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Preview & Chat: Lakers vs. Mavericks

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The Lakers enter their 3rd game of the season winless and last in the Pacific Division standings. Every other team in the division has at least one win. If you are looking for solace, though, there are other teams in the conference still looking for a win, including preseason playoff hopefuls in the Rockets (0-2) and the Pelicans (0-3). To be fair, the Rockets have played the Warriors once and the Pelicans have faced the Dubs twice, but hey, I’ll take the silver linings wherever I can find them.

Tonight’s opponent is the Mavericks, themselves 1-1. They’re dealing with injuries to start the year, neither Chandler Parsons or Wesley Matthews have played yet while recovering from knee and achilles surgeries, respectively, over the off-season (Matthews has also been dealing with a knee issue). What the Mavs have lacked in their top talent, they’ve made up for in coaching and some viable depth. It hasn’t been pretty, but they have ground through games trying to hang close.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have had an interesting profile through their first two games. Against the Kings they were blown out of the water early and never really recovered. They stabilized things, but the deficit was too big. The game against the Wolves, though, offered their template for how they can actually win a game. That contest saw them go up by as many as 16, but through a series of bad fouls and poor offense they gave it all away to the tune of a loss.

What’s also interesting is what the team’s statistical profile has been. This is from the preseason:

That trend of a good offense and an awful defense has carried over to the first two games. Through Saturday’s games, the Lakers rank 11th in offense and 28th in defense. They are also playing at the second fastest pace in the league and have shot the most three pointers per game. This profile of a fast team who shoots a lot of threes (the Lakers have shot 69 threes through two games – nice) while scoring reasonably well and defending quite poorly might sound familiar. It’s the same one from Mike D’Antoni’s last year with the team.

How this all translates against the Mavs tonight will be fun to watch. Dallas hopes to get Chandler Parsons and Wes Matthews back in this game, and while Deron Williams will not play, they have a variety of perimeter threats who will not mind getting up and down the court in a shootout type of game.

Of course, while those other Mavs will be important, Dirk Nowitzki is still the marquee player. Yes, his minutes are down and he’s no longer the MVP candidate he was earlier in the decade, but his offensive arsenal is still impressive and he can still hurt you with his shotmaking. His match up with Julius Randle, then, will be the one I’m most interested in.

You’re unlikely to find two more contrasting styles than what Dirk and Randle offer and it will be interesting to see how both guys deal with the other’s strengths. Randle will need to be sharp in his pick and pop coverage while also fighting for position in the mid-post and trying to make the big German as uncomfortable as he can when shooting his turnaround jumper. On the other end. Randle will need to use his speed and power to get by Dirk off the dribble. However, Randle will have a much easier time if he can make a jumper or two to force his man to guard him more closely and open up those driving lanes.

The other storyline, of course, is this being the first game after Kobe’s comments about taking a step back to let the young players better develop. Will this translate to something tangible on the floor? If so, what? I am as curious as the next guy. I think one thing to look for, even without those comments, will be fewer three pointers from Kobe. He’s shot 21 over the first two games of the year which is entirely too many. Cutting down on those shots in favor of moving the ball within the offense would be helpful, regardless on whether or not that’s what he meant by stepping back.

Where you can watch: 6:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chris J says

    Progress tonight will be not sending the Mavs to the free throw line over and over and over. The second half of the Wolves game and most of the Kings game were unwatchable because of the fouls; kills any momentum and makes the game totally uninteresting.

    Baby steps, right?

  2. Mid-Wilshire says

    Right now I’m having real problems justifying Byron’s playing a small-ball line up of Bass at the 5 and Kelly at the 4. This indicates to me that Byron is still undecided about whom to play at the backup 4, Kelly or Bass. His solution? Play them both.

    The result, obviously, is that this leaves the Lakers woefully lacking at the center position on defense on the 2nd unit. The 80 points that the Lakers gave up in the paint against the Kings was the most that an NBA team had given up in that area in 20 years. That is your basic red flag.

    Something must be done.

    A real solution, I think, would be to choose between Kelly and Bass at the 4 and play Tarik Black at the center position. Anything less than that verges on lunacy. Obviously, the Kelly-Bass small-ball combination simply does not work. I would very much like to see Black get some real minutes. I truly believe that could make a difference.

  3. BG says

    Hopefully BScott will start letting the young core play 30+ mins a night (Russell, Clarkson, Randle)! Baptism by fire! Hard to grow any chemistry if he doesn’t. Even if they’re getting blown out let them play together! Pay off down the road!!

  4. Robert says

    Kobe Alert: I know some of you like reading these posts and others are annoyed by them. Which of course is no different than my “other” posts. I like to write these, because it is nice to appreciate Kobe while we have him, and I shudder to think what things will be like without him (unless lots of other stuff changes). I will be happy when we all have something else obviously tangible to root for (I use obviously, because – yes – we can look for subtle reasons to be hopeful for our #2 pick – but man we need more than subtle flashes of brilliance). So all of that said, last game KB moved by Shaq for 5th on the All Time FGs list, now with 11,334. MJ is next up on that list and is over 1,000 away. Kobe also rose to 29th all time on the dimes list by getting by Clyde Drexler. He needs 9 more to catch Scottie Pippen for 28th, and then he will be pursuing the Logo for 27th (needs 112). At tip off tonight, KB will get by Charles Oakley for 19th on the games list and will need just 3 more to match Sam Perkins for 18th. And I like to occasionally like to throw in something for the Kobe critics. KB will be pressed to catch Karl Malone for #2 in all time scoring as he is 4,409 points away. However, he is much closer in FGAs. Kobe needs just 1,087 more attempts to take over the number 2 slot there. I will trust that some of you will keep your eye on this.

    Big game tonight. These are the type of games that will be the difference between the season being a basic circus, or a complete fiasco.

  5. Kbj says

    I’m just hoping we see some progress from Russell. He played okay last game, much better than the first game.

    Defense is what it is. Its a bottom 5 defense. Won’t get better until Lakers get new coach and players.

  8. Kevin T says

    So we know Kobe is old and coming back from another injury, what is Harden’s excuse. I know it’s early but Houston was picked to finish top 2-3 this year in the west.

  9. KO says

    Too hardest workers on defense in pre-season were Metta and Nance. Neither are dressed again. Instead the stretch 4 who never shoots Kelly, Sacre the cheerleader and Bass the ghost do.

    Hey Bryon after Sac embarrisment you think you might play guys who want to rebound and play D? Of course not.

  17. Anonymous says

    Yes, Julius making up for his Friday night performance. The rest if the team is still in a funk.

  18. KO says

    I can’t watch this crap. Kobe is terrible. Russell is useless. Kelly gets minutes and is a bad college player. FIRE SCOTT. No defense. One in one offense. Play Nance, dump Kelly and Bass. Kobe has one of highest minus in league. By Christmas this team will have worst record in league and no one will pay to watch this D- League junk. Worst team in LAKER HISTORY.

  21. BigCitySid says

    -In case anyone has forgotten, we are in the mist of a very soft part of our schedule (8 of 1st 9 foes could easily miss the play-offs).

  24. Marques says

    I know people like Clarkson, I would sell high on him. He is Austin Rivers minus the defense. Maybe a little more under control, but routinely out of control.

  25. Fern says

    Julius is going to be a beast, i missed almost the entire 1st half because of prior commitments ( The Walking Dead lol) but i scratching my head a DAR stat line or lack of thereof, can someone give me a run down of his play?

  26. Mid-Wilshire says

    Amazingly, the Lakers, who are shooting an abysmal 30.2%, are only down by 9 at half time. Kobe and Russell between them are 0-11. If you throw Kelly and Huertas into the mix, those 4 players are 0-14. I’m surprised that they’re not down by 29.

    Meanwhile, Randle is impressive. At halftime he already has a double-double: 13 pts. and 10 rebounds. He shows no fear. I’m impressed. Bass has also played well: 5 pts., 4 rebounds. Kelly has not scored but he does have 3 rebounds. Even so, I would bring in Tarik Black for Kelly and solidfy the 5 position for the 2nd unit.

    Now, can the Lakers hit their shots in the 2nd half?

  30. Fern says

    @ Tim, Randle is a bright spot not only for tonight but for the entire Lakers future, it’s kinda scary how good he be at 25 barring injury…

  31. Kobefan says

    Excuse my dream, but I just saw Kobe in a Chicago Bull uniform next year, teaming up with Rose and Gasol for his final ring!!

  33. Fern says

    I’m glad DAR found his jumper but i care more about that big fat zero he has in his assist totals

  34. Marques says

    First time I ever hated watching the Lakers play. What other GM would put Young, Williams, Hibbert and Kelly on the same team. Why have Clarkson and Russell?

    Open layup after made baskets…7 foot center who can’t dunk…Jesus

    At least Philly has a plan.

  35. KO says

    kobe 20% from 3
    31% from field
    Kelly is worst player getting 20 minutes a game in NBA. Yet Nance in a suit and tie.

    And they just lost to 3 bottem feeder teams and not left the state.

    Unless a new coach shows up they won’t win 18 games this year. Getting worse every year under Scott and Jimny.

    This is currently worst team in NBA. Shame on Jimmy and Mitch. Sad.

  41. Anonymous says

    Baxter Holmes reported that there are boos being heard at Staples. I wonder if Jim is there to hear them.

  42. Tim says

    Lakers spot the Mavericks 15 points to start the game, unable to climb out of the hole the dug for themselves and fall to 0-3 to start the season.

  45. KO says

    Kobe now 13 for 52. 25%.

    Worst in NBA over 40 shots this year.

    No chance to beat anyone with his play.

    Bryon Scott is scared of him.

  47. BigCitySid says

    – Kobe logged 31 mins, 2nd only to Randle (33) of any player, Laker or Mav in tonights’ game. Did someone say minute restriction?

  48. Mace says

    Kobe Alert: – If Kobe averages 15pts per game and lasts 82 games this year, each point will cost the Lakers $20,325! Wow!

  49. Fern says

    Kobe must realize he is done, if Raymond Felton can blow by you at will it’s time to call it a career, if he wasn’t who he is he wouldn’t be a starter anymore sad but true. I think he is going to retire after the season, he must know he doesn’t have it anymore. Love the guy, one of the best ever, but it’s over…

  50. KO says

    Oh I forgot. Remember Kobe was going to help young guys. Well 1 assist. 3 on year. Kobe has zero credibility anymore.

  51. Archon says

    BS has to make an adjustment with the starting lineup. Clarkson, Russell, and Kobe don’t mesh offensively and it’s a disaster on defense.

  52. rubenowski says

    Why no Clarkson in the 4th? Wouldve been nice to see him in there.

    I didnt think we’d be this bad but I guess I overestimated Byron.

    At least Russell’s shots are starting to fall and Randle is gonna keep getting better and better. And oh yeah, at least we’ll have a really good chance to keep our pick this year, too. Kinda disappointing, but we just dont have the personnel to do otherwise.

  54. Chearn says

    The entire team is comprised of players that have never been accused of being defensive minded. Save for Meta, Kobe many years ago, and Hibbert several seasons back.

    Interesting that James Worthy said the Lakers look much more responsive to the coaches’ offensive and defensive schemes in practice. Part of the problem is they are playing defense against each other only iron sharpens iron. The offense is probably smooth and cohesive with the starters playing against Bass, Kelly, Lou, Nick, and Huertas.

    Please explain to me why the Lakers switch so often? They don’t even bother to fight through a screen a soft screen forces them into a mismatch. That’s way too much switching! Then no one stays at home with their man on the perimeter they collapse into the paint to help defend…what, dribble drives, scoring in the paint, or Shaquille O’Neal? If the three point shot is the weapon of choice in the league why do, the Lakers leave the three point line undefended?

    Please, no more Bass and Kelly together, ever!!!!

  55. Anonymous says

    I’m reminded that Elgin Baylor retired 5 games into the 71/72 season because he just couldn’t produce on the floor.

  56. Chris J says

    I was never a fan of hiring Scott, though I realize there weren’t many out there who would have been available/willing who likely would have been better. I cannot say firing him now is the answer, as again, who else are they going to get? That said, he is abysmal and I don’t see this team making any real progress so long as he’s on the sidelines.

    I’ve never seen an NBA team be so inconsistent in terms of its offense, and be so clueless on D. You watch the Lakers — aside from Randle — get next to nothing near the rim, and on the other end you see scrubs get to the rim whenever they feel like it. It’s disgusting basketball, and until they get some coaching they won’t grow, no matter what young talent they add.

  57. Mid-Wilshire says

    Well. This is troubling. Kobe shot 3-15 tonight. Russell 4-13. Lou Williams 4-12. Together they shot 11-40 or 27.5%. The problem is that these are our volume shooters. The entire team took 85 shots and these 3 players took nearly have of those. If that’s going to continue to be the case, then those players collectively should be shooting somewhere around 45%. Otherwise, the Lakers will have no chance in games such as this.

    Meanwhile, Ryan Kelly goes 0-4 and defends like a sieve. Something must change.

    Is there another offensive scheme where these players could (should) get better, more high percentage shots? Should Kelly really be playing 15-20 minutes per game? Should he be playing at all? And why are our guards getting such few assists (3 for Clarkson, 1 for Russell)?

    If the Lakers go 0-5 to start the season, then I suspect some major changes could ensue.

    Right now, I believe that the Lakers have got to re-think everything. Everything. Why? Because nothing is working.

    The season is early. But I sense that things may be coming to a head. Shooting 36% as a team (29% from 3-point range on 34 shots) while getting out-rebounded by 7 and out-assisted by 10 and defending poorly down the stretch is not a formula for success.

    What will happen when we play Golden State?

  58. KO says

    2 worst player by far on team is Kelly and Kobe. Kelly you can sit in the stands but guy shooting 17 times a game 30% with 1 assist a game your stuck with. Bryon talks tough but is scared to death of Kobe.

    And Kobe still thinks he is a top 10 player. ESPN 91. Number might have been high. Long season of bricks ahead.

  59. tankyou says

    Well at least Randle showed up on offense and the boards, so good news there. It seems pretty clear to me he’s our only real hope for one of our youth movement to become a special player.

    Kobe still shot 8 threes. Our guards certainly aren’t ‘dropping dimes’ thus far this season, and that includes Russel. At least the Mavs didn’t score 120 on us, that helps keep our average down.

    I was ranting over and over agian about how dysmal the defense was going to be. People thought last year was going to be bad, but this years team is far worse defensively. IF they don’t change up the lineups a bit and quit playing 3 guards that can’t defend at this point in their careers, they are going to get destroyed out the gate on a regular basis. Hibbert is OK, but honestly I still think Ed Davis looked better defensively, Hibbert just isn’t quite what he used to be. But at least he tries to play defense, this team looks like a pick-up game squad on defense where people try on O but slack off on D. Silver lining, another draft pick at the end of the season looks very possible.

  60. Vasheed says

    1) Black should be used as the back up center. No more of Bass at Center.
    2) Kelly should only be used situationally.
    3) A. Brown should get some burn. I would likely do it at the expense of Young although Kobe is playing worse than Young at the moment.
    4) Princeton should be scrapped.

  61. Pat says

    Byron has a new role for each player every night. No consistency whatsoever. No wonder the kids are so confused.

  62. kevin_ says

    Dysfunction starts from the top down. Losing legends in management positions has been showing a bad product for a while now. Giving out 1 year deals 3 straight years doesnt give the players a team mindset everybody is playing for their next contract, themselves not the Lakers. Management rebuilt all wrong, can half butt a rebuild either your all in or your not. Change needs to come in the heir arachy. Tough decisions needed to be made and Lakers missed the boat not amnestying Kobe. And are paying dearly for it.

  63. tankyou says

    @Kevin, Amen to that. The only really good things I’ve seen from management lately are Clarkson and Randle. Not retaining anybody, especially cheap talent that play defense and have an impact on the game (Davis/Wellington) come to mind. Instead we keep Kelly, Sacre, bah at least Wayne was a reliable back-up guard and clearly a good team mate that played D and knocked down some 3’s. Cheap high quailty roleplayers are still good to have, give them a cheap 3 year contract and you at least have a steady veteran with a good attitude to help support the youth movement.

    Ed Davis did get paid, but I really think they could have locked him up cheap if they had offered, give him 7mill for 3yrs he likely would have jumped at it. Instead we pay Bass to be our back-up Center? He’s clearly not a center and with Kelly and him on the court we have no rim protection to go with no defense at the wings–so basically no defense.

    Even without the Kobe amnesty they could have done lots of things better than this. Bring in Lou Williams, bah. The dude can’t defend and is a volume scorer on a team that needs to give lots of minutes to two young guys. What’s the point really, unless they plan on flipping him for something? Although he’s probably going to continue to look a lot worse on this team with no defense around him and fewer offensive threats for teams to be wary of. What teams are going to worry that Kobe is going to shoot a 3? At this point I’m guessing they hope Kobe shoots a 3 everytime down the court, and not many other guys are showing much promise in that department either–except Swaggy.

  66. J C says

    Mid Wilshire
    Nice post. Said everything I was thinking.
    Vasheed as well.

    Tank you mentions the silver lining of retaining our draft pick.
    I’ve got another silver lining that just occurred to me:
    Maybe this abysmal beginning will hasten the departure of Mr. Scott.

  67. George Best says

    Its a tank. That is why they drafted Russell over Okafor. Okafor would contribute more now and we cant have that. If you pay Kobe his money for two years, the lack of FA signings gets some sympathy.

    We will see some flashes of talent. 20 wins. Top 2 in the ping pong lottery. Only concern is bad luck in the drawing causing us to get 4th or 5th pick and lose our pick. Once we get one of the top two talents in next years draft and Kobe retires, the FAs will flock here.

    Good plan by the FO as we just couldnt abandon Kobe. So far its working perfectly unless Russell turns out to be a bust. Its just painful to watch.

  68. Fern says

    @anom, Baylor didnt left 24 million on the table when he retired, so that’s not going to happen. For the Lakers to move fwd, Kobe has to retire, this era has to be over for the next one to begin, is as simple as that. People talk about that “disaster” last night, i see it different, the Mavs have a better team than the Lakers regardless of what happened with Jordan in July. After that 15-0 start the Lakers fought and fought and got themselves a chance to be within striking distance. If we didn’t blew that Wolves game, best case scenario we would had been 1-2. Julios is going to be a beast. The main problem this team has is not Byron Scott is not the defense as bad as it has been, it’s the offensive black hole that Kobe has become, that Dar is struggling with his shot i expected that early on, no biggie there. But Kobe taking all those shots and especially chucking 3s is disrupting the entire offense. Is going to be a long season, instead of complaining about the same negatives every single day im going to focus on the development of the young guys, Randle took a major leap foward last night. I rather focus on that…

  70. T. Rogers says

    Fern,

    I think you are spot on. Going into this season I wanted to see what Randle could do. So far I am very impressed. He’s basically playing his rookie season now. And he’s showing himself to be very effective. If he can mold himself into a consistent double double player by the end of the season, then he’s on his way. Russell will take time. I think he should be given them space (and playing time) to grow. And I just want Clarkson to keep making strides.

    The truth is both Byron and Kobe hinder more than they help the progress of the young guys. And like you, I don’t see the team really turning the corner until both Kobe and Bryon are gone. And even then its still going to be a challenge.

  71. matt says

    I’m with chern,, free agent signings all offensive players, usually a team will have one guy besides the center who can play Defense as a starter a defensive small forward would work well, all good teams have that guy who doesn’t really score he’s out there to defend, but oh well we got what we got, larry nance does kinda look like that defender type player, but who knows, also a.brown is a defender, but both those guys are rookies, you gotta throw a Defense player out there with that starting unit, im saying even if your going Offense they are still shooting somewhere at 30%, hey metta is old and his shot sucks but at least he can still bully a guy into thinking twice about setting a screen, we gotta start getting rugged knocking guys down, these Offensive minded guys play Defense like they on offense, no one is intimidating out there except maybe hibbert

  72. marques says

    I believe kobe is done, but you have to give him 20 games to figure out what he can do. You don’t come off of injuries amsld walk right into 20 points a night.

    Without kobe, the team is still full of marginal players who want to shoot, or in Kelly’s case not shoot.

    But what’s worse, every player on this team is an opposing players dream. Who doesn’t want any of these guys to guard you.

    As Barkley says, team full of guys you send a limo for.

  74. matt says

    One more note is anyone on our team too important to foul out. Why is foul trouble even considered, that sac game was crazy they were getting to the line on some soft fouls, if they trying to draw a foul, then foul em hard, k.martin should have been getting knocked down

  76. Baylor Fan says

    Barkley would more likely compare the Lakers to one of the teams he played on in Phoenix “bad team man, we got a bad ******* team”.

    From the LA Times and Jim Healy:
    Reporters asked Lasorda about Bevacqua’s comment. The edited response: “I have never, ever, told a pitcher to throw at anybody, nor will I ever. But I especially would never have a pitcher throw at a . . . .130 hitter like Lefebvre, or a guy like Bevacqua. Bevacqua couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a . . . boat. I’ll guarantee you one thing. When I was pitching, if . . . guys like Lefebvre and Bevacqua were in the lineup, I’d send a limousine to make sure they made it to the park.”