After losing to the Timberwolves on opening night, the Lakers are 0-1. The last time they were at or above .500 (0-0 does not count) was actually December 20, 2013 when they were 13-13. That…that was a long time ago. Mike D’Antoni was head coach, Pau Gasol anchored the pivot, and Kobe Bryant had already played in all of the 6 games he’d appear in that season (he broke a bone in his knee three days earlier against the Grizzlies).
That stat interests me because tonight the Lakers have a chance to get back there against the Kings. Sacramento, like the Lakers (and, if we’re honest, like the Wolves), are looking to take a major step forward this year by outperforming expectations. They hope to make the playoffs. And they assembled a veteran heavy roster and retained George Karl to get there.
While the Kings have been a lottery team since they fell off the map as a contender after the Webber/Vlade/Peja teams, they have decided that they would de-invest in youth heading into this season. Yes, DeMarcus Cousins remains, but he’s a vet now, a Team USA participant who made his first all-star team last year. The only other young players of note on the team are Ben McLemore (3rd year) and rookie Willie Cauly-Stein.
The rest of the team consists of names any NBA fan knows fairly well. Rajon Rondo, Rudy Gay, Darren Collison, Marco Bellineli, and Caron Butler. Add in solid veterans Kosta Koufos and Omri Casspi, and that’s an entire rotation full of guys all with at least 6 years of experience. As many of these guys enter or are right in their prime, the Kings clearly want to win now. With a new arena coming next season, it’s probably less a want and more a need, actually.
Looking at their roster and comparing it to the Lakers’, it is easy to see that the Kings should be favored. Or, at least it is easy to me. They have the best player (Cousins) and more capable veterans. While I like the long term outlook of Russell and Randle more than WCS and McLemore, this game isn’t going to come down to who has the better long term prospects.
No, this game will come down to whether Roy Hibbert can contain Cousins, how Kobe defends Rudy Gay, whether the Lakers’ bench wings (Lou, Nick Young) can outdo the Kings’ ones (Collison, Belinelli), and if the Lakers’ three young players can be more efficient than they were in the opener.
None of those things are going to be easy. In the Kings’ opener — a loss to the Clippers — Cousins hit 4 three pointers and scored 32 points. He also pulled down 13 rebounds, including 3 offensive. Rudy Gay, meanwhile, scored 16 points while Collison and Belinelli combined for 22. Considering the Clippers are a better defensive team than the Lakers, it’s easy to see these numbers being exceeded tonight.
The Lakers, then, will need to counter. And while it’s easy to look at Kobe to be the ballast, I will instead look at the young players. Against the Wolves, Randle (5-13), Clarkson (5-12), and Russell (2-7) all shot poorly. The Kings offer good defenders, but LA’s trio can and will need to be better. Randle will need to finish better inside (Cousins, WCS, and Koufos will be lurking, though) and Clarkson will need to find easier looks than the ones he got against Minnesota. As for Russell, hopefully having the ball in his hands more will lead to more of an early rhythm that can lead to some makable looks.
Another key area will be the backboards. Against the Clippers, the Kings pulled down 12 offensive rebounds and won the battle on the glass. The Lakers, meanwhile, were much better on the glass than the Wolves, pulling down 15 ORebs of their own. If either team can keep up that level of pressure on their opponent’s glass while keeping their own backboards secure, they will have a big leg up in getting this win.
Where you can watch: 7:00pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.
Snarky George says
From Kevin Pelton’s Friday Chat:
Josh: Obviously early but still fun… how many players taken behind Russell would you take ahead of him from what you have seen so far?
Kevin Pelton: None. I liked him second before the draft and there’s not enough of a sample yet to change that opinion. Everyone’s very excited about Okafor’s opening game but he was not nearly as effective in the preseason, and Mudiay is getting an opportunity to do way more — for better or worse — than Russell is in L.A.
___
In my mind, Russell will be fine if the Lakers just let him play. He’s a 19 year old rookie and he’s going to make mistakes. The only way he’s a bust is if the Lakers mismanage him by trying to make him a SG, pulling him when he makes a mistake or not trusting him with crunch time minutes.
In many ways the Lakers were not a good fit for him as there are far too many competing goals other than developing Russell and his kid running mates. The coach wants another year, so he’s after wins. The FO is under pressure so they want wins. Jeannie wants wins so she doesn’t have to fire her brother. All this pressure on winning now makes it harder to put three kids on the floor together for extended minutes – especially in the 4th quarter of games.
Russell just needs to play and if the Lakers keep thinking they are an 8th seed when they really are a 13th seed then they are going to create an environment that could really mess with Russell’s head. Every other team with a top pick knows who they are. They know the playoffs are a reach and the best way to get their kids ready for the future is to believe in them and just let them play.
The downside with Russell isn’t his talent it’s potentially the how the Lakers manage him.
BigCitySid says
– Hoping Kobe’s 1st game back was an aberration and not the norm for 2015 – 2016.
– I still believe Lakers can be around .500 after their 1st 9 games. I know that’s not saying a lot, but it is what it is.
– I predict Kobe will have at least twice as many assist vs the Kings than he did the 1st games vs the Wolves 🙂
Clay Bertrand says
Thanks Snarky George!! Pelton is Dead On Ballz Accurate!!!!!!!!!! IMO at least…….
Robert says
Kobe Alert: On opening night, Kobe became the only player in NBA history to play 20 years with one franchise. Tonight, at tip off KB will play in his 1,281st game which will tie him with Charles Oakley for 19th all time. Kobes needs just 2 FGs to get by Shaq for 5th all time, and I am sure Kobe knows this, so perhaps he will make this a highlight worthy type bucket. With 3 more dimes, Kobes moves by Clyde Drexler for 29th on the all time helpers list. For those still hoping after 20 years, that Kobe will morph into Magic Johnson, you can root for Kobe to get 13 dimes which also get him by Scottie Pippen for 28th. Kobe needs one blocked shot to tie Andrew Bynum for 5th on the all time Laker list. Glad that some of you appreciate the Kobe Alert. R: Unfortunately Jeanie and Jim do not pay me. They would have, but Jim knows I am saving up to buy him out. BCS: We do not feel the same way about Kobe, but we both know, no matter what is on the menu, Kobe always eats first.
rubenowski says
Oh, come on! For Warren!
That’s why we didn’t win last time!
Tim says
Kobe falling in love with the three pointer, he has taken three so far, made none of them.
matt says
Im wondering if they are gonna set a record for most 3s attemped and missed tonight
Kevin T says
Worst coach in the league.
matt says
Wow they are actually passing on 3s now
matt says
You think coach got the balls to bench kobe
Lakafan says
Kelly and bass = worst front court combo in the league!! Don’t see the infatuation with Kelly at all and bass is not a Center. Much rather see black and nance get those minutes!!
Kevin T says
Why bench Kobe, it’s not like they do any better with him sitting on the bench.
Tim says
Kobe now number 5 all-time in FGs made as he moves ahead of Shaq.
Lakafan says
Bass is not a center!!! Give those minutes to black BS!!
Joel says
So… many… threes…
Chearn says
Yes, Russell finally being aggressive!
Anonymous says
Is the twcsportsnet live stream working for anybody else?
Shaun says
rondos revenge game for us not picking okafor then signing him as a pg …. my guess was he was banking on us for a big contract and then had to settle
Anonymous says
Why is Kelly getting so many minutes these two games? Where is Black and Nance?
dxmanners says
Laker fan since 1968-69. This is horrible. If Russell was the 15th pick instead of the 2nd, he wouldn’t get off the bench. So many mistakes in management, where to start? I was optimistic all off season for this? Just awful.
matt says
On a positive note lakers might get that top 3 pick next year
Oldtimer says
Simple analytics for the hemorrhaging Lakers, too many missed shots and no defense on their own court. If they keep on doing this,they will be hopeless team.
R says
If they get the top three and there’s a promising center available let’s hope they pass on him. After all, they can always pick up one of them as a FA. They are the Lakers, after all. (ie, they were a good team once).
Joel says
Rondo is making 3s now. Jesus wept.
R says
Heh, so is the tank on, then?
Ironic, I guess; hated hearing the word last year but now must carry on Aaron’s work …
R says
Uh, two posts in a row in moderation purgatory and I’m not even engaging in trade speculation!
R says
Kevin Pelton’s concerns that the FO may ruin Russell by misusing him highlights it’s not just us malcontents here at FB&G who have, shall we say, reservations about the judgement of the Lakers FO.
George Best says
We don’t win 20 this year. We need to keep our first rounder. If we don’t we will be the worst team in the west next year.
This is payback for the LA Kings turning it around after watching them for 40 years suck so now it’s the Lakers turn. We just couldn’t have both could we.
Vhan says
Cauley Stein is schooling Bass in there. Can’t adjust in game coach. That Kelly-Bass line up is killing us. Who is the defensive coordinator of this team? Sick to watch when the team don’t have that defemse philosophy.
Hale says
The Bass-Kelly combo will gel into an unstoppable 2nd unit force if you just really believe super hard enough!
rr says
R,
As you are aware, the ideas that the Lakers FO is good and that this year’s team was poised to surprise people are mostly restricted to a vocal and often confrontational subset of Lakers fans. Outside of that bubble, the consensus is that the Lakers are a 25-win team with an oddly constructed roster. Tonight showed why that is the case.
I don’t think that much of Byron Scott, but again: putting Russell on a 21-win team with Kobe, Young, and Williams, with the VP of Basketball Ops on a very public timeline to make the WCF and the GM talking playoffs…well, that is going to make for a rough ride.
That said, it is very early, and we do need patience, especially with Russell.
Mace says
It’s not all bad the Lakers are bringing great joy to all of us that hate them for a living. Kobe Alert – Looks like he will shoot an even lower percentage from the field than he did last year. Being 5th all time scoring should have an * by it due to the ridiculous amount of attempts. Tonight the Lakers looked like they don’t even belong in the league. I see 16-66 this year. And why isn’t Scott being held accountable? He is far worse than the last two coaches… Have a nice weekend.
Snarky George says
Comments, below Pelton’s answer, in my above post are mine.
rr says
George,
I knew that but thanks for clarifying
mud says
well, there are still plenty more games, but if that’s the effort that they can give, they might as well just forfeit all and play next year. i think they can do better. i hope so, anyway.
R says
Mace, even though your hatred of the Lakers is sadly misguided I can relate. The casastrophic Raiders seasons of Al Davis’ declining years brought me much delight.
rr says
I have no problem with people hating the Lakers. Showing up here to troll people with it is weak though.
R says
rr I was thinking 30 or so wins but 20 something in the win column wouldn’t surprise me. Making the playoffs though is shear fantasy, the stuff of fairy tales. The only surprises the Lakers can offer this year are surely unpleasant, kind of like stepping on cat poop.
BigCitySid says
– @ Robert, I’m glad you can find something to be happy about on this Laker team…so far I’m having a harder time.
– One record Kobe looks like he may get: most missed fg’s in NBA history. Only fitting for a guy whos’
most famous quote is “I Eat First”.
rr says
R,
Good point, but I also think that this is the kind of team that could look a lot different–and better–the last 20 games than it will the first 20. Young and/or Williams might be gone by then–maybe Hibbert, too. And maybe
ABrown, Black, and Nance will be playing and contributing.
Anonymous says
The bad news: Lakers now have the worst defense in the league giving up 122 ppg.
The good news: the lakers are top 5 in ppg at 113.
Paul says
If Russell has any potential, Byron is ruining it. Get him out quick
rr says
The Lakers were outscored 80-38 in the paint.
J C says
The worst coach I’ve ever seen at any level.
Jay-z says
We should have taken Okafor!
tankyou says
I mentioned here many times this team was built to be a horrible defensive team this season. Hibbert wasn’t somehow going to become the magic defender that would make up for the other 4 guys at any given time. The one silver lining thus far, is that the Lakers are putting up some points as well. Young is shooting well enough to maybe garnish some trade value.
Clarkson is scoring, may as well just keep getting him ready to take over Kobe’s spot next year. Our wings can’t defend anybody. Rondo scoring on us that easily made me a bit ill. Like I said before, if you are a drinker, start pounding them as soon as the Lakers are playing defense–b/c our volume shooters aren’t going to be stopping anybody. Apparently our bigs mostly play D like Boozer did last year as well.
So if we have the top 3 worst record this year we have a shot at keeping the 1st round pick right? So far looking around the league, I honestly think we have a good shot at bottom 3 record this season–some of the other scrubby teams all got better.
BigCitySid says
– Just read Baxter Holmes latest piece, an interview w/ Kobe. If that’s true, we may see a different Laker team very soon.
tankyou says
@AaronMckie, I agree with you Okafor definitely should have been our pick. But I suppose they thought Russel could be the next Magic Johnson or something eventually. I’m just hoping that he ends up being starter material within a couple years, not a starter because its being handed to him on a bad team. But the 76ers still look like a basement dweller this year, yet again. Although at this point I suppose I would be more optimistic with the T-Wolves/or the 76ers Young talent over ours.
Randle’s lack of above the rim game does bother me a bit. He’s going to have to develop some serious all around skill in the next couple years–I’m still hopeful for him though. My biggest frustration with this year, is that honestly its looking like next year is going to be another rough losing season as well.