As I wrote before the game, the preseason doesn’t carry a lot of meaning, but the Lakers were going to come out with their best foot forward by starting out well. And while it may not be reflected in the final score, the game did offer some good glimpses of what the team is hoping to be while also being reflective of what they currently are.
Some notes from the contest:
* Byron Scott treated this game almost like a scrimmage in how he did not mix his lineups much, instead giving both his 1st and 2nd units long runs together to start each quarter. The starting group of Russell, Clarkson, Kobe, Randle, and Hibbert played almost entirely together — save for Kobe (more on him in a minute) — giving them almost the entire 1st quarter and about half of the 3rd to find a rhythm together. Similarly, the 2nd unit of Lou Williams, Jabari Brown, Nick Young, Brandon Bass, and either Robert Sacre or Tarik Black played most of the rest of the game.
*No one shot well on the night which is reflected in the team shooting a very rough 26-90(!!!) from the field. Nick Young’s 4-10 from the field was easily the best shooting performance on the night, which basically says it all. Kobe went 1-5, Randle shot 2-10, Russell 2-8, and Clarkson 4-13. Off the bench, Lou Williams went 4-12 and Bass went 2-9. Jabari Brown gunned his way to a sad 1-6. Again, just horrid shooting.
*Much of the poor shooting was due to, at least from my seat, tired legs. Many of the team’s jumpers clanged harmlessly off the front rim with others not even drawing iron at all. This isn’t to discredit the Jazz defense which did a good job of protecting the paint, especially when Rudy Gobert was anchoring the middle. HIs ability to challenge shots at the rim without fouling was key in forcing some misses inside that the team will, against softer defenses, surely convert. But, again, the team just couldn’t buy a bucket most of the night for reasons that go well beyond what the Jazz were doing.
*The Lakers’ defense showed spirit in the half court on several possessions and are clearly better protected by Hibbert this year than they were last year with Jordan Hill and Ed Davis anchoring the middle (nothing against Ed Davis, who I thought did a good job for the most part). The team’s perimeter defenders were active in the early going and had several possessions where they rotated well, covered for each other on the fly, and got their hands in passing lanes/up to contest and block shots. Jordan Clarkson looked especially frisky, fighting through screens well and lurking off the ball to get deflections and a nice blocked shot from behind when helping a teammate.
*Of course, there were defensive breakdowns as well. Hibbert was clearly frustrated on more than one occasion when no one slid over to help him when he put himself on an island to help another teammate. The other big problem defensively was in transition, where the Lakers were beat often by the Jazz leaking out. One thing which contributed to their poor showing in transition was their guards — especially Russell and Clarkson — sneaking into the paint in search of offensive rebounds, leaving the floor unbalanced and susceptible to the runouts the Jazz utilized. The tired legs also showed up here too as, several times, the Jazz just ran by several Lakers who just couldn’t seem to muster the extra gear.
*I was impressed with Russell’s court vision and flair for playmaking throughout the contest. Even though he only tallied 3 assists, he had several “wow” passes which weren’t converted into baskets. Three come to mind right off the top of my head: After a backdoor cut, Kobe hit Russell who, after being challenged by Gobert, dropped off a slick pass to Hibbert who was sliding baseline, but the ball caromed off Roy’s hands; In the open court, Russell threw a nifty no look bounce pass to Randle who got fouled (taking a hard spill to the ground in the process) and couldn’t finish; After a drive to his left hand, Russell drew help at the rim and executed a beautiful pass around the helping defender to a diving Randle who wasn’t able to catch the ball cleanly and had the ball stolen. All three were next level type reads, but they just didn’t lead to assists.
*Lou Williams is fun, man. Good passing instincts, better foul drawing instincts, and an all around feel for scoring. From bombing the long ball to floaters over big men, Lou showed off a very refined offensive arsenal.
*I’ve no clue how well Marcel Huertas will be as a backup PG, but he’ll certainly fit better next to Williams than Jabari Brown. Brown played a spirited first few minutes in his first stint, but the rest of the game was simply putting his head down trying to get his own shot, missing several open teammates in the process. When Brown’s game is on, he really can score, but he needs to find a better balance.
*As noted above, Kobe only shot 1-5 while scoring 5 points. He also only played 12 minutes, going the entire 1st quarter and then sitting on the bench the rest of the game. This was clearly part of the plan and it was noted afterwards he did not suffer any injuries nor was he dealing with any other physical issues. Kobe looked a bit rusty and also did a lot of spotting up off the ball when he wasn’t setting ball screens for Russell/Clarkson in side P&R actions designed to force a switch to get him in the post. There’s really not much to say about his night beyond he looked fine for the most part, though his jumper is clearly not there yet.
Overall, there were some good takeaways from the first game and also a lot to work on. It will be interesting to see if Scott starts to mix his lineups more in the next game or if he continues to work his guys in shifts like he did Sunday night. I’m hopeful, too, that since two-a-days are now over, the players will start to find their legs and we’ll see better shooting and less heaviness when transitioning from offense to defense.
Michael says
Geeze! Wish I could have seen the game. Having heavy legs will lead to poor shooting percentages…maybe even slow rotations on defense. Since these guys haven’t played much with each other, they’ll need roughly a month to really click.
bleedpurplegold says
A few points:
1) that foul on randle was unnessecary for preseason, you just dont risk injuries to opposing players. I get that you want to show yourself, but a foul like that is just a no go in preseason to me
2) that team has got to get used to a first class point guard making the impossible passes look easy. I was very harsh on dangelo when we drafted him, but that guy has got some real game and i think no one ever played with a playmaker like him. Mad respect after seeing some of his passes, our guys clearly seemed surprised when he hit them a couple of times.
3) this team can flat out defend. Despite our bad shooting, we were up for long stretches against a potential playoff contender (credit to our defense) until our third stringers were allowed to show themselves. Guys are really going all out on d, i especially remember clarkson(who will be a beast come regular season the way he looks) having a block from behind i would have never seen last season from him. Guys working with metta seemed to have worked out thus far as the intensity really went up.
4) if those guys get their legs back, the sky is the limit for them. Very optimistic about the construction of our team after seeing them the first 3 quaters. We got a closer, a defensive anchor and a playmaker, the balance between youth and vets is also very promising. Even kelly had stretches where he looked like an nba player (if u havent, ho watch the 5vs5 scrimmages at lakernation on youtube. He looks even better there)
karen says
Having heavy legs is the most ridiculous thing i’ve ever heard. Scott had the toughest old school camp last yr and look what it got him. He is already doing it again.
BigCitySid says
-Watched the 1st quarter, then alternated between this and the Saints-Cowboys game (Cowboys loss yea!). Tired legs…in the 1st game, whatever.
Renato Afonso says
Guys, during pre-season the hardest game is always the first. The effort is very different and you really are tired due to the extra load. I’m not saying that was the case, since I didn’t watch the game, but it happens very often.
D. Peterson says
I saw lots of potential on the court. There’s no question this is an improved squad over last year. Now it’s up to the coaching staff to do its thing. We should be able to see pretty linear progression out of this team. If not, it’s on BS.
Paul says
Ya, Scott has gotta lay off the kids at some point before preseason ends or he’s gone. Old school, my you know what. All the research shows that overloading the body degrades performance. I thought the Lakers were embracing analytics.
Todd says
While one preseason game does not make or break a season I think we should not elevate expectations for this year. Its been said repeatedly our youngsters are young and our vets are so-so. I sense we’ll have a lot of games like last night where we’ll play close until the 4th quarter and then other team’s superior experience/talent will take over.
While I project improvement over the past two seasons we should temper talk of the playoffs until we improve our overall talent and the kids mature.
Comrade says
Many parts of the game were encouraging. Others, not so much. Russell has future all star written all over him. His court vision and playmaking abilities are going to make this team great down the road. Clarkson was impressive as always, and Hibbert did a great job of anchoring the middle. As far as the opportunities, the poor shooting is not as much of a concern for me (it’s to be expected in the first game of preseason during a grueling training camp regimen), but the defensive rotations have got to get better. There were possessions I was impressed with, but too many times no one helped the helper, and it doesn’t matter what center you have if he’s not getting help. It’s also slightly concerning that of Kobe’s 5
shots 4 were threes. He’s a career 32% shooter from there and
For him to be effective his looks need to come off of screens or on the block where he can use his footwork to create space. I hope this isn’t a sign of things to come for him. Russell and Randles shots both look rushed, especially Randles. It’s like he’s trying to get the shot off before the clock expires every time he pulls up. Russell was much the same save for the transition three he made when he had all day to take his time and shoot. I’m sure experience will fix these issues once the game begins to slow down for them. Looking forward to a MUCH improved team from last year
Justin says
@Comrade Umm that is Randle’s shot. He has a quick release. By the way, that is a good thing. Much harder to defend. That is the reason Steph Curry is so hard to guard. If Randle is able to knock it down consistently he will be impossible to guard because of his quick first step and handle. Remember this is basically his first season and so things will slow down for him about half way through (as it does for more rookies). I wish I could forward to about 28 games into the season to see how Randle’s game matures.
As for Kobe, I think 3s are going to be a big part of his game. He is a career 32% shooter from 3 because he was shooting so many over double teams. He should get plenty of open looks now. But I expect him to play more post as he can still get his shot there. Kobe on’t be asked to create for teammates as much. That is Russell’s job. And players like Swaggy, Lou, and Clarkson create most of their own shots. Kobe’s game last night was knocking of basketball rust. Something I expect to see a few more times in preseason before he starts demanding the ball more in the regular season.
Ed says
How to best utilize Kobe is going to take some time.Still think Hibbert has more offense than given credit for. Hope we get to see Nance, Holmes, and Upshaw next game.Back to Kobe,give him another couple weeks before drawing any conclusions.
rr says
Todd,
Good points. I think we what we are basically going to see for a protracted period is
a) The team struggling
b) A lot of people primarily blaming something that Scott did or didn’t do for those struggles. In this case, it was tired legs from the two-a-days. That may have had an effect; probably it did. But Utah is a good defensive team and has better front-line talent than the Lakers do and stuff like that shows up sometimes even in preseason. Hayward/Favors/Gobert aren’t going to set the NBA on fire, but that is a better core, right now, than what the Lakers have.
The Lakers’ roster is better than last year’s in that Russell, Randle and Clarkson provide a reason to watch and a basis for hope. Hibbert will help the interior D a bit, but that probably means the Lakers will be something like 24th in DRTG instead of 29th.
The main thing is that Russell, Randle and Clarkson stay healthy, develop, and show that they have the ability to be foundational players. Ws and Ls are not that big of a deal.
One funny thing is that if the Lakers actually do win 40-43 games and challenge for the 8th seed, and Scott makes it through the season, he will probably be Coach of the Year. If they win 35 games and he makes it through the year, he will get some votes for it.
A Horse With No Name says
Big Props to Mike Trudell. In the post game Q &A, he was the only the reporter to question Byron’s statement that maybe Utah was in better shape. MT said: “Is it the chicken or the egg? Were the lakers lagging in transition defense because they weren’t in as good of shape as Utah, or was it because they were gassed from all the running in practice? Byron’s response was incredibly stupid: “I’m not sure, but we will run tomorrow in practice to work on our defensive transition . . . . I think the fatigue is mostly mental.”–Paraphrasing–but really? I was so bothered by the stubbornness and idiocy of BS that I found myself really turned off to the prospect of the coming season. The players, organization and fans deserve better.
lil pau says
I was really impressed with d’Angelo last night which makes me so excited going forward. I admit I was firmly in the draft Okafor camp, but last night provided a sense of what 5 years from now might look like. Clarkson/Russell really feels to me like a longterm winning combination.
On the other hand, I don’t know whether to be impressed by Randle’s fantastic first step, which we saw on display in summer league as well, or if i should be concerned that he seems unable to capitalize upon it… like, ever. Once he gets separation, he seems confounded whether to pull up or charge to the basket, but it doesn’t seem to matter because neither way ever seems to lead to scoring. Maybe the athleticism is paramount, and the finish will follow… i certainly hope so, because I don’t remember ever seeing a player who can get free that easily but who then looks so confused once he gets there.
I share comrade’s concern about what last night suggested about Kobe’s role in the offense. Hope i’m wrong here– certainly, I’d love to see him finish his career stronger than shooting corner 3s.
oh yes, and ryan kelly: just because you’re going for a mike miller look doesn’t mean you’re anything like mike miller.
where was MWP? i mean, i saw him on the bench, but….
Keith says
For the Lakers to really improve in the standings their players are going to have to ‘Win’ their match-ups on the floor. My thoughts on watching the game last night:
– Randle was out played by Favors
– Kobe was outplayed by Hayward
– Hibbert was outplayed by Gobert (Roy had a slight edge on the boards but contributed no offense)
– Russell was outplayed by Burke
– Clarkson outplayed Burks
– The Lakers bench was outscored by Utah’s 43 – 42 (Williams/Young scored in double figures but shot horribly)
Again, it’s just a preseason game but the bottom line is the Lakers lost and the reason is that only one player won their respective match-up (Clarkson). It’s an over simplification but the Lakers won’t win games of they don’t win enough of their respective match-ups.
So yeah, I agree with Todd and rr — the Lakers are a work in progress.
Anonymous says
From Kevin Pelton’s Friday chat:
___
Dorian (new York): Why is Russell considered to have the biggest bust potential out of this draft class? I don’t think he’ll be a star but isn’t his worst cast and most likely scenario a good spot up shooting off guard? Maybe a lesser version of Michael Redd ??
Kevin Pelton: I’m not sure that he is. The Stats/Info draft projection model suggested a high chance of Russell disappointing as a pro, but that’s just one projection. If he’s unable to play point, I’m not sure he’s anything more than a reserve combo guard because of his size. But I don’t think that he won’t be able to play point guard.
___
Teresa (cali life): Most likely to happen this year: 1. Kobe averages less than 15 pts/game: 2. Lakers make playoffs: 3. Kobe averages more than 23 pts/game: 4. Lakers are bottom 3 team
Kevin Pelton: (4)
Oldtimer says
It is the first game and only preseason. I heard that statement since time of MBrown. We have seen this last season, they led at 1st half and evaporate on the 2nd half. Losing can be habit-forming too if it is not managed. Got to win games soon or Jim Buss is a goner soon too.
dxmanners says
What a thrill to see Robert Sacre back on the court last night. Would have really liked to have seen Okafor and RJ Hunter, and a veteran point guard. Work in progress, indeed. I hope there is progress….
T. Rogers says
Lil Pau,
Randle does indeed look confused on what to do when he creates space. I’ll take that any day. He clearly has the physical tools to create the space. That’s the most important thing. He can be taught what to do once the space is created. I hope that is something Worthy works with him on. Randle only played one year at UK. And he missed all of last year. So he does have quite a bit to learn. It’s going to take some time.
Anon says
We were bad enough last year to end up with the 2nd pick in the draft. Any improvement on that is, well, an improvement. Ground yourself in reality Laker fans and your life (and the season) will go by much smoother.
J C says
dx manners-
I was also delighted to see Sacre again.
Why didn’t Upshaw play?
Sacre showed us his usual stuff, tossing up airballs.
Isn’t the preseason the time for guys like Upshaw to show their merit?
Maybe Upshaw hasn’t practiced well.
Hope he gets some minutes tonight.
R says
Heavy legs in the first game of the preseason and half the team is under twenty? Wonder how they’ll be feeling by the all star break.
14:1 says
And now we have injuries to both Browns from Monday practice. That’s 5 injuries from training camp…Nance, A. Brown, J. Brown, Huertas, and MWP. Way to go Scott. Only a genius coach would take to running his players more without taking into consideration that maybe there is a possibility that the entire team is tired from the heavy training. It shows his stubbornness and disregard for analystics of injuries related to stress and overuse and lack of healing rest time. BS is going to run this team into the ground before the season even starts.