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Lakers Lose to Jazz 117-114 in 2nd Preseason Game

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The only reasonable hope for the Lakers this preseason is seeing progress as the exhibitions transition to the actual season. From that respect, though the team lost 117-114 in overtime to Jazz on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, the team is on the right path.

As we discussed in the game preview, the hope was to see some better offensive execution, a shift in the rotations, and, in general, getting the players more on the same page on both sides of the ball. For the most part, these things all occurred. It wasn’t perfect — far from it — but it was better. I’ll take better over the alternative any day of the week.

And now, some notes on the game…

*The big news from the game was D’Angelo Russell leaving (and not returning) with a “bruised glute” after taking a hard fall when challenging a Rudy Gobert shot at the rim. The fall and its after effects was pretty scary as Russell lied motionless on floor for a couple of minutes before having to be helped off the court and to the lockerroom by teammates. During the game we were updated that the glute was “not firing” correctly and that he could have returned if needed, but the coaches decided to sit him out as a precaution. It’s good to hear he is, essentially, fine (though I’m betting he’s sore this morning) but it was scary nonetheless to see him on the ground and barely able to walk right after.

*After the team’s first game was marred by horrific shooting, this game was much better though still not great. The Lakers shot 43.4% on the evening, including a poor 7-26 from behind the arc. That said, most of the game showed off better flow offensively with more players shooting closer to the level we hope to see during the season. Kobe went 5-9, Clarkson went 5-10, Bass didn’t miss in his four FGA’s, and Julius Randle went 7-12.

*Speaking of Randle, there were moments where he looked truly fantastic. Yes, his 7-12 shooting (and resulting 16 points) was great, but his activity and all around game were most impressive. He stuffed the stat sheet with 5 rebounds (4 offensive), 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block. He was quick, strong, and athletic. He showed off a better finishing touch inside and the all court game which surely had the Lakers thrilled to still see him on the board when they drafted him 7th overall. The aspect of Randle’s game I think deserves extra was his work defensively. He’s still not as aware as he needs to be, his physical tools are allowing him to move around the floor well and make some plays which stand out.

https://youtu.be/F6vhlm1XRow

On this play, for example, Randle got involved in a P&R as the hedge man and rather than just hedge and recover, he stepped out hard to make the ball handler give up ground, used his quickness to take away the space the ball handler wanted to create, and then overwhelmed him with some quick hands and his strength to just take the ball away. The ability to change ends and finish with ease as a guard tried to chase him down was just the cherry on top.

*Besides Randle, Roy Hibbert also impressed up front. His 16 points and 11 rebounds accurately capture his impact on the game, but his night was more than just numbers. After Randle and Trevor Booker got tangled up on a possession, Roy ran over to stick up for Randle by confronting Booker. Booker stupidly took a swing at Hibbert — connecting with a slap that earned the Jazz forward an ejection — but seeing Roy stand up for a teammate was a great look. That play further encapsulated the edge Hibbert played with all night. He was great on the glass, physical in the paint on both ends, and just looked angry out there for a lot of his minutes. These are all good signs.

*Saying on the Hibbert theme, on twitter Byron Scott was taking a beating for playing Hibbert 32 minutes a preseason game. Hibbert did look winded towards the end of his stint, laboring a few times defensively and lacking lift (which isn’t great already) in the paint offensively. While I understand this perspective, I also think it’s a bit overblown. Yes, playing Hibbert that many minutes, especially after a grueling first week of camp, could be seen as a poor use of resources. This is magnified by the fact that, to that point, none of the Tarik Black, Robert Sacre, Robert Upshaw trio had seen any minutes (more on this later). The flip side, though, is that Hibbert is a guy who the team will want to play in the 30-32 minute range during the season. He’s never once averaged that amount in his career, so this might be wishful thinking. But one way to find out is to push him towards that goal now and see how he does. This game provided that chance and Scott took it. This is not the worst thing in the world.

*Any lineup without a true point guard (come back soon Marcelo Huertas), but includes Nick Young and Lou Williams is going to be….something to watch. The Lakers used one such lineup in crunch time and it went pretty much as expected. Lou and Young hit a few shots, but also chucked up some stinkers (to be fair, this was mostly Nick Young) and that was that. Their performance in OT, however, did allow me to come up with a nickname for the pairing:

*On the lineup construction note, Scott deployed an interesting front court trio of Bass, Ryan Kelly, and Metta for long stretches. And it kind of worked! Bass and Metta’s ruggedness complimented Kelly’s more finesse game, while Kelly’s ability to stretch the floor and height complimented Bass/Metta’s more interior focused games. I don’t think this is a long term solution for anything, but the trio partnered well on both ends of the floor and seemed to hold their own on the glass.

*On the Jazz, Rodney Hood is a nice player, man. His jumper is smooth and his work of the dribble is solid. You could say the same about Alec Burks, though his work off the bounce and his attack game is better than Hood’s while his three point shooting is not to his teammate’s level yet. Combine these two with Hayward (who really is a fantastic player) and that’s a lot of versatile talent on the wing. And I haven’t even mentioned Exum (out for the year after an ACL tear) or Trey Burke (who is slowly making strides as a shooter, though not to a level which matches his draft status). There’s a reason so many  analysts see this team as solidly in the hunt for a bottom playoff seed.

*Lastly, Kobe’s better offensive output will get good reviews and I agree it should. His jumper was falling at a nice clip, but beyond that, his passing was sharp as he set up several easy baskets for teammates. As he noted after Sunday’s game, the goal for him is to get back his timing back and he looked in a better rhythm on Tuesday night. However, it should also be noted that some of the shots Kobe made on Tuesday were the exact shots he got and missed on Sunday. This will just be the case with him as he becomes even more reliant on his jumper for his production. There will simply be nights where his shot is falling at a higher rate and it will lead to increased production. Other nights, the opposite will be true. I think a bigger key for him is to work more from 15 feet and in with a live dribble as that will give him more options while also putting him in better position to be a threat. Working behind the arc is also fine, but using his dribble with more purpose is even more important now that his burst has diminished. These are the little details that, as he’s come back from leg injuries, he’s still learning about himself and adjusting to, but I do think they will come.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. stats says

    If he wasn’t slated to make the team already, MWP made the team last night. Love the way he upped the defensive intensity.

    Didn’t see the end of the game: impressions on Nance? Upshaw hasn’t played; I’m curious to see him. Is he alone in dnps over two games? [Ignoring Huertas with injury/visa issues. I can’t wait to see him, either.]

    It’s early days yet, but I’d be curious what folks think of the guys on the bubble! [I thought J. Brown was horrible in game 1, but he wasn’t alone.]

  3. T. Rogers says

    The best thing about that Randle steal is the size difference. Randle is a power forward who has the foot speed to pull off a steal like that on guard. That puts a smile on my face. Patience Laker fans. Patience.

  4. Ed says

    Hibbert has to challenged on offense, given touches,and I think he`ll respond on that end much better than he showed with Indy. I think of Holmes and Upshaw as D League,but want to see what they have. Can only hope Russell won`t be hampered too much by the fall.

  5. Omar says

    I really think we saw a 100% better effort last night, outside of the loss and a few bad shots taken by Young, I think were in great shape moving forward. Loved the grit that Hibbert is bringing, loved that hustle work ethic Bass brings.

  6. JB says

    Nance only played near the end and looked a little lost on offense but was doing the hustle/scramble thing on D like you’d expect. Decent game, aside from the terrible first quarter. There’s finally a fairly bright light at the end of this long tunnel.

    Hibbert coming to Randle’s defense was nice and showed some good connection between the guys already. Checking out highlights today, I focused on him working in the paint. He’s a sneaky/strong position defender, especially for someone his size–lots of root-outs and clever positioning.

  7. JeffT says

    I did not like the line-up with Nick and Lou, or Swaggy and Swaggy2.0, were in the ball-game. The ball never seemed to move around at all. Plus the Jazz seemed to score at will. It sure would be nice if the Lakers could move Nick.

    I did not see much at all from Frazier. He hit a real nice 3 early on, but then seemed to disappear into the crowd after that. I saw one play where he passed up an open 3 to give the ball to Nick, who of course did not pass up the shot. He did make the, thankfully.

    Still hoping to see Holmes and Upshaw get a chance to show what they can do.

    Right now, the most likely cuts are:
    Holmes
    Upshaw
    Frazier
    maybe Jabari Brown

  8. Anonymous says

    Is anyone concerned that veterans, who likely won’t be on the team two years from now, are artificially making the Lakers more competitive than they should be? I mean all Bass and Williams can do is potentially turn close losses into wins. Aren’t we better playing the kids and losing with the hope of keeping our pick and getting another much needed stud?

    I’m saying the future core of Randle, Clarkson and Russell needs a fourth young talent. If the FO is serious about challenging for championships in a few years we are better off taking our lumps now than relying on the likes of Bass and Williams to help us finish 11th in the conference instead of last.

  9. A Horse With No Name says

    Bad things: There is a yawning gulf between the talent and cohesion of the Jazz in comparison to the Lakers. With Favors out, Gobert and Hayword still led the Jazz easily over the Lakers in the first quarter. The Jazz guards easily out played the Laker guards for pretty much the entire game. Utah was one of the best teams in the latter part of last season, and they are going to be a playoff team this year.

    Good things: Randle showing his gifts and high ceiling. Solid 5-man play out of Hibbert that will really make a difference for this team. Kobe moving well and playing effectively, minus silly defensive gambles. Clarkson okay, but still finding his way with his new teammates and new roles. MWP showing he can still contribute in limited minutes. Lou and Nick will be plus players if coached *cough* correctly.

  10. Snarky George says

    I’m glad Randle had a nice offensive game. However, I am still concerned with his ability to rebound consistently. If Hibbert pulls down 10+ a game that will lessen the issue with Randle. But historically Hibbert has been a poor rebounder — averaging less than 7/game for his career. If Hibbert reverts to form (against regular season NBA competition) then a center/forward duo that pulls down 7 and 5 rebounds respectively will be a detriment.

    Randle is a tweener in my mind. Does anyone have thoughts on whether he is a small ball Four or is he better paired with a stretch four who can spread the floor and allow Randle to play close to the basket offensively. And yes, I do think that Randle can guard a Three.

    It’s just that I think he needs to be paired with a forward who can also board. Traditional Three’s average 5 or 6 boards a game which is where I am beginning to see as Randle’s ceiling. Everyone compares Randle to MWP, well Metta’s best year on the boards was 6.5 and his career average is 4.7.

  11. R says

    Anon seriously we are already entertaining tanking in the phreaking pre season?
    Dental work is more fun.
    (Sigh) I guess that’s what the scroll feature is for. But sense you asked, I decided to weigh in.

  12. Todd says

    Snarky: Well, I definitely agree with you that Randle can guard the Three. The issue with him is that his offensive game is more of a Four at this point. So, I think you are correct in that teaming him with a forward who has range would be the best of both worlds. The Stretch Four would guard the opposing PF leaving Randle to man-handle the opposing SF with his rare combination of strength and speed.

    So where do we get a Four with range to make your suggestion work?

  13. Anonymous says

    So where do we get a Four with range to make your suggestion work?
    __

    Well, there’s always our first round pick in the 2016 draft. Ben Simmons and Dragan Bender are big Fours with 3 pt range.

    No, I’m not advocating the tank.

  14. Archon says

    If MWP plays anything close to the way he did last night, not only will he make the team, he will be a major rotation player. Also while I think Nick Young and Lou Williams can both be valuable players I don’t think any NBA team needs two of those type of high usage players. I can see one of those players being shopped before the all-star break (likely Swaggy P).

    Lastly, I was extremely impressed by Hibbert, he definitely looks like a difference maker on both ends (even on offense because he might be a load to keep off the offensive boards)

  15. T. Rogers says

    “Aren’t we better playing the kids and losing with the hope of keeping our pick and getting another much needed stud?”
    —
    No. The much needed stud may already be on the team. They need to concentrate on Clarkson, Randle and Russell. They spent two years losing to get ping pong balls. Now its time to show and prove. If they can’t develop the guys they already have what’s the point of trying to lose to get another so-called stud?

  17. Calvin says

    Roy Hibbert is a welcome addition. He’ll anchor the interior defense and make this team compete for #8.

  19. Anonymous says

    The team is not ‘going’ to tank.

    However, if the team is struggling by the trade deadline or is derailed by injuries then its possible we finish with a bad record but not one we tanked to get. But even in those circumstances the odds of keeping the top three pick are long.

    Here’s why we have virtually no chance to keep our pick. The team is going to try and win from the get go. So even if the team performs poorly I can’t envision them having a worse record than 15 – 26 at mid season. So let’s say the wheels fall completely off right around then. Even prioritizing losses the rest of the way and finishing 10-31 over the last part of the schedule won’t guarantee we keep our top three pick.

    In other words I can’t see the Lakers finishing worse than 25-57. And that record will not give us favorable odds to keep our pick.

  22. dxmanners says

    Pretty optimistic that 15-26!

    I know it’s super early, and I will happily change my tune if and when the time comes, but I can’t help thinking D’Angelo was a mistake.

    It’ll be interesting to see what happens if Huertas ever gets any minutes with the first unit.

    Boy, I’m sure glad they signed Upshaw!

  23. dxmanners says

    Robert-article is brutal, but speaks the truth. Everything comes to an end. The Mets traded Willie Mays. Babe Ruth finished with the Boston Braves. It’s not always pretty.

    Hope they can find a way to hold onto Jabari Brown….

  24. mud says

    that article was just stupid. it represents everything that has taken the fun out of sports.
    all it is is the East Coast kicking the Lakers while they’re down. it’s full of anonymous sources that probably don’t even exist. which coaches that Kobe has played for don’t like him? D’Antoni?
    Coach K seems to have a lot of respect for Kobe. so does Phil, even if the relationship was sometimes rocky and even if he wrote a tell all. he has said more good things than bad about Kobe, but good things about Kobe don’t sell.

    as long as he is fit and healthy, there will always be a place and a use for a player like Kobe. he is too expensive? that would be a team’s decision to make, not a sportswriter’s opinion to be followed.

    yes, Kobe WILL be gone sooner than later. that is a good and natural thing. he still has a lot to bring to the table, regardless of what ESPN says. i’m going to enjoy his last games as much as possible and hopefully as much as i enjoyed his prime. he has some really nice talent to spend his final season(s) with, and the team will only get better in any case, i am sure.

  25. rubenowski says

    I’m very pleased with Randle so far. He’s strong as heck! And quick! I like what Ive seen so far and I can totally see him averaging about 14 and 7, and that would be pretty damn good.

  26. Mister X says

    Regarding the article– it’s brutal but true. We’ve all suspected that once Kobe tore his Achilles his career was over — and it was. The Lakers were toast because they had no other option than to tie their star to Kobe’s wagon. They had no other plan to protect their season ticket and TWC revenue streams. It was Kobe or bust and they busted.

    The Buss kids have painted themselves into a corner. Jim doubled down on losing hands trying to win one before his dad passed. He wasted valuable assets in the pursuit. Then hubris set in and he let talent go for nothing thinking he could replace it on the fee agent market.

    Jeanie pushed for the Kobe extension and has been a horrible franchise leader (witness the in-fighting with her brother). She claims to know nothing of player operations and is far too trusting of those she hires to do the knowing. The won/loss records of the past two seasons are reflective of the inertia that stems from incompetence.

    Their future rests on how unknown quantities perform: the kids and Kobe. I don’t think the pain is over yet.

  27. Mid-Wilshire says

    A few observations:

    Positives — from Game One, Jordan Clarkson, 9 pts. (4-13 shooting), 5 rebs., 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, very active on defense; Lou Williams, 14 pts. (4-12 shooting), 4 rebs., 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block; Roy Hibbert, 10 rebounds in 21:29, one block, excellent defensive presence.

    Negatives — from Game One, Jabari Brown, an overall terrible game, poor shot selection, no improvement on his “vision,” playing generally out of control; Kobe, obviously still rusty; D. Russell, 2-8 shooting, somewhat tentative, apparently still learning the offense; lousy shooting overall by the team (28.9%).

    Positives — from Game Two, Julius Randle, 16 pts. (7-12 shooting), 5 rebs., 4 assists, 3 steals, one block, great energy overall; Roy Hibbert, 16 pts. (4-11), 11 rebounds (6 offensive boards), excellent defense once again; Kobe Bryant 13 pts., (5-9) 2 rebs., 3 assists, 1 steal in 20:53; Brandon Bass, 12 pts. (4-4 from the field, 4-4 from the FT line), 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block; Metta World Peace, 7 pts. (2-5), 4 rebs., 2 assists in 21:15, and great, intense defense that really sparked the Lakers in the 2nd Q.

    Negatives — from Game Two, D’Angelo Russell had a bad fall, Nick Young took some shots from the parking lot with his eyes closed and a hand in his face, and Byron failed to play Tarik Black, Jonathan Holmes, and Robert Upshaw, all of whom should be reviewed at length.

    Obviously, it’s still very early in the Preseason, but so far, from my perspective, the positives outweigh the negatives, especially considering that these players are still learning to play together. Consider the differences from last season:

    1) Clarkson is a year older, wiser, stronger, and more mature;
    2) The Lakers have Roy Hibbert to protect the rim (which they needed badly last year);
    3) Julius Randle is back…period;
    4) The Lakers may have their point guard of the future in D’Angelo Russell;
    5) There is a strong infusion of steady veterans — Brandon Bass, MWP, Lou Williams, Marcelo Huertas to balance out (and mentor) the younger players; and
    6) The Lakers, I believe, have some young players who are chomping at the bit and dying to contribute — Tarik Black, Jonathan Holmes, Larry Nance, Jr., and Robert Upshaw.

    The road back will be long and gradual. These Lakers may not win more than 30 games. But as I see it, there’s room for hope. Let’s see how things develop…this year and next.

  28. mud says

    blah, blah, blah….

    yeah, Randle looked great. i think he’ll improve quickly, or at least i hope that he will.

    MWP looked pretty good, too.

    Hibbert looked good.

    there IS some talent on this year’s team.

  29. Kareeme says

    Darius, others, do you think that Upshaw is being hidden during preseason so the team can stash him in the D-league without evoking too much interest from other teams? Just the conspiracy theorist in me.

  30. Craig W. says

    Kareeme,
    I don’t like it either, but if I was to posit reasons, they would be…
    1) Byron has to get some kind of rotation figured out on an entirely new team and Upshaw doesn’t fit as a rotation player.
    2) Early on, the Lakers may want to show some players so they can definitely decide to let them go – Young, Sacre, perhaps J. Brown.
    3) The back of the bench players the Lakers want to keep will see their minutes climb as the preseason goes on, because they are getting in better basketball shape and Byron knows better where/how to play them and what roles to specifically ask them to perform.

  31. Warren Wee Lim says

    What a stark difference when a team finally has talent. Games are not as depressing, even in losses. Its like what Hibbert said, its not the outcome as much as “how we played” … how we played was very encouraging.

    This game was one for our frontcourt – Randle and Hibbert. Both guys showed that they are hungry to prove themselves.

    Randle is going to be a very useful player, if not a star in this league. Him being 20 lbs lighter sure made his case for Draymond Green-type of defense. He isn’t there yet but all I am saying he has the props to make it.

    Hibbert is showing what he was drafted for some years back. Aggressive defense and just overall grit. He stood up for his teammate and with that act he immediately created chemistry for the team. He showed leadership, courage and that he has identified himself w/ the team. And I’ve seen how he does interviews over the years in Indy, if you haven’t yet, you should see him.

    Kobe definitely played better, and his aggression on D was most glaring to me. Once he gets the conditioning back, his rhythm as he puts it, he will be vintage Kobe.

    Clarkson had spurts where he deferred to his teammates alot, which is NOT what we need from him. We need him to attack the basket, as he had last season when he was the only one with talent on the team. Now with more talent on the team, he should go out there feeling less pressure and just attack. He needs that catch-and-shoot improvement from deep as well.

    Russell is the only guy I haven’t seen play well yet, outside that 3rd summer league game. I think the kid is just made of talent, he def needs to slim down and be more muscular, lighter would be better for him, if he’s at 195 right now maybe lose 20 lbs and gain 10 in muscle.

    Metta, Bass and Kelly provided meaningful minutes. I still don’t like Kelly on that bunch as he was more or less playing stretch-5, as Darius puts it, with finesse. I would prefer to find someone with better range.

    I’d like to experiment with the lineup more but I have this feeling that the deeper the season goes we will end up starting Nick Young (SF) alongside Kobe (SG) w/ Russell at the 1. Then we’ll have Clarkson and Lou Williams along w/ the destruction crew (Metta, Bass and Sacre) to complete the 2nd team. I think this lineup has more natural flow in it rather than have your-turn-my-turn jackups between Lou and Swaggy.

    We’ll see.

  32. matt says

    Regarding kobe. I think the lakers were not able to get free agents because his high price and the players anamosity towards him and our team. Once kobes contract is over and hopefully the team looks good this younger generation of stars will be lining up to play here. Older players got clowned by kobe they are not gonna play with him.

  33. Snarky George says

    Their future rests on how unknown quantities perform: the kids and Kobe.
    ___

    I opined a number of threads ago that it wouldn’t surprise me if the Buss kids had Kobe back for one more year. Our off-season could be painful (no draft pick, no elite FA signing and few assets available to make a meaningful acquisition). To save face (and keep up the cash flow) Kobe’s return may be the only highlight the FO can muster. I think if Kobe can put up decent numbers this season he’d be all in next year.

    Where everyone pushed back on my post was that I saw the 2017 off-season/summer as being a harmonic convergence of major franchise change:
    – Kobe retires
    – Jeanie pulls the plug on Jim who simply becomes an ‘owner’
    – Mitch retires to be a special consultant to the Lakers
    – A new President of Basketball Ops is named along with a new GM
    – Byron Scott is let go and a new younger/energetic coach is brought on
    – The new FO/coach attract a few talented free agent signings that summer.

    As Mister X said the Buss kids and Kobe are tied together. For basketball reasons the FO should cut the relationship with Kobe. However, for financial reasons, the kids are willing to sacrifice on court performance to maintain revenue streams.

  34. matt says

    Upshaw will play eventually in preseason.. i thought frazier looked good defensively (burks only made one shot against him and he guarded hood who had a height advantage)and he handled the ball well. Sacre needs to be cut.

  35. Todd says

    I don’t think that Upshaw is the player everyone thinks he is. Whether he eventually gets there is another question.

    Everyone wants to compare him to Hassan Whiteside who played a full year of college ball before moving to the NBA. Whiteside was awful in his first two years in the league and was actually out of the NBA for two years (12/13 and 13/14) before getting another chance with the Heat. To my knowledge, Whiteside didn’t have dependency issues which will likely complicate Upshaw’s progress.

    The Lakers have a lot of young players period. It can take a first round pick a few seasons to figure it out. With a lot of 2nd round players/undrafted players it may take longer. Kobe Bryant averaged 7.6 pts/gm his rookie year. He didn’t establish himself as a force until his second year. So if it took the great Kobe a while to get his sea legs it may take others a bit longer.

    Patience.

  36. Kbj says

    I really hope the Lakers didn’t screw up with Russell. He’s so young that it’s hard to tell if he’s going to be good until next season. I expect growing pains this season for Russell. I just hope he can learn from the experience and improve himself for next year. Otherwise, Lakers will be hard-pressed to get better soon (2 years vs 5 years).

  37. mud says

    the Lakers do NOT need a new GM. they already have one of the very best. it’s just my opinion.

  39. Darius Soriano says

    I quite enjoy the implication that something is “on point” because it’s the same idea shared by the reader. I’m not saying anything about that piece in general, just find any assertion that agreeing with something makes it “on point” as an interesting mindset.

  40. mud says

    yes, Darius…or the idea that because that’s how someone “feels” that it must be true.

    Sid, your feelings are what they are. confirmation bias doesn’t make your opinion more valid. that’s just my opinion.

  41. david h says

    darius: let’s just call them the thanks for sharing bros…….”My Turn/Your Turn” and everyone else the lose your turn if you blink bros.

    let’s hope coach plays them together only when the game is on the line with the ball in the hands of espn’s 93rd best nba player. what a crock of disrespect.

    Go lakers

  42. Craig W. says

    Let’s all pause to send good wishes to Vin Scully. He will miss broadcasting a Dodgers post season for the first time in 67 years. We all hope the medical procedure is successful and he will be able to rejoin the Dodgers for his final season next year.