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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. Spurs

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Records: Lakers 9-35, Last in the West; Spurs 37-6, 2nd in the West
Offensive ratings: Lakers 96.8, 29th in NBA; Spurs 108.6, 3rd in the NBA
Defensive ratings: Lakers 107.8, Last in the NBA; Spurs 93.3, 1st in the NBA
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Clarkson, Williams, Kobe, Randle, Hibbert
Spurs: Who knows, they could rest everyone or play everyone. Ask Pop pregame and get the side-eye or have him wax poetic on it. It really is that unpredictable.

The Lakers Coming in: The Lakers have lost 4 straight games. On the season, this is the 7th time they have had a streak of 4 or more losses. Considering the Lakers are 9-35, this isn’t super surprising. However, the math also says, then, that of their 35 losses 28 of them have come in these 7 different streaks. That seems like a lot. Or maybe it’s just me.

Anyway, that 3 game winning streak at the turn of the year seems so long ago now. At that time it seemed the Lakers were playing better and trending…if not up, then at least no longer sinking. But look above at those offensive and defensive rankings. The Lakers are 2nd to last and last respectively in those categories. They are, essentially, the worst team in the league. I mean, even the 76ers aren’t bottom 5 in both those categories (they are 21st in OEff)!

In other words, things aren’t good, Bob. But, hey, the Cavs fired David Blatt today. So if you’re the type of fan who rejoices when other teams do things that come off as a bit crazy, this day is for you!

The Spurs Coming in: The Spurs have won 19 of their last 20 games, including 12 in a row. Their last two wins — against the Mavs and the Suns — were by a total of 57 points. In other words, they are rolling.

This is where I could insert all the superlatives in the world about this team — how, even after adding LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, they have note missed a beat and integrated those players seamlessly. How they continue to play an unselfish, free style of ball that is aesthetically pleasing. How, as Kawhi Leonard and the aforementioned Aldridge take on a larger role, the “Big 3” which has been the foundation of the team simply adjust and still play well.

But, I’m not going to go into a bunch of detail on any of that stuff. The Spurs are like the Borg. Resistance is futile. They just plow through the league. Again and again.

Spurs Blogs: 48 Minutes of Hell is smart and offers a unique perspective on covering the Spurs. Check them out.

Keys to game: What could I possibly say here? I mean, I’m just being honest. There are no keys to this game. The Lakers are not going to win this game. Maybe I end up being wrong, but would you put money on them winning. Yeah, that’s what I thought.

That said, winning isn’t necessarily the objective tonight. Playing well, however, is. So, I’d like to see the Lakers do a few things well to have a better showing:

  • Rebound well defensively and push the ball off misses. The Spurs are not a team that prioritizes offensive rebounding, so doing good work on the defensive glass shouldn’t be a major issue. However, the Lakers need to try and push and attack early to see if they can penetrate the Spurs’ transition defense. Getting some open court chances would be nice.
  • Help the helper better. Let’s face it, the Lakers do this poorly every night. The Spurs punish teams who, like the Lakers, do this poorly. I’d like to see them not be as bad at this and begin to show some progress.
  • Attack Tim Duncan in the P&R, especially off the dribble. I’m really talking about D’Angelo Russell here. He’s been making some excellent pocket passes lately and that’s a great tool to have in his kit. But so is attacking the hedge man in order to draw that second defender and put the defense into it’s rotations. Mixing up how he attacks defenses in the P&R will be a key part of his development and I’d like to see more diversity as the season goes on.
  • Some better finishing from Julius Randle. The Kings are a long bunch who contest shots well inside. The Spurs are no different and, really, better at this. It would be nice to see Randle do better tonight than he did on Wednesday.

Lastly, Larry Nance is a game-time decision with his sore knee. We’ll see if he plays and, if he does, how much burn he has in him after being out a week. If he is unable to play, my assumption is that Ryan Kelly is the backup PF while Bass plays his normal spot at backup C. However, I would also like to see Tarik Black get more minutes even it means sliding Bass down to PF and having Kelly out of the rotation. Byron Scott has not agreed with this approach, however. But it is another thing to look for tonight.

Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Robert says

    Kobe Alert: KB getting named to his 18th All Star Team is 2nd all time to only Kareem. Being named as a starter 18 times is second to nobody. Receiving more votes than anyone else for the 4th time in his career is second only to MJ (By the way – I have KB as the 3rd best player of all time behind MJ and KAJ). Kobe has more total All Star votes than any other player in history. There are many other ASG categories for which Kobe is near the top. That is for another Kobe Alert. For now, the focus should be on Kobe playing in this game. Not that he needs to be sitting out now, but going gangbusters leading into the game would not be smart. That said – Kobe has moved by the Logo for 2nd on the Laker list and 28th on the All time list. He needs 30 minutes played to get by Wilt for 6th All time. He 5 three pointers behind Predrag for 12th all time. However I think the ASG should take the priority. It will be a celebration of Kobe’s career. The perfect story would be for him to get his 5th ASG MVP.

  3. LKK says

    I’m loving the drama surrounding the “King” and his merry men. LBJ has manipulated himself onto a very good team. Arguably, with a healthy Kyrie, the Cavs could be a 50 win team without James. Let’s see how it plays out. LeBrawn has players to do his dirty work, shooters surrounding him, rebounders, defenders and yes men. Irving is a potent 2nd option. Can he close this deal? Stayed tuned.

  6. P. Ami says

    I have a hard time with the GOAT conversation. Context matters. I think we can compare careers, not players, if that makes sense, and even that is an iffy activity. I would personally put Kobe, Magic, and Shaq as my favorite careers but that is a function of my own pleasure at seeing those players do their thing for my team. Removing Lakers from the list, I’m really liking Duncan, Bird, Dr. J, Barkley, Curry, KD, LeBron, Jordan, Hakeem, Payton, Mullin, Petrovich, Dirk, and I’m sure I’m missing others but you get my point. Those players impressed me in ways that I cannot quantify while being great players.If I am capable of disassociating myself from my fandom of the Lakers and my own appreciation of certain characters, then I have a much harder time making a list of greatest players.

    If I disassociate myself from those two factors, I don’t think I might fit Kobe into the top-10… but only maybe. I think Magic was a better player. I think Hakeem was a better player. I think Kareem was a better player. MJ was a better player. I never saw Russell, but I trust that his impact was greater than Kobe’s. I think Bird was a better player. I think LeBron was a better player. Duncan? I think you can argue that Kobe and Duncan are in the same level. Shall is hard to place but he seems to be at that same level. There was a point, when both were at their prime, that I would have said McGrady was a better player than Kobe. Obviously, Kobe has had a much, much, much better career but I think the folk who watched both player during that period will understand my point.

    I think there are a number of players I would pick ahead of Kobe but I don’t know how many careers I would pick ahead of his. 20 years in the league. 15 excellent to MVP level seasons. 18 time all-star. MVP of the league. Multiple First-Team selections. Multiple defensive team selections. Five championships. 81 points in a game. Countless highlight plays. Countless legendary performances on the highest stage. Fans around the league chanting for your destruction. Fans around the league calling for your immortality. His career was so long and storied that he accomplished enough in each of his two numbers to warrant their both being retired.

    Yes, I am choking up thinking that its almost over. Life is already unfair, but here is to hoping we will soon have a player who helps us recover from losing an all-time level player from our team. Yes, I’m hoping God is still a Lakers fan. Thank you for giving us Kobe Bryant.

  7. Anonymous says

    Lebron has 50,000+ minutes on his body. His window is smaller than you think. The Cavs are very much win now.

  8. Anonymous says

    Please. Please. Please. Hire Blatt. Please.
    —

    That would be a mistake of Mike Brown proportions.

  10. KO says

    Lakers guards are a minus 48.

    Guess Bryon is teaching.

    What a pathic team.

    Must be. giving tickets away.

  11. Fern says

    I found out here that Lebron fired Blatt, pressure? Byron have it easy here compared to that situation, i think it was incredibly stupid to fire him, im convinced that the GS debacle did him in, this year championship is between GS and San Antonio, all the people that wanted Kevin Love? in defense he is embarrasing to watch, he is a third wheel and a bad one at that, Steve Kerr returns tonight, im officially on the Luke Walton Lakers head coach club.

  15. KevTheBold says

    Not a bad game; our core all performed as well as could be expected against the all mighty spurs.

    Special kudos to D’Angelo, 8 for 10 shooting & Randle 14 rebounds !

  16. Fern says

    i have that 81 point game in my hard drive. And the 2010 Lakers victory against the Celts, when Kobe had that 81 point game i was kinda turned off, i thought the team stank, but Kobe was a monster, that Colorado situation rob him of another MVP award, to this day i dont buy that Steve Nash was a most valuable player than Kobe on his prime. Kobe was video game stupid during that time.

  17. Fern says

    Yeah ” the bust” scored 18 points on 10 shots and Randle got 12 points and 14 rebounds, Jesus they stink…

  18. Don Ford says

    Love LOVE the style Nash used to play. And have always been ambivalent about Kobe’s approach.

    But Kobe is (or was anyway) a 2 way player; Nash wasn’t – no D. No way Nash was better.

    Same goes for Bir[D] and Magic, even no O Russell, as great as he was.

    That’s why my GOATs tend toward KAJ and MJ and Wilt and maybe Olojuwon, and yeah bullheaded Kobe dam straight.

  21. KevTheBold says

    I hope this Laker Blatt interest is only hype.

    Imo the last thing our kids need is yet another dictatorial coach.

  22. LKK says

    Lots of garbage time points from DAR. Until he and the rest of the younguns start to apply some of their youth and athleticism on defense, it’s all pretty pointless.

  23. Vasheed says

    I have zero interest in Blatt. L Walton seems like the ideal candidate. Young coach, with experience in a winning basketball system, and a Laker pedigree. Might be the most important signing in the offseason.

  24. A Horse With No Name says

    Vasheed: Agree! Luke for all the right reasons you mentioned. He’ll need veteran, quality assistants to help develop the youth.

  26. matt says

    You’re right not every coach wants this job, and the ones that want it might not be the best for the team.

  27. matt says

    We need to reminded here the team luke coaches, warriors, is a fantastic team, that team is above 40% from 3, lakers can barely make 40% from the field, warriors play great team defense, how much of all that comes from coaching, they have a good coach cuz it was a desirable job, it took time to build that team, when the lakers were winnning championships they weren’t even making the playoffs, build the team and a great coach will want the job, but at the present time we gotta ask is byron hurting development, their minutes need monitoring, but the criticism needs to stop, and the rotations are bad and the scemes are bad, so if we get a new coach it might not be the best one available.