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A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers).

Preview & Chat: Lakers vs. Nuggets

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Heading into any game between the Lakers and Nuggets, the first note for the foreseeable future should be about the young guards on each side. Unfortunately for fans tonight, though, it looks like Emmanuel Mudiay is a scratch for tonight’s game with a sprained ankle.

As I was writing that last bit, the shift in attention struck me. For the better part of the last two decades, the first question heading into any Lakers game was who might be matched up against Kobe Bryant so long as he’s healthy. By all accounts, he is “definitely” playing tonight. So it struck me as odd that he wouldn’t be the first aspect of a Lakers game in this, his final season.

Also inactive for tonight is Danilo Gallinari, who would’ve seen time against Julius Randle, which would’ve been fun for either side on the offensive end. Instead, one would imagine we’ll see more extended stretches of Randle against Kenneth Faried, as both try to find out who can run into the other with the most force.

This feels like a winnable game, which is something you can rarely – if ever – say with these Lakers.

On Twitter, the talk has been about fit at times with Mike Malone’s handling of the Nuggets, something any Lakers fan can relate to. Might we see another Sam Mitchell – Byron Scott situation, where the winning team only manages to do so because the losing team is better at losing? Probably, but games like that are typically entertaining in a sick humor kind of way.

Keys:

  • Contain Faried. In the last two games against the Lakers, he’s made 20 of his 27 attempted shots. That’s pretty impressive. Like we said earlier, whether it’s Randle or Larry Nance, Jr. matched up against him, they’ll need to be more successful than they have been.
  • Consistency – or something close to it. One of, if not the most frustrating thing about watching this Lakers team play is how they’ll go through stretches where you actually realize, “hey, it looks like they know what they’re doing, kind of,” only to watch minutes later as anything that was watchable no longer remains as such. They’ve had a few days to prepare for this game, so that should lend itself to a decent gameplan.
  • Get D’Angelo Russell back on Track. Russell went through a stretch of games where he looked really, really good and the bust talk was finally subsiding, only to see him shoot six-for-22 over his last two games (one-of-11 from three-point range). These peaks and valleys are par for the course with rookies, but it would still be nice to see him regain the form that had Lakers fans challenging those who claimed the front office made a mistake by taking him.

Prediction:

Winning in Denver is always tough, but the Nuggets have been struggling some and are not healthy, so the game should, at the very least, be competitive. Still, though, I don’t ever want to set myself up for the kind of screen-grabbing that takes place when I predict the Lakers actually win, let alone on the road.

Lakers lose 103-110.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mid-Wilshire says

    Anthony,

    Excellent summary. Thank you. With the various scratches (Mudiay and Gallo), I think this might actually be a winnable game. Containing Faried is key. He always seems to go off on us. I sure want the kids to play well. We shall see what happens.

    Go Lakers.

  2. Chearn says

    If the team comes out and plays with a sense of urgency, shares the ball, creates more assists than turnovers, out-rebound the Nuggets, abstain from iso-ball, and matador defense they have a chance to snag a win, likely the Lakers last till 2016.

    Here’s to playing the game with Lakers pride.

  3. Rich says

    Lakers won’t win this game.
    Russell needs to stop the 3’s and focus on his mid range jumper, driving to the basket and getting to the foul line. Forget the 3’s this season.
    Randle needs to get out of his funk. Get back to what he does best. Driving to the basket, rebounds, fast breaks.
    Lakers need to commit to the young guys as their starters and go with it. Lou Williams isn’t a starter, he’s being wasted there. Bring him off the bench because that is what you do with the “6th Man of Year” award winners.
    Start giving Brown minutes too as Kobe’s backup.

  4. Baylor Fan says

    Houston ran a very aggressive trap and took Russell out of the game in the 4th quarter. It is no wonder he was frustrated after the game. This game is a chance for the Lakers to show they know how to beat traps and move the ball against an aggressive defense.

  5. BigCitySid says

    – Hoping Scott let’s his young cubs get big minutes and finish the game tonight. His old lion can entertain his fans in the 1st 3 quarters.

    – Developing talent needs to be the priority. Lakers are in the 2nd third of the season.

  6. Fern says

    if people b and moan about Russell that Miudiay season stat line is the stuff of nightmares, imagine that in the Lakers people would be asking for his head, there are extremes, either you can do like BS with his going back and fwd or do like Malone who threw this kid right into the fire and the returns haven’t been good, i take DAR over Miudiay any day, winnable game but this are the 2015 Lakers so we’ll see…

  8. Joel says

    I’ve seen Kobe turn down at least 3 ridiculous 3-pointers he would have taken earlier in the season. It’s like he’s a different player.

  12. Fern says

    My goodness!!! After the Bucks game the Lakers have gone on a downward spiral of suck, really really triying times…

  15. KO says

    Worst defense guards in league. Russell is terrible on defense. Randle is a bench player. Only a real fool would let this coach continue. Now clue how to teach defense.

    Shame on Jim the Fool.

  17. Fern says

    they weren’t playing this bad, now nothing works, funny a week and a half ago there were all kind of praises for Randle and Russell now they are “bench players” i guess BS was right huh?

  19. KO says

    Not sure if you understand game is 2 way Fern. Russell has gotten much worse on defense. Scouts see that he is scared to stop the 3 and numbers show him bottem of entire league given them up. When he gets out scored game after game and are bottem 10 on plus minus how can you pretend? As for Randle he is avg 6 points last 4 games. Team is much worse now then start of season. Avg over 25 a game down last 3 games. Zero defense. Zero coaching.

  26. Fern says

    Kobe the orchestrator, and knowing him i know he asked to guard Barton and shut him down, the whole team followed his lead and the D stepped up, unbelievable…

  28. matt says

    Whats happening with russell is reminding of what happened with lin last year, i think the coach feels the need to make an example of players when they get burned by the excellent west guards, remember scott coached the east before

  29. Fern says

    Russell is having the typical ups and downs of a rookie, same as Randle, even Clarkson has been in stretches like that, it’s up to him to get himself out of this slump we all seen the potential, but of course let’s hit the panic button…

  32. KO says

    Super Kobe game. Also team is so much faster and better with Hibbert on bench.

    Also without Russ bad defense on guards.

    Enjoy first win vs western conference.

  34. Fern says

    YES!!!!!! Kobe did a number on Barton in the second half, throwback when Kobe was the one that shut down the other team hottest player, great freaking game, tomorrow OKC *sigh*

  37. Mid-Wilshire says

    If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Kobe has his legs back.

    Also, good games from Jordan Clarkson (19 pts., 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals), Lou Williams (17 pts.), Julius Randle (10 rebounds in 28 minutes), Larry Nance, Jr. (10 pts. and one monster dunk), and Brandon Bass (11 pts., 6 rebounds, 4 blocks).

    Denver was short-handed. But even so…a good win.

  39. Shaun says

    I think the media needs to give Kobe some credit after bashing him to start the year – guy was coming off of a torn rotator cuff and almost 2 yrs with injuries and had a rough start to the season … now that hes in better game shape – scoring 20-30 a game and being what 80% of the old kobe … crickets …. Kobe shut the haters up

  40. KevTheBold says

    Vintage Kobe killer returned again after two games off.

    I wonder if this will put him away for another rejuvenation period?
    Go Kobe !

    Both Randle and Russell have been lashed and leashed, and Scott has replaced his hold over their confidence.

    I cannot stand a dictatorial coach who is more worried about control, than allowing players to grow and gain self sufficiency.

    These two are despondent, and no longer have the desire to give Scott their blood on offence or defence.

    The question is, if they will speak out again, or accept their fate?

    If they bow down, will we lose them forever?

    Will they fall into that NBA black hole, and turn into one of the thousand could-have-beens?

    I hope not, they both have so much potential !

    If I were them, I would do what worked again, break out of Scott’s system and play my game.

    At least that way the front office, the public and the media will be reminded that it’s not their talent thats lacking, but Scott’s choking system.

  41. rr says

    These two are despondent, and no longer have the desire to give Scott their blood on offence or defence.
    The question is, if they will speak out again, or accept their fate?
    If they bow down, will we lose them forever?
    Will they fall into that NBA black hole, and turn into one of the thousand could-have-beens?
    I hope not, they both have so much potential !

    Unless you are talking to them, you have no way of knowing where their heads really are, and even if you are right, these are young guys with their entire careers (and probably millions of dollars—a great motivator) ahead of them, and Scott will almost certainly be gone at the end of the year. NBA players’ career arcs are generally a function of their talents and work ethics, and guys who have both can survive a bad coach or two.
    Also:
    1. Again, the FO didn’t have to sign BB and Lou Williams. Many of us pointed out at the time that those two guys—who played a combined 68 minutes last night and played well—gave Scott veteran options to use instead of using Russell and Randle. It is not surprising that Scott rode the vets on a night when they were playing well with a rare win in sight. If the FO doesn’t want him to do that, then they can either fire him or order him not to do it anymore.
    2. BB and Williams both may be flipped over the next month, as they are both skilled enough to be useful role players, as last night showed.
    3. For a guy who has been pretty confrontational about telling other people not to be pessimistic, you are certainly taking a negative view here. There are other ways to spin this: it will help Randle and Russell get tougher, they have to earn their playing time by showing that they can outplay the older guys, breaking in more slowly will pay long-term dividends, seeing the vets lead the team to wins now and then will be another way to learn, etc. And even if you want to be negative about it, Russell and Randle probably have long careers ahead of them, and any problems that Byron is causing them are most likely just bumps on what will be a long road.

  42. KevTheBold says

    @rr, I think you are being kind, helpful and optimistic in your own way.

    I appreciate that !

    As for talking to them, I don’t believe it’s necessary; between their demotion, their stats, their current use, their body language; and last but not least, to hear them speak up for themselves for the first time after Scott again blasted them in the media again.

    Especially what D’Angelo said about Scott’s system not allowing them to play their game.

    I’m not being pessimistic, rr, it’s only my protective nature after raising 5 kids, four of them sons.

    Too many bright bulbs are cracked by those who have no idea how to raise kids who thrive off support and positive input, and wilt under negativity.

    The NBA is notorious for its non recycling habit with rookies, who land in the wrong spots, and end up being falsely labeled and discarded.

    Talent is hard to come by, and a tragedy to waste.

    It’s also not the minutes or the benching that has me concerned.

    It’s the fact that these kids have a rep to build in their own minds, and in the minds of the public, and Scott, is seems is doing all he can to hide their gifts or diminish them.

    A coach with any foresight, would be setting the floor for them to shine, because after all, they hold the future of the Lakers in their hands.

    The only alternative for them is to do what D’Angelo did in game 2 vs Minnesota, take the game into his own hands, and damn the coach.