After losing to the Heat on Tuesday, the Lakers are 1-2 on their current road trip. Facing the Magic today, on the 2nd night of a back to back, is not an ideal way to try and reach .500 on the trip (and snag their 2nd win of the season), but it is the opportunity in front of them.
The Magic will not be a pushover. Like the Lakers, they have a collection of young talent and hired a disciplinarian coach to propel them forward in their rebuild, only they are farther ahead in the process. Last season yielded two lottery picks in Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton. Prior to netting those two, the Magic drafted Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo plus snagged Nikola Vucevic in the deal which netted the Lakers Dwight Howard (Vucevic was in Philly and went to Orlando when the 76ers nabbed, gasp, Andrew Bynum). Add to them this year’s lottery pick Mario Henzoja and, well, this team is loaded with young players who can all play.
Adding Skiles is seen as the final piece to help the young players grown and realize some of their enormous potential. Skiles has a history of turning teams around quickly, getting through to them as a motivator and getting them to play well defensively. While Skiles was a showman and assist machine as a player, he is a hard-nosed coach who maxes out his players by inspiring them to play hard every night. The results so far are a 3-5 record and a competitive team who only has a -.6 point differential on the season.
For the Lakers to get a win, then, they will need to leverage some of their strengths while minimizing their mistakes on both sides of the floor. What may play a part in their ability to do this is the Magic’s injury situation. Both Vucevic and back up big man Jason Smith are questionable to play versus LA. This has them down to their 3rd string C Dewayne Dedmon and swing F/C Channing Frye as their lone “big” men. Should these injuries hold up, the Lakers may be able to take advantage by attacking the paint via post ups, dribble penetration, and on the offensive glass.
Regarding individual match ups, there are several all over the floor worth your attention. First is the battle of explosive guards in Jordan Clarkson and Oladipo. After interning this summer on Team USA’s national team, Oladipo is looking to make the leap as a player. He’s now in his 3rd season and is 2nd on the team in scoring averaging 16 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. His shooting efficiency isn’t there yet, but his work off the dribble and physically imposing game from the wing is impressive. Clarkson will have his hands full and will need to find a way to keep Oladipo out of the paint.
The battle of point guards is also one I am interested in. D’Angelo Russell against Payton might be worth the price of admission simply for the passing angles they exploit on any given possession. Payton isn’t the shooter/scorer that Russell can be, but his passing is just as refined and his court vision is sublime. Russell should plan to go under screens and force Payton to hit jumpers, but he will also need to keep his angles defensively in order to contain dribble penetration. Much like when the Lakers faced Rajon Rondo and Ricky Rubio, extending space to a guard who likes to drive can sometimes open up angles which can be exploited by a burst dribble. Russell will need to be aware.
The last match up I will watch intently is Julius Randle going up against Tobias Harris. Randle has the strength advantage, but Harris can match Randle in quickness. It will be interesting to see if Randle can still get to his spots offensively and, if he does, how much of it is based on his physical strength versus his quick moves off the bounce. On the other end of the floor, Randle will need to be aware defensively since Harris has range out to the 3-point line (35% from behind the arc) and does good work off the dribble while also being able to work off screens. Randle cannot get caught ball watching or he will get burned.
You will notice I have not yet mentioned Kobe. That is because he is doubtful to play for the 2nd straight night in what is being described as a “sore back”. Kobe sitting out should give the young Lakers a chance to make their imprint on the game, should they be assertive from the jump. Considering they are facing players as young as they are (though, to be fair, more experienced), here’s hoping they show that attacking mentality.
Where you can watch: 4:00pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.
Todd says
Lots of heated comments around the FO in these last few threads. This is how I view the debate:
1) For those that believe in the FO, it doesn’t matter if Jim/Mitch were using marketing spin on how good they expected the Lakers to be these last three years. They believe that there is a natural ebb and flow with franchises and the Lakers are just at a low point. These folks don’t want to see change at the top. Patience is the key.
2) FO detractors believe that the FO truly intended to compete these past few years and completely fell short of their goals*. Losing 116 games over two years requires a level of ineptitude that many feel the Lakers should not embrace. Poor decision makers should not be empowered to continue making poor decisions.
However, the only person able to decide this issue is Jeannie because she would know if there was a gap between what was said about the team publicly and privately. Unfortunately, she make a decision until the Summer of 2017.
* a) Kobe and Pau were supposed to lead a young roster in 2013/14
b) Kobe, Hill, Young and Boozer were to provide veteran leadership in 2014/15
c) Kobe, Hibbert, Bass, Williams and the Kids were supposed to compete in 2015/16
Fern says
I won’t bother with the on and on and on and on debate about the FO and Byron Scott in November, in 1 or two months we all are going to have a better picture in the meantime? MEH, another winnable game *sigh* it frustrates me that we have blown 2 wins we could easily be 3-4, DAR needs to assert himself and run that offense, last night there was no Kobe to blame,our starting kids all of them played bad, is as simple as that, tonight it’s another step in this tourtous process, we can win this game, GO LAKERS
rubenowski says
Looks like we have a very good chance today. Russell is playing well, too. Let’s do it!
Mid-Wilshire says
At half time, the Magic have made 7-11 FTs. But the Lakers, remarkably, have not gotten to the FT line once. That’s zero FTs in the first half.
I don’t remember the last time I’ve ever seen that.
Obviously, the Lakers have got to drive to the hoop more.
Fern says
That’s the Russell we need, agressive, if he plays well the minutes are going to be there that’s why I don’t freakout about this minutes bs, Clarkson is slumping right now but it’s to he expected, it happens
Tim says
Larry Nance Jr having himself a nice game.
Joel says
Man, these guys just don’t box out. Wasting a number of solid defensive possessions by failing to secure the board.
Lakafan says
What the heck was that Scott? ISO for lou Williams for the game winning play call and he air balls. Where’s leading scorer clarkson??? They lose this and that’s it I will not be watching any more games until Scott is canned!!!
rr says
Russell finished and leads in minutes.
Fern says
OUCH, that actually hurts…
Joel says
LOL
Tim says
Welp, tough loss for the Lakers
Vhan says
I’ll take this game. Not that bad at all.
Macman says
Lou should not have taken that shot.. or at least not air balled… Where were JC and Nance?
T Rogers says
This one stings. Still I applaud the effort. Heck of a game by the purple and gold.
barty says
Wow, heart buh rake, as Chick used to say.
But they’re looking better. Lakers are NOT horrible by any means.
Mid-Wilshire says
Well. A tough loss. But…a learning experience.
IMO the Lakers actually lost this game, not so much on a last second shot, but on the boards (again). They got out-rebounded 54-43 and 23-7 on the offensive glass. Something obviously is amiss. This is the 2nd game in a row in which the Lakers have been obliterated on the offensive glass.
This must be fixed. This is not a fine point. This is actually costing them games.
Mid-Wilshire says
Despite the heart break of the loss, I saw a lot tonight that I really like, namely the following:
1) 25 assists by the team as a whole (5 by Clarkson, 5 by Huertas);
2) an excellent game by Larry Nance, Jr. who continues to impress me (13 pts., 3 rebounds, 1 assist, a perfect 6-6 from the field, and energy to spare);
3) a good game from Hibbert (15 pts., 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocks);
4) a much more confident, assertive D’Angelo Russell (14 pts., 6 rebounds, 3 assists);
5) and a highly competitive spirit by the team as a whole — on the road.
If they remember this game (and they will) and they learn from it, they could actually develop into a team worth watching. It will take time, that’s all.
Gene says
Williams has been the biggest disappointment… Hasn’t hit the 3 constistant… JC should’ve been in…
KO says
Its time to look at Mitch. 3 years of bad trades and pickups. Bass waste of uniform. Lou brought in as a shooter now 30% and genius Scott gives him all for last air ball. Meanwhile Jordan zero minutes 4rh quarter.
Bryon and Mitch need to go
Fern says
Clarkson is in a slump and blew some defensive assignments , good thing about that is Byron Scott not playing favorites, looks like our D is stabilizing finally, as far as losses goes im semi pleased with the effort, but our rebounding is horrendous, that’s here to stay, and Larry Nance needs more minutes like ASAP definetly another building block for the future, he hustles, defend and he is playing better every game, liked that Rusell started agressive thats what he needs to do he still got to get it all togheter, another game that could had been won but our structural rebounding flaw is our main weakness. Thats 3 losses that are due to that weakness…
Anonymous says
Iso for Lou on the last play. Terrible call especially considering Lou was has been playing and shooting poorly. Another brilliant coaching job by BS. It might have worked with Kid and Cp3 back in the day and may have made BS look good but the delusional Scott needs to wake up! Bass at center? Really? Whenever the team is ahead and catches steam, Scott always has an answer in bad substitutions to ensure that the other team gets a chance to catch up and move ahead. You know, makes you tough to play from behind! Got to be tougher and earn that 2nd win damn it! Scott is an idiot and that’s putting it nicely. #FireBS
Chearn says
You sure know this is a young team, there’s no consistency. One player plays well one night and disappears the next. Nevertheless, they will be fine by December.
Very good game. Progress!!
Fern says
@Chearns thats how it felt, like progress
Anonymous says
When Randle, Russell, Clarkson start to consistently deliver numbers (a PER around 20 would be ideal) then they will have arrived in the NBA. If it doesn’t happen then they will continue to show occasional “flashes” while remaining league average players. Hopefully these are just growing pains and the ceiling is high for all three players.
Patrick Lanigan says
Are there still people who think Byron Scott should NOT be fired? Game on the line and you call for holding the ball with no player movement, no screens, and no dribble penetration–just hold for 23 seconds and chuck it up. That was almost as if he is daring the FO to fire him.
matt says
Looked like Russell was playing scared in the 4th quarter, the crazy thing is he wasn’t scared of the opposition he was scared of the coach, I’m just speculating here, i saw 2 or three times, once specifically when he missed a jumper, he looked over at the coach like oh well I’m going to get benched now, I think i saw the coach motion to keep playing,
matt says
Lakers should win these types of games 2 monthes from now