast forward a bit and Boogie, in an attempt to swipe the ball away on a Bron drive, hit him in the head and was subsequently ejected when, upon review, had his foul be upgraded to a flagrant 2.

So, this is the fun of these “baseball style” series of games the NBA has instituted this year. Not only do you get some learning of opponents and adjustments deployed, you also get any beefs from the previous game carried over and in a short turnaround. The potential for some emotions to still be there are much stronger and that certainly can influence the tenor of the game. I’m not sure if we get that tonight, but there is certainly that potential. After all, Keef and Boogie aren’t exactly the coolest of heads when it comes to this sort of thing.

Beyond that, though, there are real X’s and O’s stuff to look for this game. I thought one of the biggest keys to Sunday’s win from the Lakers side was their defensive intensity and how that facilitated their ability to get into the open court for transition baskets. That was a hallmark of last year’s Lakers and, I think, is a key reason Vogel characterized the game the way he did. Tonight, then, I hope the Lakers look to bring that same sort of pressure defensively and also make getting out in transition a point of emphasis for how they’ll attack offensively.

Having KCP back really aids in this, and I hope to see him streaking up court looking for layups on runouts and for open three’s by filling deep corner in early offense. I also hope to see Bron, AD, and Gasol looking for the long outlet pass, not only to KCP, but to Caruso and Kuz too when both are in the game. Another way the Lakers can get out for easy baskets, as they did on Sunday, is to turn closeouts into sprints up the floor. AD was great at this when recovering to Christian Wood 3-point attempts and this is a subtle way AD can get out for easy baskets if Wood is going to pick-and-pop or act as a pressure release at the top of the floor as often as he did on Sunday.

Beyond just playing more assertively and with more effort defensively, the Lakers must also understand that some of the Rockets players are capable of playing much better than they did in the last game and be prepared for better execution on their end. That starts with Harden who, even though he shot 50% from the field, only took 14 shots from the field and 5 FT’s. There’s a level of aggressiveness that Harden simply lacked last game and I’m guessing we’re going to see a more engaged version of him tonight.

And then there’s Wood, who may have had a nice boxscore at the end of the game, but didn’t play particularly well when watching the tape. A lot of his damage as a scorer came in the non-consequential parts of the game, but he’s more than capable of carrying over the footing he found in garbage time to the more meaningful portions of this game. Even though he’s not shot the ball well from 3 this year (and was only 1-5 last game), the Lakers still must account for him out there and if he gets hot from deep, it can change Houston’s overall effectiveness in a heartbeat.

As we’ve seen in both the 2nd games vs. the Spurs and the Grizzlies, expect tonight’s game to be much more competitive. It’s hard to beat teams back to back, particularly when both games are in their arena. The Lakers are going to need a repeat of the effort and commitment to defend they had the last game, but if they get it they should be in good shape.

Where you can watch: 5:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet and NBA TV.

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Laker Film Room Podcast: Identity Win

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 23:56:33 GMT

In one of their most complete games of the year, the Lakers romped the Rockets in a what Frank Vogel called an “identity win”. In this episode of the Laker Film Room Podcast, Pete, Mike, and I offer our takeaways from the team’s performance, focusing on Anthony Davis backing up his calls for more defensive effort with a great game and how KCP’s return gave the team a big boost.

Then, later in the pod, we get into THT’s strong performance on both sides of the ball and show Trez some love for his recent play, including how impactful he’s been on the offensive glass.

This was a fun game to discuss, not just because the Lakers played so well, but also because it was a call-back to what the Lakers can look like when they inch closer to being a better version of themselves. You can listen to the full pod below:

If you enjoy the Laker Film Room podcast, please subscribe, rate, and review in iTunes. Additionally, if you want to support the work we do here at Forum Blue & Gold, please consider donating via Paypal, Venmo, or supporting us monthly via Patreon.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Houston Rockets

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 22:29:49 GMT

At 7-3, the Lakers are at the top of the Western Conference — tied with the Suns. For all the hand wringing about how well (or not) the Lakers have been playing, they’re winning 70% of their games through their first 10 games which is roughly the same pace they were on last year when they went 52-19.

Has the basketball been as good? No, it has not been. Their collective effort has waxed and waned and their defensive attentiveness is not as good. This latter part, as frustrating as it can be at times, makes sense. The Lakers, as a group, are not as good defensively this season as last. Particularly as help defenders. The Lakers were an elite helping team last year and if there’s a place where losing Danny Green, Dwight Howard, and not having Caruso for much of this season has shown up most, I’d say it’s been there.

That said, this team continues to show us flashes of what they can be when they’re all engaged and on the same page. They remain a team capable of scrambling at an elite level, showing high at the level of the ball and recovering well enough to force kickouts and offensive resets by their opponent. And then, with their collective individual defense at the point of attack, they’re able to stymie those last ditch efforts to get a good shot late in the clock.

Of course, the team has not often been all engaged and on the same page. Or at least not as often as anyone would like. I do think that time will come, particularly as the new guards in the rotaion (Dennes, Wes, THT) get used to playing in this style with more reps. But, in the meantime, there’s going to be some head scratching and frustrating possessions. Hopefully the “meantime” isn’t for much longer, but a few more weeks isn’t out of the question. Let’s give this team 20-25 games to get their bearings and when we have more data.

Until then, the Lakers have a game vs. the Rockets tonight. At 3-4, the Rockets are under .500 and currently sit 12th in the West. Of course, the difference between 3rd and 12th is 1.5 games, so don’t let the numbers fool you. Houston has the ceiling of a good basketball team, but the turmoil from James Harden’s trade request and then the COVID protocols several players violated, forcing quarantines, has thrown them off track. Still, though, this team has some very high top end talent and should still be considered pretty dangerous night to night.

That all starts with Harden, but we know plenty about him, so let’s move onto the new additions. Namely, free agent signee Christian Wood and the addition of John Wall via the trade with the Wizards that sent out Russell Westbrook.

Wood is the exact type of big man you’d want to pair with Harden. He’s a really good roll man who can play above the rim both as a lob threat and when catching the ball on the move and then having to dribble and elevate himself to finish with power. He’s also a floor spacer who can pick and pop or space to the corner or play as a release valve above the break and capably hit 3’s. Wood is averaging 23.3 points a game and even though the 3 ball isn’t falling for him so far (25.9%), his 4.5 attempts a game create gravity and show that he needs to be accounted for out there.

As for Wall, he’s not quite the full on athletic monster he once was, but he looks fully recovered from his achilles injury and bone spurs in his heel that cost him most of the previous two seasons. He’s showing good burst off the dribble, good change of direction ability, and athleticism when finishing in the paint. Like every guard who gets slotted next to Harden, Wall is finding his way as an off ball worker who is mostly asked to just stand around as James does his dribble between the legs isolation show, but that Wall is scoring over 20 points a night and dishing out a handful of assits is great to see considering how much time he missed and the severity of his injuries.

Tonight, then, Houston presents an interesting problem for the Lakers. With an athletic stretch big and floor spacers all over the floor, this might not be the best night for Marc Gasol. Houston is sure to try to space him out and force him to defend at all 3 levels of the floor, be it when recovering to shooters or when switched onto Harden. The Lakers can try to counter some of that playing aggressively at the point of attack and running traps at Harden and scrambling behind it, but I’ll be interested in seeing how long Gasol can hang in matchups that clearly do not favor him.

Things would be easier for the Lakers if AD plays, but after sitting out the last game it’s not yet clear if he will be in the lineup tonight. If AD plays, he’s a more natural matchup against Wood and when switching onto Harden. Considering Wood said that he “circles” games with AD on his calendar, I’d love to see AD play tonight and try to give Wood a taste of what wishing for this matchup can actually mean.

That said, if AD doesn’t play or is limited in anyway, there’s going to be a bigger responsibility on Harrell and Morris and Kuz to defend at all three levels. If those three do end up taking the bulk of the minutes at PF and C, we very well could see the Lakers get even more aggressive, not only by sending doubles, but by switching more screens to try to disrupt the flow of what the Rockets want to do and then sending those doubles after the fact.

Offensively, the Lakers would be wise to push the pace more than they have been. Even after adding Wood, the Rockets aren’t a particularly athletic team and play a fairly slow pace. The Lakers would do well to get out in transition as much as possible, running off missed and made baskets and looking to exploit any footspeed deficiencies that might be on the floor. That starts with Shcröder, but it really means Bron needs to look to run a bit more. I think Caruso being back and having his legs under him more could help here too. As would getting KCP back, though it’s also unclear if he’ll be ready to go after missing the last several games with his sore ankle.

In any event, this is another road game for the Lakers in a month full of them. After a quick two game homestand, the Lakers are starting another 3 game trip in Houston today. Of their 16 games this month, 12 of them are on the road in January so continuing to show they can win in the other team’s building will be important.

Where you can watch: 4pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Chicago Bulls

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 01:31:42 GMT

On Thursday, against the Spurs, the Lakers lost a game they’d been on the verge of losing for about a week. When they don’t focus and don’t execute and only play with effort for short stretches, they’re just a good team. And when they play another good team, or a team that is punching above their weightclass some, that puts them in danger. The Spurs hit shots on Thursday, a lot of them, and by the time the Lakers started to care enough to do something about it, they did not have the focus or discipline to actually play together in a way that could get them over the hump. So they lost.

Today, the Bulls are in town and the Lakers will surely try to be better. I won’t go so far as to say I expect they will be, however. You see, even though Anthony Davis had some choice critiques of his team after the Spurs loss, playing to the level the Lakers expect of themselves (and that fans are getting increasingly impatient of them not reaching — at least if you go by my twitter mentions), is a process. There’s a learning and connectivity that must be established through repetition in order to be deployed consistently. The Lakers have shown flashes of this ability, but not anything sustainable. I’m not sure if that can change, literally, overnight. I hope it can, but, again, I’m not expecting it.

So, the Bulls present an interesting challenge. They’re 4-5 on the season and have a new coach in Billy Donovan. He’s a good coach and a sure upgrade over who Chicago had last season. They also have some good talent, headlined by Zach LaVine, 2nd year guard Coby White, rookie Patrick Williams, and several other young veterans. In that latter group and Lauri Markanen and Tomas Satoransky, both of whom are out due to the league’s health and safety protocols. They’ll miss both, but being down those guys does not mean all is lost for them tonight, so the Lakers need to pay attention and try to find that commitment they’ve been missing of late.

LaVine is a problem as a scorer. He can shoot the 3 ball (his percentage is down this year, but he’s going to take them anyway, so be aware because he can get hot) and he’s an athletic finisher when he gets downhill in the halfcourt is has a lane in transition. White can also get hot from the outside. Considering the Lakers have not been defending the 3-point line very effectively in recent games and the fact that the Bulls are 11th in made 3’s this year, getting out on the perimeter should be a priority.

What should also be a priority is attacking the paint offensively. The Lakers can be a devastating team when they get to the rim, but they’re not as committed to that this year as they were last. Bron is still driving at a consistent rate, but AD’s numbers reflect a disinclination to get there as much this season. Both should try to get there all night vs. the Bulls. As should Harrell and Schröder when they’re given opportunities to create their own offense.

The Bulls are a bad defensive team overall, but are 10th in the league in opponent’s shooting percentage inside of 5 feet. Now, they are 10th best in allowing shots that close in the first place, but once you get there, you can score well. The Lakers have the players to both get there and finish, so they should work hard to do so.

I could talk more about matchups here and X’s and O’s, but I won’t. As has been the theme of this season so far (and what I think will continue to be one for a while longer, at least), what this really comes down to is effort and focus. The Lakers need more of it and if they bring those things, they’ll be just fine. I get that it’s going to be harder some nights. When you play an only okay team in an empty arena, finding the right oomph can be hard. Tonight will offer similar challenges, but that’s the reality of it all.

I’m going to continue to preach patience about this team; it’s clear they’re super talented and have the foundation to be a title team. That said, I’d also like to see them put forth the appropriate effort for longer stretches than they have been. I’d like to see it tonight; hopefully they deliver.

Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet.

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Lakers Game Preview: The San Antonion Spurs (part 3)

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 22:34:54 GMT

Last Wednesday, the Lakers played a game in San Antonion against the Spurs. They won that game fairly easily, 121-107. After staying in Texas a couple of nights, the sequel took place, with the Lakers again beating the Spurs. It was a closer, but just as viable 109-103 win. Now, for the 3rd time in a week, it’s the Spurs on the docket again — the final time this season these teams will play.

Facing a team this many times in such a short period allows you to learn some things. Well, at least it would under normal circumstances. These are not normal circumstances; the quirks of this COVID influenced schedule are all the proof we need of that.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I know some things about the Spurs now that I didn’t before. That Keldon Johnson is an interesting combo forward who can shoot the 3 ball some and competes defensively. That DeMar DeRozan seems committed to shooting the 3 ball this year (and is pretty good at it!). That the Spurs are going to play smaller and faster and really commit to getting out in the open court — particularly when Dejounte Murray and Lonnie Walker are on the floor.

What I have not learned is much about these Lakers, honestly. I mean, they look to be what I thought they could be. Well, at least sometimes.

When motivated, they will defend. And attack the rim offensively. And look to get out in transition. And shoot capably from the outside. The improvement AD made in the bubble as a jumpshooter looks real. Bron, even as he’s clearly ramping up physically, still looks like a dominant player when he wants to be. This team is good and will contend for a title. Getting there is what the games are for, but we knew that already.

Beyond that, it’s hard to know much, though. Accept for one other thing, I suppose. This team also looks like one that understands the value, right now, is in accumulating wins, not in the full-on process of actually playing well for as long as possible. Right now, there’s an inherent pacing themselves that exists and that impacts what we can actually really know, if that makes sense.

In my last game preview (for the 2nd game against the Grizzlies), I wrote that I’d like for the Lakers to show a greater commitment to process. That I’d like them to play harder for longer, becuase, dammit, process matters. That playing harder and smarter is a hallmark of a great team, or at least the hallmark of the great team they were last year. So, I wanted to see that again, I wrote.

Thing is, though, this year’s team is not last year’s. This group is seeking the same goal, but is not traveling the same road under the same circumstances. There is no #washedking motivation. No attempts to recover the reputation of a generational talent who forced his way out of a city and away from the franchise who drafted him. No reclamation of guy who used to be called superman whose last stint with the franchise ended so poorly. No doubts about how good they actually could be to overcome or to prove wrong.

This team is favored and they know it. They understand how good they are (or at least can be) and seem perfectly content to play that level for just enough time as is needed to win the game in front of them. Sure, they’re building some good habits along the way and learning each other and figuring out what works and what doesn’t. But they’re also in no hurry. At least not yet. Some nights that will bite them in the backside. Others, well, they’ll pull out a win down the stretch against a team that is clearly not as good as them.

Watching a team like that is going to be frustrating at times. I know that because I am one of those people who will get frustrated. At a missed rotation. At a short closeout. At an opportunity to run discarded for another halfcourt possession. At a layup surrendered defensively or a jumpshot settled for on the other end. I get it. I really do.

That said, it’s been a little while since we’ve seen a team that can, from the outset of a season, be as good as this one can be. Probably even longer than the decade it’s been since the last time this franchise won a title on the heels of winning one the year before. When you have the potential to be that good, there is no rushing to the finish line. It’s too far in the distance. So, you pace yourself to get there. This team’s pace may not be what we want night to night, but I think they deserve the benefit of the doubt as they go down the path to wherever their finish line ends up being.

Maybe I’ve sold myself short. Maybe I know more about this team than I thought.

The Lakers play the Spurs tonight. I’m not going to tell you much more than that, right now. I hope to see them play well. I hope Bron gives us a few moments of dominance, that AD continues to make his jumper + gets a couple of dunks, that Alex Caruso returns and plays well, that KCP and Wes hit some 3’s, that Trez bounces back from a couple of lackluster performances vs. this same team last week, that Dennis shows out.

But if none of those things happen, I’m just going to try to be okay with it. Because as much as I’m a process over results guy, I recognize that the realities of this season meam the process we’re all used to watching happen may not be possible. And, in the absence of that, I guess I’d just like a win above all else. So, go get it, fellas.

Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Memphis Grizzlies (again)

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 22:19:21 GMT

You know the drill. Just like last week with the Spurs, the Lakers are still in Memphis in order to face the Grizzlies for the 2nd time in three days. The Lakers won the first matchup, a fairly sloppy game that saw things stay relatively tight until LeBron took over offensively and AD locked things down defensively in the 4th quarter.

The Grizzlies are still down Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr. The Lakers hope to have KCP back after he practiced yesterday. Alex Caruso is still out due to the league’s health and safety protocols (which is code for some sort of COVID related incident). Player availability aside, this game should look very similar to the last one where, if the Lakers play hard, their superior talent wins out in the end.

I get that there will be some X’s and O’s adjustments — particularly from the Grizzlies side. Maybe they will send more help to AD when he’s isolated vs. either Valanciunas or Clarke. Maybe they’ll adjust their P&R coverages against Schröder or exaggerate some of their pressure defensive concepts even more than last game. They can always try to trap LeBron or pack the paint more in the hopes the Lakers shooters miss.

Fact is, though, that any changes the Grizz make will only matter within the context of how hard the Lakers play and how seriously they take this game. After giving up a boatload of points in the 1st quarter and then not really playing hard in the 3rd quarter offensively, the Lakers basically won the 2nd and 4th quarters decisively in order to get the W. If they get that level of effort consistently this game, they’ll very likely win in a walk.

That means closing out better on shooters, attacking the defensive glass with more energy, and really pushing the pace in transition. It means attacking the paint more offensively and not just relying on jumpers to score points. Don’t get me wrong, the Lakers are good enough to win this game by only doing these things intermittently. We saw that on Sunday. I also get that, in a long season, pacing yourself by doing only what’s necessary rather than over extending is preferred and, in some ways, smart.

In the world of building habits, however, I’d prefer the reenforcement of good ones over the alternative — even if you can win that way. Don’t get me wrong, stacking wins is also important and getting those early in the year when you’re not playing at your best is great. But, in the world of process vs. results, I’m still a process person. So, you know, give a little bit more than Sunday and make this one a bit less frustrating and a bit more comfortable at the same time, if you can fellas.

Where you can watch: 5:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet and NBA TV.

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Kyle Kuzma, Shot Blocker?

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 19:45:06 GMT

When Kyle Kuzma was asked about what his primary focus was heading into this season he didn’t mention more consistent scoring, ball handling, or even improving his 3-point shooting. These are obviously all areas that matter to Kuz and would help his overall trajectory as an impact player, but entering into his 4th year and looking to grow his game he instead said something much less glamorous: defense.

You see, Kuz is no dummy. He made real strides defensively last season, showing real chops as a wing defender whose size and quick feet allowed him to stay in front of perimeter talents and effectively challenge shots.

Growing and improving that ability this year would almost surely mean more responsibility alloted to him, and responsibility often translates to playing time. If Kuz is on the court more, his want to score the ball could be better fullfilled. Said another way, you can’t score from the bench and you end up on the bench by not playing defense. Especially when your coach is Frank Vogel.

Wanting to be better at something, however, doesn’t make it so. Particularly on defense. You have to actually commit to playing harder and smarter on that side of the ball to truly make meaningful strides. And, early on this year, Kuz is showing that commitment and reaping the benefits of those extra efforts.

Where this is showing up the most is in Kuz’s blocked shot numbers. Through 7 games, Kuz has 8 total blocked shots this year, good for 1.1 per night. That’s a huge leap from previous seasons where he averaged 0.4 blocks per game in each of his first 3 years in the league. I know it’s early in the year and it’s fair to be skeptical that he can keep things up at this rate. But, when you look at the types of blocks he’s getting, I’m more bullish than I thought I’d be before looking at the tape. Here’s a sampling:

Most of these plays are simply about engagement and effort. Be it showing the right awareness and dropping down as a weakside help defender, hustling in transition, or simply staying attached to his primary assignment, Kuz isn’t doing anything that is extraordinary here. He’s just playing hard and making the plays that are born from activity and commitment.

Beyond the emphasis on extra effort, though, a couple of other things stand out to me here — and they work hand in hand.

First, as more of a perimeter defender now, the spots on the floor Kuz operates from has changed. No longer a PF who would be a pure backline defender, his rotations often come from the extended wing and from the blindside of offensive players who are diving to the rim. Second, Kuz is just bigger than you think. At a legit 6’9″, he’s able to cover ground and get up to challenge shots that many other normal sized wings wouldn’t be able to.

When you combine the sneakiness of both his height and the positions he’s in to challenge some of these shots, there’s an unexpectedness that allows him to pick up blocks at a fairly consistent rate. Especially when he’s playing as hard and showing the type of awareness that he is in help situations.

When Dwight Howard left in free agency for the 76ers and JaVale McGee was traded to the Cavs, the Lakers lost two of the league’s better shot blocking big men. Those two combined to block 2.5 shots per game and were both ranked in the top 20 of shots swatted away nightly. The Lakers were expected, then, to decline in this area even though they retained one of the NBA’s best shot blockers in Anthony Davis.

The Lakers have indeed fallen in the blocked shot rankings this season, but the decline has not been as precipitous as I expected. Surprisingly, though, it’s not because AD has been even more stellar than he was last season. Davis, who ranked 3rd in the NBA last year with 2.7 blocks a game is actually underpeforming there to begin this year, averaging only 0.8 blocks a night.

Instead, one of the main reasons the Lakers are still in the top 10 in blocks per game and are only down 0.9 blocks per night from last season is because of Kuz and the growth he’s showing as a rim protector, even if it’s not coming in the ways you’d expect from a guy who started out his career as a PF.

Now, maybe Kuz’s block numbers don’t remain this high the rest of the year. It’s hard to block a shot a game from the wing. That said, there are ingredients here that lead to me to believe that they can. And if they do, the Lakers can remain one of the better shotblocking teams in the league, even if it’s not in the way we were used to last season.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Memphis Grizzlies

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 19:34:41 GMT

After traveling to San Antonio and beating the Spurs in back to back games, the Lakers road trip continues with a visit to Memphis to battle the banged up Grizzlies. Like with the Spurs, the Lakers will stay in Memphis to play the Grizz twice in order to satisfy a schedule dictated by the pandemic.

As noted, the Grizzlies are banged up and are down several guys, including their two best players. Jaren Jackson Jr. has yet to play a game this season while dealing with a knee issue. And then 2nd year point guard Ja Morant is out for 3-5 weeks after suffering a nasty ankle sprain.

Missing either player is a major blow, but Morant being out is an absolute killer. During the preseason and then to start this year he looked as though he’d taken a sizable leap off an already impressive rookie season, dazzling with his scoring and playmaking. I hope he heals up soon and is able to get back on the floor good as new because he’s truly one of the NBA’s most exciting players to watch night to night.

While Memphis is surely less talented now, some good players remain and they’re still going to play hard and will offer some challenges, particularly if the Lakers don’t come out with the requiste effort. In Kyle Anderson, Jonas Valanciunas, Dillon Brooks, and Brandon Clarke the team still has 4 double digit scorers who will all compete defensively. Again, these players aren’t going to reach the top end that the Lakers best players can, but they’re going to come out today and take it to LA on both ends of the floor. The Lakers need to be ready.

The hope for me, then, is simply that the Lakers bring the requisite effort. It’s very easy to take your foot off the gas when the other team is down their top guys. So, I’m looking for LeBron and, even moreso, Anthony Davis to come out and set a tone early that they’re going to play hard and look to exploit their advantages on both ends. Play pressure defense, look to get out in transition, and then work the gaps of the Grizz defense in the halfcourt to dominate the paint.

If they can do that, the outside shots will come more easily and the Lakers can create the open looks they’ve been knocking down at a high rate to begin the year. I’m especially looking at Schröder to continue his strong shooting and for Wes to hit a couple of early ones to build on some of the momentum he established in San Antonio — particularly if KCP isn’t able to go after spraining his ankle on Friday.

Overall, though, there’s not a lot that can happen this game that won’t be solved by playing hard. I hate to keep hammering that point home, but it’s really the one thing that matters today. The talent the Lakers possess and have available relative to Memphis is just so much higher that the only way they lose this one is by thinking they can just show up and do as little as possible. That will not be the case.

So, set the tone early, carry it through the rest of the game, and continue the momentum from San Antonio.

Where you can watch: 3:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet.

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Laker Film Room Podcast: Continuing to Develop

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 03:08:42 GMT

In this episode of the Laker Film Podcast, me, Pete, and Mike discuss the Lakers 109-103 win over the Spurs on Friday, focusing on several areas where the team is showing or can continue to show development in this young season.

We begin talking about Marc Gasol’s involvement offensively, whether upping his usage is the best idea, and how he’s played defensively so far. Then we get into Talen Horton-Tucker’s return to the lineup after being benched in the team’s first game vs. the Spurs and look at the strides he made defensively after his poor showing on that end in the Blazers game.

We close the pod talking about Montrezl Harrell, specifically looking at his defense and whether he’s being miscast as a defensive center in lineups next to Anthony Davis. We look at this from multipie angles, trying to sort through on the variables that contribute his performance on that end and what considerations Vogel might be making when using Harrell the way he is.

You can listen to the full episode below:

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Lakers Game Preview: The San Antonio Spurs (Again)

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 23:21:34 GMT

In what is one of the new wrinkles to an NBA season where COVID safety and health protocols will dictate everything from team travel schedules to player availability (and everything in between), the Lakers have been in San Antonio since Tuesday night and will play the Spurs for the 2nd time in three days today. This type of schedule allows both teams to bang out needed games on the schedule while also minimizing contact points and travel.

Playing the same team back to back also creates competitive dynamics that typically is only reserved for the playoffs. Game tape examination and a day off between games should allow for the deployment of adjustments and tweaks to the gameplan that can help both teams be better this 2nd time around.

That said, whatever shifts do occur in this 2nd game, I expect them to mostly come from the Spurs side. If I learned anything about Frank Vogel during the Lakers run to the title it’s that he’s not big on making adjustments if the things you do normally already work. He often did not make real tweaks to his strategy (be it X’s and O’s or in his lineups or rotations) until his team lost a game. The Lakers won on Wednesday night, so my guess is that Vogel will make the Spurs beat him first before he deploys any changes.

So, the question is what, if anything, will the Spurs change this game? For one, LaMarcus Aldridge is likely to play tonight after sitting out the last game. His presence alone will change what the Spurs do on both sides of the ball, particularly in the halfcourt. Offensively, Aldridge is a much stretchier big than Jakob Poeltl so I’d imagine more pick and pops and more 5-out action. Aldridge is also a cornerstone offensive weapon, someone who will get more post touches and have action run through him rather than simply being a bystander who eats off what his teammates leave as leftovers.

Even with Aldridge playing, however, I do not expect the Spurs to make any real wholesale changes to their offense, particularly if it means slowing down the pace or being less aggressive in hunting transition chances. The Spurs were very good at getting to the rim in these situations on Wednesday and I expect them to try to do the same tonight.

For the Lakers, then, they’ll need to be better in transition defensively and more attentive defensively in general. The Lakers got easily cross matched and did not mark a player streaking up court too many times and that often led to an easy Spurs basket. In the halfcourt, they allowed dribble penetration too easily and played a bit too soft at the point of attack at times. In transition, they must clean that stuff up and force the Spurs into more halfcourt possessions where they have to create good looks against the Lakers set defense. And, in the halfcourt, they must compete harder and not let their own ability to score on the other end dictate their effort level defensively.

Offensively, pretty much everything the Lakers did worked well, but they got a huge lift from Wes Matthews making all six of his 3-point attempts. They cannot expect a repeat of that this game, so some of that production will need to come from other places. KCP and Kuz are guys I’d hope to pick things up, but AD, Bron, and Schröder are also more than capable. What I will say, though, is if the Lakers are making 3’s, they’re going to be very difficult to beat. So, you know, I hope they do make them.

If there’s one other thing I’d like to see offensively it would be for both AD and Harrell to get more opportunities to be finishers in the P&R. The’ve gotten scant chances to get downhill and receive a pocket or lob pass where they can finish at the rim, instead seeing their ballhandler either shoot, throw the skip pass, or just bring the ball back out to reset. Both AD and Trez are such great finishers on the roll, I’d love to see them get some more attempts — not only to get them going, but because those are the types of plays that force the defense to collapse and will only open up the team’s shooters even more.

Happy New Year, ya’ll. We’ll have more on this game later.

Where you can watch: 5:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet and NBA TV.

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Lakers Game Preview: The San Antonio Spurs

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 19:28:49 GMT

The Lakers are fine. It’s weird to have to say that after just 4 games, but with the Lakers sitting at 2-2 and having two pretty lackluster performances (one opening night and the other in Monday’s loss to the Blazers), but I feel like it needs to be said. Fact is, the Lakers have not competed well in their two losses, but when they did play hard they won comfortably in blowouts. I hope to see more of the latter against the Spurs later today, of course.

That will begin with Anthony Davis, who has not competed nearly at the level so far this year he did last season during the regular season, to say nothing of the levels he reached during the playoffs. Simply put, AD looks to still be in preseason mode, feeling things out in a way that doesn’t befit his status on this team or in the NBA more broadly. He’s a superstar and he needs to come out to be a tone-setter for this team along with LeBron. They rim running, paint attacking offensive force and heat seeking missle defensive monster has not yet made an appearance this year.

That will change eventually, I know. At some point the switch will flip for him and he’ll have a slew of games where he looks like the best player on the floor even as he teams with Bron. But it’s going to take a baseline of effort to get there and a certain understanding that he does not need to fit in with this team, but rather that this team needs to fit in around him. We know Davis has this in him; he showed it pretty much all last regular season and was a hallmark of his run to 1st Team All-NBA.

There’s a patience we need to have here, both with him and in undertanding that this is a process. But Davis himself must also recognize what’s required of him now. Bron gets this, but he’s in year 18 and has won several titles so he’s been down this road before. Davis deserves time to figure this out too, even if it’s going to frustrate at times — Monday night being a prime example of that.

In getting back to the Spurs, they’re 2-1 so far this year and have been a very balanced team that has 7 players scoring at least 12 points a night. They’re led by DeMar DeRozan who’s really showing an all-around offensive game. He’s averaging 9 assists a game and is again showing comfort shooting the 3 pointer, a development will help him and his team. Slowing him is priority number one, but his willingness to make plays for others means that it cannot just mean trying to stop him from getting buckets. This will be a real challenge for the Lakers defense, particularly because it will likely be smaller wing defenders trying to check the 6’6″ DeRozan — though there’s a possibility either Bron or AD can also take this matchup.

The Lakers must also be aware that the Spurs are playing much faster than in past seasons. They’re 5th in pace so far this year and really getting out to push the pace using multiple ball handlers who can all bring the ball up and push in transition from the middle lane. The Lakers will need to show defensive discipline and find a matchup early in possessions in order to not allow easy driving lanes to the rim that can lead to layups or kickout passes for easy 3’s.

Offensively, the Lakers are going to have size and athleticism advantages in the frontcourt that they’ll need to leverage. The Spurs have been starting LaMarcus Aldridge at C, but have been flanking him with a bunch of wing sized players all over the floor. Again, this is where AD can really make noise, but he’s going to have to work for it via positioning and fighting for space. It’d be really great to see him work for deeper post touches and to go to the offensive glass hard if he doesn’t get the ball via post entries.

The Lakers can also do well by pushing the pace back at the Spurs. Teams that run themselves can often be vulnerable to counterattacks in transition and considering the Lakers strength as a running team, they should test the Spurs mettle here by forcing them to get back and find appropriate matchups after trying to force cross-matches of their own. Also, though the Spurs are a fairly low turnover team, the Lakers length and size defensively has the ability to disrupt them, particularly if their transition defense is sharp. Again, use their want to play fast against them by veering them into mistakes and then running the ball right back at them for easy scores.

Lastly, Alex Caruso is out again today due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols. We don’t yet have many details about when AC will return, but being without him vs. such a guard heavy team is going to highlight his value. More and defense will be required from THT and Wes Matthews individually and the team is also going to need to see better team help defense from Trez when he’s in the game too. These aren’t the only players who can be better defensively, but they’re some of the bigger culprits — at least they were vs. the Blazers.

Now, go get this win for Bron on his birthday. Happy 36th, LeBron!

Where you can watch: 5:30pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Portland Trailblazers

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 00:26:35 GMT

The Lakers have now won two straight games in impressive fashion — a Christmas Day blasting of the Mavericks and then a thrashing of the Timberwolves on Sunday night. Both W’s were driven by the Lakers offense, with strong outside shooting and multiple players finding ways to have an impact being the general theme both nights. Tonight, against the Trailblazers, we’ll see if the trend continues.

The Blazers are a different looking team than the one the Lakers dispatched from last year’s playoffs. They’re rangier on the perimeter and at the forward positions, adding Derrick Jones Jr. from the Heat and trading for Robert Covington from the Rockets. This pushed Melo and Gary Trent Jr. to the bench and after adding Enes Kanter from the Celtics, this is a much deeper team that hopes to jump up in the standings this season with continued strong play from Dame and CJ in the backcourt.

A player I’ll be interested in watching tonight is Marc Gasol. After Karl Anthony-Towns sat out Sunday, Gasol found himself in a much lower stakes matchup and absolutely had his best gaem of the young season. His defense was sharper all around, and offensively he was much more involved as a passer and operating in the hub of the team’s halfcourt motion sets. Gasol finished the night with 8 assists, several on slick bounce passes to cutting teammates who got behind the defense.

Tonight will be a harder matchup, but it will be a much more natural one in going up against Nurkic. Nurk is the type of big-bodied center Gasol can typically bang with an help slow down (if not outright neutralize) via smart positioning and superb technique. That said, Gasol will also be put into countless P&R situations with Dame and CJ handling the ball, and it’s in those situations where issues can come up.

Gasol is sure to be in drop coverage in these scenarios, which the Blazers guards will eat up. So, Gasol is likely going to need assistance or outright struggle when at the point of attack, but better when playing 1-on-1 vs. Nurk. The question is whether there will be enough of the latter situations for him to have real impact when it’s easily forshadowed that he’ll have issues in the former ones. So, keep an eye on that.

Offensively, the Lakers will have different attack points than they did from their playoff matchup with Portland. There are better defensive wings, but the same guards exist and both Dame and CJ can be attacked in isolation and via P&R’s. Schröder can have a big impact here, but so can Bron (if he plays with his sore ankle), KCP, Kuz, and THT in transition induced cross matches, when hunting switches, or just in normal matchups. Put both those small guards into actions where they have to slide and defend on the move, involve them in screen actions on and off the ball to force switches, and then go to work when the matchup is favorable.

All of this is a lot easier if AD plays (which he is expected to after being upgraded from last game to probable on the injury report), but even if he doesn’t you can still use Harrell in some of these actions and put pressure on Portland’s guards to fight through screens or get caught in a place where their lack of size will show up — on the offensive glass or in isolation against a much bigger scoring threat.

I hope the Lakers go after both Dame and CJ defensively all game, not just because that may end up being where they find the most sucess, but also in an attempt to wear both down over the course of the game. With two scorers as great as them, you have to try to seek out any advantage you can over the course of a game and hoping to impact their stamina or soften up their legs by chasing them off screens or getting them switched onto bigger guys is as good a strategy as any.

In the big picutre, this game could very easily end up being a shootout where whoever is hottest wins the game. On Saturday night the Blazers played that exact type of game vs. the Rockets and CJ carried them home in duel with James Harden. Both Dame and CJ are capable of doing the same tonight, so the Lakers offense will need to be sharp and will have to find ways to create the types of open threes and avenues to the paint that spark high level production.

On the 2nd night of a back to back, that could end up being a bit harder and it will take a certain amount of focus (on both sides of the ball) and mental sharpness to stay engaged and to not settle for the types of bad shots that can allow the Blazers to find their own rhythm and establish momentum. In a way, then, this game offers a specific type of test that might tell us a little something about the approach this team will take this year. If they come out ready to play and show no ill-affects either mentally or phyiscally from playing last night, that will be worth remembering as the season advances.

Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet and NBA TV.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Minnesota Timberwolves

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 21:25:04 GMT

After an opening night loss to the Clippers, the Lakers got back on track with a blowout win over the Mavericks on Christmas. It was the type of offensive showing this team is capable of, casually dropping 138 points on an array of long range shooting, paint attacks, and offensive rebounding to bludgeon them. Tonight, against the Timberwolves, the hope is that they can continue that same approach…

In getting to the X’s and O’s of this matchup, a player to watch tonight is Marc Gasol. He’s not played well to start the season, finding himself out of sorts defensively and not as much of an initiator offensively. Defensively, Gasol’s lack of footspeed has shown up in the P&R, in transition, and when having to make some of the longer rotations the Lakers ask their big men to make when they get into scramble situations. Offensively, he’s mostly been a bystander and screener and much less a facilitator where his skills can be best utilized.

Against the Wolves, some of these same matchup issues are right there front and center in his battle with Karl Anthony-Towns. KAT is one of the league’s best offensive centers, and specifically one the best stretch bigs. He will linger around the perimeter both as a trail man and via pick and pops and force the types of coverages Gasol has struggled with so far this year.

Will Gasol be able to switch outright in P&R’s and hold up against D’Angelo Russell, Rubio, Jarrett Culver, Anthony Edwards, etc, etc? Will he be able to hedge and recover to Towns on the perimeter and either contest the long jumper or stay attached on show-and-go’s that Towns will use to attack off the bounce? This bears watching because if he can’t, the Lakers will need to go in a different direction.

Another thing to watch for will be whether AD even suits up for this game or not, because he’s the most natural antidote to Towns’ offensive brilliance. He’s listed as questionable with a calf contusion and with this game being the first night of a back to back, it wouldn’t surprise me if the team held him out. Remember, AD was probable with this same issue on Christmas and played great, moving well pretty much the entire game. But, with the Lakers clearly wanting to be careful with their stars early in the season, AD could end up in street clothes tonight.

In the bigger picture, and beyond Gasol, the thing I’ll be interested in watching is LeBron’s general approach to a game like this one. Opening night when you get your championship ring and then Christmas Day are two of the bigger games you can have in any season, but you’re not going to find two bigger games to start a year than those. With the Lakers about to settle into the normal NBA schedule now (back to back Sunday/Monday and then a road trip to finish this week), Bron’s day to day approach and how much of a bellweather he is for the team is going to be worth watching.

Against the Wolves he has matchup advantages in any direction he’ll look. Whether it’s Malik Beaseley or Jarrett Culver or Anthony Edwards or on down the line, Bron shouldn’t have too many issues with most every defender this team will throw at him. That said, will he push to exploit them? Will he race in transition? Will he go to the post? I trust him to know how hard to go or how to best attack, but in these early stages of the year, I’ll have an extra eye on this sort of thing.

As for the rest of the team, this should be a night where Schröder, Harrell, and Kuzma can replicate their efforts from Friday’s game vs. the Mavs. In that matchup, they were able to get to their spots on the floor and threaten the defense whenever they chose. Minnesota has been solid defensively to start the season, but they’re not packed with high level defenders (Culver has real potential there and Josh Okogie is quite good) and if you stretch them out and then attack the creases you should be able to generate good looks.

So, I hope to see these younger guys get out and continue to show their value by lifting up the rest of the team. They’re talented enough to do so and it would go a long way in helping to ease the burden that Bron and AD face on any given night.

Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on Spectrum SportsNet and NBA TV.

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Lakers Game Preview: The Dallas Mavericks

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 15:54:30 GMT

First off, Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone. I hope all of you are staying safe and celebrating as best you can. Second, since it’s Christmas, we all know what that means — the Lakers play today, this time vs. the Mavericks. This is a new matchup for such a marquee game, but one that makes sense when you consider the rising status of Luka Doncic and the NBA’s want to promote their stars on today’s slate of games.

As is the norm for a Christmas day game, I’m not a big fan of what this type of game often brings, particularly for the home team. The distractions are very real, as this is a day for family and gifts and relaxing together. Those things are even more true for the team who gets to sleep in their own beds, wake up, and then try their best to mix those things into their normal game day routine.

For the Lakers, then, this is their 2nd straight game where their focus may not be entirely on the game at hand as it normally would. We all saw what ring night brought — it was a sloppy and distracted effort early on that saw Bron and AD, particularly, not look much like themselves with only short stretches where they really locked in.

Today, will we see the same? I’ll certainly have my eye on that — beyond just the normal stuff in which this hectic start to the season already has them not where they’d normally be both mentally and physically. That, though, will not be the only thing worth watching — the game vs. the Clippers saw some rough play from some other veterans too.

Marc Gasol had an especially poor outing on both sides of the ball. Offensively he did not have a lot of action run through him at the top of the floor and defensively his lack of foot speed in space and in drop coverage was capitalized on by the Clippers shooting bigs and guards/wings attacking off screens. I’d love to see more activity from Marc and for the coaches to use him in more advantageous positions on both ends.

The Mavs use a lot of screen actions and have athletic bigs which could give Gasol similar issues when attacking the gaps, but their lack of shooting should allow him more certainty in his positioning defensively. Luka will surely give him some issues, but that’s true for every defense. That said, he can hopefully use his size to wall him off and, hopefully, steer him more towards taking that stepback jumper he loves so much (but does not hit at the rate you’d expect considering the frequency he shoots them at). Offensively, I’d like to see Marc have the ball a bit more in some of the Lakers flow sets where his passing and decision making can be highlighted.

Wes Matthews also did not play well vs. the Clips and I hope to see better from him this game. I do not think Luka is a good matchup for him (the Lakers don’t really have a great matchup for him — maybe Kuz?), but some of the other Mavs perimeter threats are players he can do well against. Wheither it’s Josh Richardson or Tim Hardaway Jr., Wes should find more favorable matchups that he can find a rhythm in. Offensively, it’d be nice to see him knock down the open threes he’s sure to get. His shot quality vs. the Clips was good, the shots just didn’t fall. Hopefully today is different.

As for Bron and AD, I’m honestly not sure what to expect. Both are listed on the injury report, but are probable. Bron tweaked his ankle and it’s worth watching how he’s moving while out there. AD has a calf issue that isn’t considered serious, but he too should be monitored.

What I’m looking for from both, however, isn’t necessarily uber athletic plays, but just a more sustained effort and a more dialed in approach. You can tell when both aren’t as focused — you see more easy shots missed and more turnovers off ball handling issues and lazy passes. AD, in particular, does a lot of floating around the perimeter and isn’t the same heat seeking missle defensively. I’d love to see that sort of stuff cleaned up because as they go, the rest of the team will go.

Lastly, this is a game where I really think the Lakers quickness and athleticism can shine. Schröder, KCP, Kuzma, Caruso, THT, and Harrell can all thrive vs. this team and good efforts from all of them could really tilt the game in the Lakers favor. When the bench units come into game, I think they’d do well to turn up the defensive pressure, pick up the pace, and really try to get out in transition where they can get easy baskets.

Early in the season after such a quick turnaround, it makes total sense for some of the Lakers older players to not quite have their legs and for them to find it more difficult to get into a good flow. I count AD in this too, simply because of the load he carried during the playoffs. This makes the younger players even more important in this early part of the season, which is why I’m looking to the bench to really make waves when given an opportunity.

Winning their minutes, particularly when Bron and/or AD are on the bench would go a long way in helping this team bounce back from opening night. Here’s to them making that difference in this one.

Where you can watch: 5:00pm start time on ABC and ESPN.

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