The Lakers lost to the Wizards on Tuesday. It was their 53rd loss of the season in 74 games. They ended up losing the game by 11 points, 119-108. None of this sounds extraordinary at all. Considering the team’s record after their 10-10 start and the quality of opponent, one might even wonder how the Lakers lost by only 11.
Well, I’ll tell you how. The Lakers led most of this game. They were actually in full control heading into the 4th quarter and it took a 37-13 final frame from Washington to win. You can do the math, then, that the Lakers were ahead by 13 going into the 4th when it all sort of unraveled due to the Wizards turning up their defense, the Lakers missing some open shots, and Tyler Ennis having one of the more rough quarters I have seen for a guy who never got subbed out.
Anyways, that’s the background to the collapse, but the Lakers got to the point where they were comfortably ahead by having one of their best stretches of basketball of the season during the 3rd quarter.
Luke on LAL 3rd Q: “Offensively, it was beautiful. The way the ball moved, not even calling a lot of plays, just reading off each other."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) March 29, 2017
At one point, the Lakers hit 15 straight shots in the period, exploiting holes in the Wizards’ defense all over the floor:
Sometimes things just work.
And, no, the Lakers didn’t win. But much like the game against the Cavs, the Lakers were able to hang tight against a really good team only to be outdone by a superstar on the other team down the stretch. There’s no shame in that, especially for a young team who is still getting used to the jump in intensity which can happen late in games from good teams/superstar players.
TempleOfJamesWorthy says
That pass by DAR at the 0:37 mark of the video is why I want him to be a successful NBA player for the Lakers so badly.
I ***love*** passing like that, and it’s not really something that can be taught. Let’s hope the rest of DAR’s game develops so he can provide us thrills like that for years to come.
Phil says
I absolutely agree. Love Dlo’s game and when he flashes his potential it’s beautiful. Needs to build consistency but he’s starting to develop well after a rough year with Byron and dealing with Kobe/Nick/Lou eating posessions.
FredP says
It was good to see Russell and Clarkson close out the 4th quarter of a close game. They need experience learning how to beat defenses that are locked in and contesting every pass and shot. Russell fell into his bad habit of not recognizing potential double teams and holding onto the ball too long. In addition, the other players on the court kept the area around Russell congested instead of moving away from him and giving him passing lanes. All Washington did was extend their defense in the 4th quarter and jam up the initiation of the Lakers offense. That led to turnover after turnover and gave Washington the lead. Russell did exact a measure of revenge on Wall with a move that had Wall tripping over his own feet as Russell powered his way to the basket.
The 3rd quarter was awesome. The Russell pass was amazing and had to be seen in replay to appreciate what he did. The shots came within the flow of the offense as the players kept their discipline and did not start chucking up heat checks and instead kept attacking the basket.
KevTheBold says
Love the flashes, but the Suns are at 22/53 and pulling the plug of their water tank to reach bottom.
If the Lakers who are at 21/53 end up tied with the Suns, they will take our number 2 slot.
That final game against the Suns is one they should have lost.
Mark Sigal says
I don’t think that’s accurate. I believe there are no tiebreakers in draft, unlike playoffs.
I believe that if they are tied, Lakers and Suns will spilt ghe balls between two and three.
KevTheBold says
Having looked it up,.. You are right !
I usually take the words of game broadcasters with a squint in my eye, but in this case, it seemed logical enough not to.
Vasheed says
I’m pretty sure if they have the same record the balls get shared.
Renato Afonso says
They shut down Booker. They’re tanking harder than the Lakers…
On a side note, having the 3rd pick would be the best thing that could happen. 1-2 are going to be Fultz and Ball in some order and I’m not sure they bring something that is needed. At 3 the FO can pick a player that fits a need.
A Horse With No Name says
Agree here. If the lakes lucked into the top pick, it would be hard to pass on Fultz. I have serious doubts, however, about Lonzo Ball. He looks like a much better Kendall Marshall, but not a player worthy of the second pick. He lacks explosiveness. Physically, he’s two years away from impacting the NBA, and to me his shot is broken. No way he gets that slow, low release off against NBA players. Josh Jackson checks the boxes for athleticism, two-way ability and hoops IQ. Nothing wrong with his shot and his offensive game is evolving. His passing chops fit the offense perfectly. That’s the guy I like best in a crop of prospects that to me, look over hyped.
Darius Soriano says
Seems weird to me that people would advocate having a lower pick. With the #1 pick, you can select whoever you want. And if you value a guy like Jackson (who is, from all I’ve read and seen, a tier below Fultz/Ball), you can either flip the pick down a slot or two and get value for the pick AND take the guy you like or just take the guy you like at #1.
Also, from my initial dive into these prospects, I find it interesting that anyone would frame Jackson as a player who doesn’t have any issues with his shot while claiming that Ball does. Honestly, that’s wild to me.
A Horse With No Name says
It looks like your first paragraph is in reply to Renato. The second, to me. Right?
First off, tell me what’s wrong with Jackson’s shot? I wasn’t arguing shooting percentages, but rather form and release. Nothing wrong there. As for Ball, his form and release are going to be a problem at the next level–and I’m far from alone in that assessment. (See scouting write-ups all over the place.) Honestly, I can’t see how anyone wouldn’t be very concerned about Ball’s shot. There is literally no one else that shoots that way in the NBA, and shooting form that is at odds with what is taught from day one rarely if ever, works out at the highest level. It’s simply too slow of a release; making it vulnerable to getting stuffed. I hope I’m wrong if they get Ball. But I don’t think so. ( I hope they trade the pick personally, I’d rather parlay that along with assets to get a high level wing–we don’t need any more kids.)
Vasheed says
I’d read this as fan’s fear the F.O. would take Ball or Fultz with that higher pick instead of trading down.
FredP says
Since we are allowed to speculate about draft position, if the Lakers do keep the pick they would not be allowed to trade it since next year’s would go to Philadelphia. This year’s draft is deep but the top end talent is not up to Towns level so I am not sure drafting 3rd or 1st makes as much difference if you have to keep the pick. I get it that it is better to have the choice and it will be interesting to see how much Boston values Ball. They would benefit the most from someone with his passing ability.
A Horse With No Name says
You are correct, Fred. We cannot trade the pick–but of course we could draft a player for a hypothetical trade partner, for the hypothetical top three pick we manage to secure! Ha.
Vasheed says
The Lakers have the Rockets 1st round pick if they keep their own they could trade it.
R says
Yes true of course a higher pick is better than a lower pick.
Perhaps this speaks to a suspicion that the Lakers FO/Ownership doesn’t have a clue.The unspeakable stench of the Moz/Deng deals hangs over this franchise. No sooner than those deals were done than people on this board starting brain-storming how to mitigate the damage! When fans are way ahead of the FO, that’s disconcerting, to say the least.
Now I do know that the old guard are gone. They have been replaced by Kobe’s agent and Magic. I’ll be charitable and say it remains to be seen if they do a better job than Mitch ‘n Jimmie did. It’s far from certain that will be true. What does seem certain is that they both have a steep learning curve ahead of them.
smoothaswilkes says
so you’re going to bash anyone and everyone that’s in the Lakers FO? good to know.
R says
You talk in’ to me, smooth? Oh no, then who the …. Hahaha!
:0)
SamSinister says
I share the Ball skepticism.
Yes, his ballhandling talent is unmistakable and entertaining.
But that squirrelly shot … ?
Worst of all, his on-ball defense is non-existent.
So you end up with some sort of more jazzed up version of JKidd/Rondo but without much of any defense.
That profile makes for an interesting player, even a pretty darn good one, but no franchise maker. And the prospect of all no-defense Laker backcourt is obviously troubling.
KevTheBold says
I’m glad we have him, and this may be my imagination, but I feel as if Russell, whether intentional or not, is attempting to re-plug the tank, so he can remain our team’s best player, or simply under pressure from Magic, in fear that may be traded.
He’s got the ability to take over games, but now is NOT,.. the time.
I wish Walton would shut him down as well.
Rick in Seattle says
If you are saying the Lakers are better off with the 3rd pick (instead of the 1st or 2nd pick), I would totally disagree.
You always want the better player, and then fit him into your system. If there is redundancy, then a higher pick is also easier to trade. Going into the lattery with the 3rd position, gives you lower odds of retaining the pick because (in the Lakers situation), if you even drop one spot to 4th, you loose the pick to Philly.
The Lakers front office is certainly aware of this! The FO (and coaching staff) cannot possibly allow the team to win any more games (particularly the PHX game) unless they want to significantly risk losing the pick (as well as the 2019 pick to Orlando).
This is a much better than average draft class. Lakers cannot blow this opportunity. Lakers likely wont have another great opportunity like this for quite a while!
R says
Yes – in years past when there’s a tie they divvy up the ping pong balls. IMO they should find a less silly way to assign positions than ping pong balls.
Craig W. says
If you want some random chance, the ping pong balls are probably the best answer.
Actually I like a short round-robin tournament among the ‘bottom feeders’ to get the ping pong balls. Then teams would be incentivized to develop any kind of ‘winning system’ so they could better compete in the losers tournament, instead of this ‘race to the bottom’ that we have now.
RR says
I do not have an opinion about who the Lakers should take if they keep the pick, but I will say that the FO should take whomever they think is the BPA. In spite of having all the starting positions more or less covered with a young player, the Lakers are still nowhere near good enough to be drafting for positional need. If the FO thinks Fultz is the best player in the draft and he is on the board when they pick, they should take him without regard to skill overlap with the guys they have now. Same for Ball and Jackson.
R says
RR – I couldn’t agree more!!
Wait, let me think about it … nope, still couldn’t agree more.
The Lakers are very very very short on talent. Sorry, I don’t care how much “promise” “potential” or whatever word starting with a “p” you want to use to characterize the roster, they are fighting Phoenix for the 2nd worse record in the league. Let’s see, what was their record last year? Oh yeah second to last. The year before? Hmmm, I’m detecting a pattern. Yeah, better go for the best player available methinks … assuming of course, they keep “their” lottery pick … gee thanks Jimmie and Mitch!!
Clay Bertrand says
Exactly damn right.
Recall this scenario: With Houston picking first and selecting their own IN STATE product in Akeem (later Hakeem) Olajuwon, Portland is on the clock with the 2nd pick in the draft.
Portland’s reasoning on the pick: “Well, this Mike Jordan guy is good. But we already have Clyde Drexler. They are both scoring 2 guards so that won’t work. Let’s take this Center out of Kentucky. We don’t have a Center on the roster of his quality so let’s draft for need.”
Portland’s Pick: Sam Bowie
Chicago with the 3rd pick takes the BPA Jordan and wins 6 Rings. Portland takes ENDLESS flak for years and never wins a thing.
The draft is simply a talent grab. Teams should ALWAYS take the BPA……… and sort out the roster fit later. In this day of “positionless basketball” positional redundancy is not seen as conceptually flawed as it may have been by FOs in the past.
If they keep the pick and Fultz is there, they gotta take him whether they have a D’Angelo Russell or not.
A Horse With No Name says
Agree in the main with your thesis. Fultz is clearly the top pick. I don’t think we have absolute clarity on the second and third picks.
Rick in Seattle says
If ANY of you out there think the Lakers organization will continue to develop their young talent this coming season you had better prepare yourself for change. Here is what Is being reported by both Lakers Nation and Silver Screen and Roll today:
“Jeanie Buss would be heartbroken if the Lakers don’t have an all-star next season”!
If you think Magic & Pelinka are not listening to the boss’s words, you’d better think again!!! There WILL be some new faces on the roster next season! Expect it!
Meanwhile, let the speculation begin on how that gets done. A lot will be determined by where their top-3 pick lands. If it is a 1st or 2nd pick, it could be in trade, because there are several teams that would like a chance at one of the top 2 players, particularly a few small market teams that have had difficulty keeping talent–teams like New Orleans or Indiana. And surprise, surprise, both of those teams have all-star free agents in 2018. What a coincidence!
But if the Lakers choose to keep their top-3 pick, it may free up other players for trades such as Russell, Randle or Clarkson.
Or, if Magic & Pelinka can talk a couple of all-star free agents to sign this summer, then they can keep the young core.
Any way you look at it, there appears a very high probability that the complexion of this team will be significantly improved before training camp in October!
If not, somebody is going to have to answer to Ms Buss!
WS13 says
Agreed. I know one of the young players somewhat and he is convinced a bunch of them will be packaged up for that “star” player this summer. This front office is desperate for an all-star as said above. With Paul George being the leading candidate. Like the Pacers I am pretty sure PG can lead the Lakers to perennial mediocrity, constant 7-11th spots in the West and the no-man’s land of midrange draft picks…
R says
If the “star” they are planning to mortgage the future for was a 28 yo KAJ I’d be fine with this approach. But to do it for Paul George or Cousins would be pure folly.
RR says
Yeah. The guys people are talking about in this regard are George, Cousins and Griffin, all of whom are excellent players but none of whom is the type of guy you get at any cost, and I say that as someone who is not that high on the Lakers’ young guys. The secondary problem with going this route is the fact that Deng and Mozgov are owed 34M next year. If the Lakers had, say, 27M of that available, so they could try to get two top-20 guys, then, yeah, maybe you pull the trigger. As things stand now, it is probably not a good idea.
RR says
Yeah. In addition to the fact that George, Cousins and Griffin are Top-5 guys, the Deng and Mozgov deals make this option very questionable. If the Lakers had, say, 27M of that 34M available to try to get two Top-20 guys (one by trade) then, yeah, maybe. As things stand now, not seeing it.
Rick in Seattle says
In reply to R, I share some of your concerns. It would be great to see a full and complete list of available free agents in order to determine whether there may be players that make more sense for the Lakers than putting all the f/a money into George or Cousins. Of course we will not see a complete list until after the draft. There are quite a few veterans around the NBA with player options or early outs (like Nick Young). The most discussed 2017 free agents so far have been Hayward, Lowery, Griffin, Paul, Millsap, G Hill, Holliday, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The later is a young (24) defensive SG. Unfortunately, he is a restricted f/a, so its likely that Detroit will match any reasonable offer. Of this whole list (admittedly incomplete) Hayward might be a nice fit, but I expect he will go to Boston. At this early date, it almost seems like it could be worth waiting for the 2018 free agent class.
RR says
are NOT top 5 guys that should say
grumpy says
Put me on the side of the Ball skeptics. Obviously I’m in the minority, but I’m having a hard time seeing him become an elite player worthy of a number 2 or 3 pick. He does have great vision, but I am concerned about his athleticism and his unorthodox shot.
To further expand, I think he is actually a pretty good vertical leaper, but I’m more concerned with his lateral quickness and burst, which I think will hurt him blow by more athletic players in the NBA and will hurt his defensive capabilities. That said, his length can help mitigate some of the defensive issues if he leverages it correctly.
His shot is pretty ugly looking and he somewhat mitigates this by taking a step back when he shoots threes. I’m not convinced that his success in college will translate to the NBA when the defenses are better.
————–
Personally, I would select Fultz with the first pick (I think he has too many intangibles and has a very high floor if worst came to worst). If the Lakers got the second pick, I hope they go with Jackson. Like Ball, I think Jackson has an incredibly high basketball IQ which I think will serve him well. He is also fairly athletic and seems like he could potentially be a good to great defender in the NBA. I’m also very impressed with his passing ability. The one large concern with Jackson is his shot. I don’t agree that it looks okay. First off, he holds the ball too far away from him allowing defenders to close the gap easier and second, he looks to be using too much arms rather than legs. His free throw percentage also suggests that he has real issues with his shot.
Obviously no pick is going to be perfect and I will ultimately cheer for whoever (fingers crossing they hold onto the pick) they end up selecting. However, I personally would choose in this order:
1. Markelle Fultz
2. Josh Jackson
3. I’m still a little up in the air about this. To be honest, if the Lakers get the third pick, I would not mind if they explored trading the player. If they do keep the pick, I don’t have a strong opinion and would need to dig deeper, but I do like the potential of Tatum. He started off the year slow, but in some of his more recent games, he has shown some nice flashes.