The most entertaining Lakers games as of late have been where the Kobe of old reappears to distract from any notion of an otherwise “old” Kobe. Tuesday’s win over the Nuggets was one of those nights. And, early on, tonight’s game seemed to be heading in a similar direction. Kobe earned his first two points with a vintage step back jumper along the baseline, which was soon followed by an open dunk in transition and then an infinite number of those still mystifyingly effective head fakes to bring him to the foul line.
Bryant scored 17 in a first half highlighted by a few fun-spirited back-and-forth jabs with Kevin Durant. Yet, as one would expect in the second night of a back-to-back, Kobe’s legs fell flat in the next half and this development could serve as an exemplar for the entire Lakers team on the evening.
After trailing by a relatively modest 11 points after the first two quarters, the Lakers allowed OKC to (or perhaps, more accurately, OKC chose to) go on a 23-0 run to open the second half and the deficit ballooned to 31 points by the end of the third quarter. In the end, the Lakers fell 120-85.
This is a result that, truthfully, isn’t all that surprising, especially when considering a few other factors: Julius Randle and Nick Young were forced to miss the game due to an ankle and illness, respectively; the Thunder had just beaten the Lakers by 40 points five nights prior to this one and the Lakers entered the matchup with a meager 1-5 record in games held on the second night of back-to-backs.
Perhaps the lone bright spot of the evening was D’Angelo Russell seeming to have regained a bit of his rhythm after his recent down stretch. Russell got the second-most minutes on the team Wednesday (28) and shot 37.5% from the field and 57% from three en route to a partially garbage time-aided line of 18 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
The percentage from the field needs improvement, but Russell continued to show greater command of the offense in the few spurts he played as the primary ball-handler. Russell broke down the Thunder’s third unit by creating space to get to his spots and made a couple neat passes that continued to find an oft-unprepared Robert Sacre. All in all, Russell looked much improved on Wednesday. Oh, and this move was quite nifty:
https://vine.co/v/iAqdYbZO5F5
Perhaps to one’s surprise, Byron Scott wasn’t critical of the team after the loss, confessing that the Thunder just “had a little to much” despite a “great” effort from the Lakers.
This is wholly accurate as there really isn’t much else to say here other than the Lakers simply lost to the better team and it only took three quarters for them to definitively do so. Also of note is Kobe only played 27 minutes in this one and should be better-rested for what will be the final Christmas game of his career on Friday against the Clippers. Here’s to hoping you’ve got a box of tissues in your stocking.
Jim C. says
Team loses by 40 with Kobe out = Team played scared
Team with Kobe but without Nick Young (always in Scott’s dog house) and Julius Randle lose by 35 = Great effort
Classic Byron.
It seems to me that says
the Christmas miracle is that the game was reasonably competitive through one half.
Craig W. says
The Thunder is one of four teams that really has a chance of winning the ‘trophy’ this year. They also have an impossible 1-2 punch. I take heart that our team hung relatively close for the first half.
The problem was our young players thought they could rest the 3rd qtr and our vets – sans Kobe – are simply average NBA players at best.
J C says
Here’s the real Christmas miracle: Byron Scott still has a job.
Tonefinder says
Christmas Miracle is what I was thinking when I turned the game on in the 2nd quarter to find the Lakers up by three.
Game didn’t stay on for long.
david h says
Darius: while we should all be lamenting: peace on earth, good will toward man; flame to the feet of coach Scott; Sunday’s game at Memphis should mark the beginning of Byron’s next version of a starting line-up change. In terms of winning, will it really matter?
Time to look ahead department: after Friday’s shellacking, I’d like to see an all veteran starting line up; none of whom should be donning laker jerseys next year. An all veteran line up should help to cement front office’s own vision for the future relative to current roster. And front office’s vision for the future should round out the 2nd unit. Scrimmages between starting and 2nd unit should begin immediately.
Merry Christmas Forum Blue and Gold
Go Lakers
Gene says
Second unit was playing well…..Scott then took them out(first half)….Lakers go to pieces…..Second Half ….the first unit is getting destroyed…No changes….SMH…
KevTheBold says
The thunder is a powerful team!
On offence, and defence,… amazing !
Only Kobe in his prime, or our core in their future, could stop them.
Alas today, we are both too gray, and too green.
A fact that Scott should have always known versus placing the blame on the kids.
It’s like he’s so afraid for his job, he points his finger at the most helpless ones as an excuse.
Now that’s what I call ” Scared & Pathetic” !
Craig W. says
Managing by the numbers reminds me of managing by analytics – both need to be tempered by experience and what is going on on the court. Scott seems to be managing by the numbers, in order to give each player a chance to show what they can do. We may criticize this, but if he changes approach toward the middle of the season, then his method may have merit for this year.
TempleOfJamesWorthy says
Denver Nuggets at full strength = mediocre team
Denver Nuggets with missing starters = bad team
OKC Thunder completely healthy = championship contenders
The Lakers can beat some bad teams. The Lakers might occasionally beat a mediocre team.
The Lakers will rarely beat a championship contender.
It’s pretty much that simple.
Lil pau says
Anyone wondering if Swaggy and JRs last minute absences could be trade related?
Robert says
Kev: “It’s like he’s so afraid for his job….Scared & Pathetic” This can apply to a few in the Laker org.
“helpless ones ” Agreed – the lower down the food chain you are – the less responsible you are. The higher up the chain you are – the more responsible you are. Every company works this way. We need new leadership.
Byron: I must be watching a different game, because games like last night show that coaching is a very small part of what ails us. OKC is a varsity playing against our JV.
Baylor Fan says
The Zombie Sonics needed the win against the Lakers to go over .500 on the road. Yes, they look like world beaters against the Lakers but that is not one of the teams they will face in the playoffs.
Russell’s move was pretty devastating for a guard who is too slow. Given time, he should prove the Lakers made a wise decision when they drafted him.
Anonymous says
Anyone wondering if Swaggy and JRs last minute absences could be trade related?
__
Young should be trade bait. But I can’t see the FO moving Randle. I’ve read articles that would indicate that the Lakers are higher on him than other teams (short arms/no jump shot/not great defensively). However, I don’t think we have an idea of what his ceiling is yet. With a jump shot he’s an all star. Without it he’s a decent starter but limited.
I’d like the FO to try and move everyone but Randle, Russell and Clarkson. Nance is a nice player but he’s limited to PF because he also has no range — so you can’t play him with Randle. While Nance is much better defensively than Randle he doesn’t have any offensive game other than transition and put backs. I’d keep Randle because he can create his own shot (close to the basket but still he can create it).
Not sure what BS is thinking because my gut says Nance is a rotation guy and not a starter. Still he’s started like 10 games in a row now. Go figure.
Anonymous says
Morris in Sun’s doghouse. Could Lakers get a good player by buying very low?
Anonymous says
Thumbs down on Morris. He’s got talent but would need a great coach to coax it out of him. Byron is not that guy.
Mikey says
The Lakers are playing this seasons the way they are supposed to, competing hard enough to develop youngs, and keep a win oriented culture, while giving their rookies playing time, giving Kobe his due in his farewell tour, and avoiding stopgap measures that won’t push this team into the playoffs but would mess up the future.
Russell and Randle are their obvious best pieces going forward, and Clarkson is a good complementary guard for Russell, as Clarkson likes to handle for pick and rolls, and Russell is very effective playing off the ball to switch up the offense, and confuse his defender.
That means that LA should be looking for the very best veteran defenders at small forward and center, who do NOT need to handle the ball. Way too many dribbles out there.
Nance fits in well as a third big man, at worst. I think he could start at center in most lineups. And Lou Williams should before effective as a third guard next year, if they have him, once Kobe and Young are gone, and we have enough touches for him.
Unless Clarkson and a waiver of pick protection would bring back Okafor, which it should be able to, LA just needs to pick up an asset or two by renting cap space, and ride it out until free agency.
All of which is to say, we are on the right track, but it’s hard to remember or see that in the valleys, and it will be hard to deny next X-mas, when Russell, Randle are showing their quality, and the team has its concept down, and have some freed from the Kobe schism, and they have the right the free agents around.
Too optimistic?
Mikey says
Byron is not as bad as people say with development. True, his sound bites and demeanor lack tact, but he has a history of doing well with young players, in Jersey and New Orleans.
And I don’t see him limiting Russell, Randle, Clarkson or Nance. Despite all of the tough guy drill sergeant junk, they are all getting substantial reps, and are fighting to fit in, and are developing rapidly.
Philly? Destroyer of talent. Milwaukee? Can’t put together their talent. Why have that many prospects? Take Giannis and Jabari and get rid of other guys who add instability and who have lower ceilings (Carter Williams). Even Minnesota is losing out by not focusing exclusively on Wiggins, Towns and one other young (Lavine or Muhammad ? And Dieng also?)
Orlando? It’s like a popcorn machine. Too many underdeveloped pieces bouncing around. Oladipo and Aaron are losing out on optimal training.
But I see the Lakers youngs knowing their roles, more or less, and knowing what to work on.
To incorporate 3 new young players and 2-3 new vets? 30 games in?
I don’t know that the actual results are blame worthy
rr says
A fact that Scott should have always known versus placing the blame on the kids.
It’s like he’s so afraid for his job, he points his finger at the most helpless ones as an excuse.
—
Mitch should have known this too, versus talking about playoff contention.
LordMo says
Lol … did someone say we were the JV. I’m thinking more like Soph/Frosh! I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the youngsters. Each minute they log will only payoff for the future.
KO says
Lil Pau
Nope. Nic has as much value as 4 point 1 rebound Roy.
Trading Randle would be admitting future us as bad as now.