After losing to the Raptors in their third exhibition game on Thursday, the Lakers got their first day off of the preseason on Friday. Saturday led to a light practice session and we learned that D’Angelo Russell and Marcelo Huertas are close to returning, but Byron Scott called them doubtful for today’s game — though he did leave the door open they could return.
If they do take the floor, it won’t be an NBA team they return against, but Israel’s Maccabi Haifa. The Israeli team is stateside playing exhibitions against NBA opponents, including a game against the Grizzlies this past week:
https://youtu.be/1atAwwNurf0
I know nothing about this opponent beyond what’s gleaned from the clips above. I’m not alone either. From Mike Trudell:
Scott is more focused on his own players than on Sunday’s opponent, Israeli squad Maccabi Haifa, whom he said he doesn’t know much about. “I’m still trying to look at (our) players,” Scott continued. “Our scouts know Maccabi pretty well, so we’ll go over their tendencies tomorrow, but right now I’m more focused on us than anybody else.”
Based on his (and Kobe’s) comments after the team’s loss to the Raptors, I would bet this means looking for improvement defensively. That contest, like the two losses preceding it, saw perimeter defensive breakdowns and not enough back line effort to help the helper when the team’s big man (usually Roy Hibbert) slid over to protect against dribble penetration. Scott’s looking for better and he should be. Whether his players can deliver, with their individual limitations well established, is a different story.
Still, getting smarter play on this end of the floor is important. The wings must do a better job of containing their man off the dribble and, if not staying in front of them completely, shading them appropriately towards the help. When that happens, the weak side players – both the wing and the other big man – need to crash the paint to deter easy baskets via drop offs. But it all starts on the perimeter where guys are over helping, allowing the middle when they shouldn’t, and simply giving up the paint too easily. These types breakdowns are the death of any scheme and the Lakers have been bleeding through three games. It needs to improve.
Offensively, things are fine though it would be nice see some of their three point shots to fall at a better rate to rely less on isolations when plays break down. These aren’t new complaints for these Lakers — they go back to last season (and, frankly, before) — but that doesn’t make any less an issue. Byron needs to stress getting into secondary actions better (or designing them in general) and the players need to fight their instincts that the best play when an action breaks down is to work for their own shot first (second and third).
Still, the flow of certain possessions not withstanding, the offense is mostly doing what it needs to on the strength of the talent they have on that end. Kobe, Clarkson, Randle, and Williams are all doing well to create shots for themselves and others. Playing with pace has helped too, something the team will need to carry over to the regular season. I’ve also liked the extra effort on the offensive glass — especially by the bigs — though finding the right balance between trying to retain possession and transitioning defensively must be a constant consideration.
Seeing little improvements in all these areas should be a goal for today. If they can make enough of them incrementally, they should be able to get their first win of the preseason. Even against a game European team that would love nothing else than to beat the Lakers on their own home court.
Hale says
6:30 pm pacific time NBA TV, TWC SN+D, other
I’m very curious how the FO perceives its chances this year versus what they state publicly. My bias would be that they gamble on the back end roster potential of development versus pouring another year into the apparently low ceilings of Sacre and Kelly. Dumping either one of those guys probably wouldn’t translate into any wins or losses over the next two years. Upshaw and Holmes seem to have a speciality that can be cultivated. Sacre has made improvements over the years but they are not valuable enough for a team that needs firepower. Kelly might make it to Matt Bonner level at some point but this team isn’t set up to use that. Jabari Brown goes to the D-League or otherwise until they can get rid of Young.
I want to see Huertas on the court. It’s hampering the second/third unit not having a point directing them. Obviously, it’s better that he’s healthy during regular season it’s just that it makes evaluating the player’s offensive acumen difficult.
Robert says
Hale: Good question. However rather than who is kept as the last guys on the roster, I am more curious about playing time. The question is whether we are always going to play the rosters that have the best chance to win or are we going to give the young guys extra minutes for development. The “general allocation of playing time” is something that the FO can influence significantly. This will not stop Byron bashers from blaming everything on him. If we do not win (even though we are projected for 26-31 wins) it will be his fault. And if the young guys do not get playing time it will also be his fault. His third year is guaranteed so his accountant will be happy either way.
Hale says
I think you have to play to win. They didn’t pick up Bass, Williams, Huertas, Hibbert to fly the white flag out of the gate. If MWP is on the squad and not moving the needle but they continue to lean on him instead of trying a youngster, then your answer will be revealed. That would be Del Harris-lite.
If the team is in constant dogfights, they’ll lean on proven players. The balls of the decision is will Byron trust youngster/s with 8 minutes in the 3 quarter while down by 8? On the other hand, playing time is somewhat how I feel about Kobe Bryant and eating order. You need to eat the king to be the king. Dwight wanted to be fed instead of showing he was the apex predator. If you’re fighting for a gig in an elite league, Upshaw (Holmes, whoever) needs to show the decision makers that they are total idiots if they want a cheerleader instead of a potential baller. What bothers me is when it appears that there is a hard head inability to alter your perceptions eg. A kid’s mistakes are inflated as unacceptable damage perception versus an older player’s overall decrepitude/limitations influencing the entire game.
Many times I’ve thought that a particular player just needed some burn and they would blossom as a Laker only to see that years later after their expulsion, no other NBA thought they were good for them either. And sometimes the entire league is proven wrong (Gerald Green et al, MAYBE Whiteside). However that attachment to players is part of the reason that I’m on this board hoping for Kobe and MWP to successfully emerge from the time machine instead of being an official part of the decision making process.
Anonymous says
Maccabi Haifa isn’t very good. I hope Upshaw gets a lot of burn in the 2nd half.
Hale says
Did Kelly get a haircut from a Hindenburg survivor? That wig demands an ascot, a smoking jacket and a Vincent Price affectation.
J C says
Hale
Funniest post ever