The Lakers, after a deflating and bad loss against the Bulls on Thursday, are back in action on Friday against the Clippers. The loss against the Bulls was the Lakers 8th straight, their longest of the season, and only enhanced the struggles the team has been dealing with lately.
After the game Byron Scott railed on his team, questioning how important the game was to some of his players, again noted that his team did not come out ready to play, and threatened making lineup changes (again) to find players who would compete each night.
I’d go off on some long rant right now on how these comments can, by some, be interpreted as another deflection by the coach; that when your team isn’t ready to play, it reflects as much on the guy in charge (if not more) as it does on the players; that the next time this coach takes some ownership over his team’s struggles to “compete” it will be the first (second, maybe?), but I won’t write more than that single sentence. Why bother.
Instead, let’s turn our attention to the Clippers who are playing well in the midst of some controversy around Blake Griffin. Unless you live in a cave, you know that Griffin is out at least a month (and maybe closer to two) after breaking his hand in an altercation with a member of the team’s equipment staff. Griffin, who is friends with the man he had the altercation with, reportedly punch this man in the face multiple times, resulting in the fracture. Griffin had surgery the other day, apologized, and took a public hit from his coach and the team owner for his actions.
But the Clippers keep winning anyway, because they still have Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan running the P&R and enough shooting (including the dynamite this season JJ Redick) to punish defenses who collapse or keep dunking and getting paint shots against defenses who don’t. It’s a pretty simple formula that is orchestrated by Paul’s brilliance and complimented by the right pieces to make it all go.
What does this mean for the Lakers? Most likely another loss. I can’t sugarcoat this, I just can’t. The Lakers are playing mostly poor basketball and it shows up most against teams who can threaten them in the exact ways the Clippers are using to win with Griffin out. I don’t want to sound too gloomy, but if Paul doesn’t have 20+ points and 10+ assists, `Jordan doesn’t finish with 15+ points and 15 rebounds, and Redick doesn’t hit at least 4 three pointers, it’s probably because they did not need to play the 4th quarter as their team routs the Lakers.
For the Lakers, then, I’d love to see them compete and keep this close but I have my doubts it can happen. I noted this on twitter last night after the Bulls game, but the Lakers really look like they could use the All-Star break right now. They have already played 48 and they’ve only won 9 times. They suffer bad losses at least every few games and it’s only a matter of time before their coach rails on them after one of them (like after last night’s loss). However, they actually play 7 more times before the ASG break (including tonight) and will have played a whopping 55 games heading into the “halfway” point of the season.
The mental strain of losing so much by itself has to be tremendous, but losing the way they are and being called out for it has to add an extra dimension to that. I know it would for me. In any event, we’ll see how things go tonight, but another rough loss could be in the making.
Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet and NBA TV nationally. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.
Anonymous says
For Warren. Lakers by 15.
KO says
You meant 15 pts 1st quarter.
Clip by 20. And I hate Clips.
Anonymous says
Jeanie just on Petros and Money. Said she bought into ‘turning the corner’ and ‘making the playoffs’. Said she is as frustrated as the fans. Sitting here with 9 wins is unbelievable.
My sense she is distancing herself from Jim/Mitch. Referred to them as our Front Office numerous times. Called them out for trying to hide behind Kobe’s retirement — no reason you can’t honor Kobe and develop the kids.
Said there was no need for a time limit (Jim). With the Lakers resources and assets it shouldn’t take long to get back to being competitive. Wondering why it is taking so long, though.
Mid-Wilshire says
I’m with you, KO.
I can’t stand the Clips.
LKK says
Good start for the team… Getting DJ in foul trouble helped… Lakers putting up some resistance.
LKK says
Lakers are really battling tonight. Good to see.
Fern says
That Clippers broadcast team telling it like it is, want to shoot myself, still is bizarro world for me…
LKK says
Fern…
Turn down the sound… Lol
LKK says
Rivers and Stephenson have made the difference for the Clips. Brandon Bass is a true pro. Does what he’s asked to do and brings it every night.
Fern says
LKK actually they are interesting they are wondering were Roy Hibbert game went and how his game as deteriorated to the point that he gives zero rim protection and is a lay up drill down there and they point it out during plays, they also wondered why DAR is not getting more playing time or be starting, that he should be playing 30+ minutes at night that Randle is a “driver” to the left lol. Valid points that we have discussed ad nauseum here. But it still the damn Clipper and i find extremely offensive that they are better than us…
marques says
As much as I complain about Russell, I absolutely hate the fact that Clarkson plays point guard and a lot of it. He is Austin Rivers lite, he doesn’t need extended time handling the ball.
He’s not much better than Russell on D, might as well just let Russell play.
Fern says
Randle got posterized, he is not a rookie anymore lol, nice game, 23 and 14 not too shabby, we are 9-40, man, I can’t take another season like this…
Mid-Wilshire says
Fern,
Remember. This is all a prelude to next year and the year after.
Meanwhile against a tough opponent, the Clippers (31-16), I thought Randle and Clarkson played well.
Julius Randle: 23 pts. (9-16), 14 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal
Jordan Clarkson: 17 pts. (7-16), 8 rebounds, 2 assists
The negatives: 6 TOs for Randle, 3 TOs for Clarkson. Also, Blake Griffin wasn’t in the lineup. Even so, the Clippers are not a push over without Blake. And Chris Paul is playing as well as ever. So, all things considered, I saw some encouraging things tonight.
Now…next year, they’ll be better.
LKK says
Fern….
You are more open minded than me. I can’t stand the Clips or their announcers. I’m sure they had valid points, though. Our guys played hard, but need to play smarter. Too many turnovers caused by dribbling into traffic. The ball needs to move.
Fern says
Mid The Clips are actually 14-3 without the *tough one*. I know it’s a prelude but still it’s hard to take. This season cannot happen again, ever…
Renato Afonso says
On the Stephenson/Randle poster. Here’s what you do in this situation: first, you need to rotate a little bit sooner so that you can contest the dunk at least one more step further from the rim; second, you go up with both hands (you don’t reach as high but to the attacker it becomes more difficult to “see” the path to the basket); third, if your “contesting the shot” hand can’t reach the ball, then the other hand pulls that arm (no slapping, you grab and pull). It will be a hard foul but the message is: no layups and no dunks.
I’m going to rewatch this game now…
BigCitySid says
Random thoughts:
– Nice effort last night vs Clips.
– I like Bass, hope he has a spot on the team next year.
– Don’t have the bad feelings for the Clips that many here do. They just don’t seem important enough. I can understand those who have issues with the Spurs, personally I despise the Celtics the most. To each his own.
– Clips showcased Lance last night…and he came thru.
– My biggest All-Star snub: # 6 scorer Lillard, only top 15 scorer this season not to make the team. Think DeAndre Jordan is more deserving than Aldridge of a spot. Somebody getting back at DJ for his free agency flip-flop from Clips to Mavs to Clips?
– 8th spot in West becoming interesting. ‘Blazers, Kings, Jazz, even Pels. Who will be the Warriors appetizer?
pat oslon says
The team is young and it shows but at least they competed hard for most of the night. It’s a baby step in the right direction.
Mid-Wilshire says
Last night against the Clippers, Julius Randle had 23 pts. and 14 rebounds. That was his 17th double-double of the year. By comparison, Dwight Howard has 21 and Anthony Davis has 23 double-doubles this year.
Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson had 17 pts. on 7-16 shooting (with 8 rebounds and 2 assists). That was the 17th straight game in which he’s scored in double figures. Also, he’s 2nd among all 2nd-year players in scoring with 15.2 ppg. Andrew Wiggins averages 20.5 ppg. Wiggins averages 44.6% shooting; Clarkson averages 43.7%.
These are, for the most part, encouraging numbers. (Imagine if we didn’t have either player.)
Perhaps there is progress after all.
Clay Bertrand says
SNARKY George,
Pelton has some fresh Laker dirt on the Trade Options!!!!!!! Please post if you can!!!!
Mid-Wilshire, I like Clarkson. People dont realize that he hasn’t even played a FULL SEASON yet!!!! Wiggins played from Day 1. Clarkson had to deal with “BYRON SCOTT REASONS.”
I’m happy with where he is!! He isn’t perfect but he is far from a complete player at this point. I don’t get this BS that because of his age, his ceiling is limited. That’s just crap!!! Veteran players can add a lot to their games in the offseason if they work. Magic added a jumper, a hookshot, 3 pt range etc. Paul Milsap was primarily ONLY a rebounding Ace but he developed a lot despite being drafted as a Junior (just to name a couple of examples).
These Analysts talk about guys being drafted too young and not being ready and having to learn on the job and then when you draft a Junior or a Senior (like Clarkson and Nance) they say that their ceilings are low/limited because they are already developed.
If you want to have a Player’s BEST YEARS, you draft him when he’s older and you don’t have so much of the LEARN ON THE JOB for guys who aren’t ready. You don’t HAVE to have guys on your team for 20 years to be good in this league. You don’t HAVE to draft teenagers and keep them til they are 40!! Kobe is an Outlier.
Anonymous says
I hate watching Laker/Clipper games. It opens up old David Stern wounds. Thanks NBA.
Mid-Wilshire says
Here’s a link to an article by Michael Pina of Bleacher Report analyzing the chemistry between D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson when they are on the court together:
http://feeds.bleacherreport.com/articles/2612219-lakers-dangelo-russell-jordan-clarkson-backcourt-showing-promising-future
According to Pina, the statistics reveal that Clarkson is much more productive with Russell on the floor than when Russell is on the bench and Clarkson is playing without him:
“According to NBA.com, Clarkson shoots 42.3 percent from the floor and 26.5 percent behind the three-point line when Russell is off the floor. Those numbers spike to 45.5 percent and 40.8 (!) percent, respectively, when Russell is also on the court.
“Additionally, Clarkson makes 58.5 percent of his attempts within five feet of the basket with Russell and just 46.8 percent without him.”
It’s an interesting article well worth reading. This all hearkens back to my earlier comment that it appears that progress is being made. It may not always be evident to our eyes. But this could be evidence that the seeds of future success for the Lakers are being sowed.
Now is the time for the Lakers to nurture their young players and ensure that they play together as much as possible.
Renato Afonso says
Clay,
Less caps please. It makes the text so much harder to read…
Clay Bertrand says
Renato, duly noted. I’ll do what I can man. But “BYRON SCOTT REASONS” has to be in caps for…..well…… “BYRON SCOTT REASONS”. ; )
Anonymous says
I heard Jeanie’s interview as well. I think, like most fans, she has reached the end of her patience with the Jim Buss regime.
You are correct, she referred to Jim/Mitch as ‘Our Front Office’ numerous times. Clearly she is laying the Lakers woes in Jim’s lap.
rr says
Clay,
Millsap was well ahead of Randle across the board as a 21-year-old rookie, except for DRB and DIME%. Millsap was on a much better team and playing 9 mpg fewer than JR is, so there is noise in the numbers, as with any numbers. But Millsap was shooting better, finishing better, and getting more ORBs than Randle is from his rookie year on.
Randle has looked good the last couple of games, and I am glad of that.
Clay Bertrand says
rr,
The Milsap comparison was meant to refer to the development of Clarkson not to Randle. I was illustrating that when a player comes into the league as an “OLDER” Junior or Senior, there is still plenty of headroom for development despite them being 22-23 years old and not 18-19 like the One and Dones.
I wasn’t contemplating a Randle comparison which as you point out isn’t really a valid one. I was speaking also in general to the drafting of Junior and Seniors vs. One and Dones and how analysts tend to undervalue the UPSIDE of more mature draftees. I think that is a somewhat flawed view by those analysts.
I’d agree tho…….I’m with you on Randle looking good of late. He seems to really value his starting role and I think he is motivated to try to keep it.
LKK says
Got a good look at Ben Simmons today as LSU hosted #1 Oklahoma. Young man is quite the prospect with tons of potential. If anything , I thought he was a little too unselfish. Only took 7 shots for his 14 points. Had 9 boards. Bad side: 5 TO’s. His team made little effort to get him the ball down the stretch, which ended up hurting them.
Oklahoma’s highly touted senior guard Buddy Hield turned the game around with 4 straight 3’s late in the 2nd half. He looked like a lottery pick for sure. He can make an open shot. The other Oklahoma guard, Cousins, caught my eye as well. In addition to hitting the game winning shot, he was solid on both ends of the floor all game. Looks like a pro.
Simmons appears to have the ability to play either forward position. Certainly an intriguing prospect.
Anonymous says
Jeanie should start acting like a professional when she represents the Lakers.
Anonymous says
Or Jeanie should start doing her job and lead the organization. She can begin by picking a new FO — then the results will be her responsibilitiy.
Craig W. says
It wasn’t that long ago that almost all NBA players got 4 years of college and I am not sure anyone would say that reduced Kareem’s ceiling, or Jerry West, or Walt Frazier, or Oscar Robertson, or…
Just sayin’…this thought that older players have a lower ceiling is BS. Nance Jr. has a chance to be better than Randle and drafting him in the first round was certainly deserved – in hindsight, of course. He may not be as much of a bull, but he just may fit on a team better – we will see in a couple of years.
Craig W. says
What having 4 years of college does mean is that teams have more tape on the player and can make better decisions about what, exactly that player can contribute. It is still a crapshoot, to draft a player, but the odds are much better with the older player. This is somewhat offset by the fact that all ‘spectacular’ players get a look sooner and choose to go pro faster, however, they are still a bigger risk for the team drafting them.
Fern says
You know? Completely unrelated but there is another “report” that is doing the rounds on the internet about KD coming to LA and that Westbrook would follow the next season. This is why fans of other teams call us delusional, we constantly get feed this sort of horsecrap. Nobody with a lick of sense would believe that crap.If KD leaves OKC, which i really doubt, he wouldn’t reunite with Westbrook and if he leaves i doubt he comes to LA and Westbrook would relish the chance to be the main man on the Thunder, these stupid “reports” are a joke and what really piss me off is that the common Laker fan eats this horsecrap and gets false hopes with lies that are manufactured for clickbait…
KO says
Annon
Professional like her facebook photo? Most embarrising of any team owner in pro sports history. Naked on her back with basketballs covering privite parts? Really?
As for KD that rumor came from Steven A Smith whom I dislike but does have access and claims comes direct from KD.
Much better chance of that happening then the Buss Clowns building a winner one Power Ball Lottery Pick at a time. KD is leaving for either LA, NY or DC. That 33% beats the 25% for lottery.
Mid-Wilshire says
Meanwhile…there was a D League game last night. Tarik Black had 15 pts. (5-7 shooting), 14 rebounds (5 offensive boards), 4 blocked shots, and one steal in 29 minutes (with only 3 fouls). Vander Blue contributed 31 pts. 7 rebounds, 1 assist, and 4 steals at the SG position (he also plays PG). There was even a Robert Upshaw sighting (he’s been ill and has missed some games). Upshaw had 5 pts. and one rebound in 7 minutes and looked very mobile.
Here’s a link to some of the highlights, courtesy of our friends at Silver Screen and Roll:
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2016/1/30/10878230/la-lakers-tarik-black-d-fenders-tape-stats-analysis
mud says
KO, the “Buss family ain’t selling.
i suggest you pick a new team.
win or lose, i’ll root for the Lakers. i like winning better, but if they lose, it’s out of my control. i might complain about the team constantly being bad, but i would direct those complaints where they belong, straight to the FO, not to others who have no say(but that’s just me).
in any case, the Lakers have a long way to go before they reach Cubs levels of futility.
Stats says
@Mid. Thanks. Still can’t fathom Black not seeing some minutes on this team, especially as he works so well with DAR. Sigh….
KO says
Mud I was responding to Annon post on Jeannie doing her job. Not going anywhere
Craig W. says
Stats & Mid,
Is it possible that Black will come up and see much more time after the trade deadline? I don’t know anything, but I can hope.
Mid-Wilshire says
Craig W.,
Good question. Reportedly, the Lakers are trying to move Brandon Bass. If they do so by February 18, then I think Tarik will get some burn. He’ll almost have to get playing time just by default.
If Bass remains on the team, I think Black may remain the odd man out.
For some reason, Byron just doesn’t seem to like him.
Robert says
mud: you like to suggest people “pick a new team”. Saying this to KO with regard to the Lakers is like suggesting that Warren Buffet start drinking something other than Coca Cola (in other words KO – do any of you financial types see what I did there : )
“but i would direct those complaints where they belong, straight to the FO, not to others who have no say” Could you please explain this? You do realize that Jim Buss in a Trust beneficiary and is also the defacto GM?
PurpleBlood says
Note to Darius:
I´ve just read the D´Angelo write-up & man, what a gem! As always, thanks for such fine insight.
___
Robert,
Asking KO to pick a new team would be like asking Ozzy to switch to New Age music.
(it´s all good mud)
Anonymous says
I suppose if both Durant (SF) and DeRozan (SG) came the Lakers would be competitive. However, the Lakers would still need a center (shows you how far away we are that two max players aren’t enough). That lineup would push Clarkson to a 6th man role.
Not bad as far as dreams go…
rr says
Age and player development: Obviously, bringing up guys like Kareem and West is pointless. Kareem could have played in the NBA when he was 18; guys just didn’t do that back in those days, plus, of course, Kareem was a once-a-century talent. Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal both stayed in college for four and three years, respectively, but they of course could have come out earlier.
What we do know is that the research shows that most guys hit their peaks around ages 25-29, so if a guy is good enough to hold his own in the NBA at 19, then he has a much longer period to develop and hone his NBA skills before hitting his peak than a 23-year-old rookie, like Larry Nance Jr., does. Russell turns 20 this month and that is one reason to be optimistic about him. Ceiling is a function of talent, because generally, only guys who are really gifted will come out at 18 or 19, because it is mostly only guys who are going to get drafted high that come out at that age. Randle of course is not a generational talent, but he probably has a higher ceiling than Nance does simply because Randle was seen as being talented enough to be a lottery pick before he reached drinking age. The other side is that college ball puts less mileage on guys’ legs and can help them to mature.
Draymond Green, to whom some people are comparing Nance, is an exception to all these things, in that he played four years of college ball, went 35th in the draft, didn’t do much as a rookie, and is now an NBA All-Star on an historically great team. So Green is an extreme outlier.
Picking a new team: The Cubs have gone 108 years without winning a title, so if the Lakers’ drought extends to 2118, then I will think about picking a new team. Until then, I will root for the Lakers and criticize them (coach, players, FO, ownership) if I feel criticism is warranted.
Jeanie: People have often used context to defend the FO, the players, and Scott, and I think the contextual defense of Jeanie is that her father wanted Jim to run basketball ops and that wish is being honored.
Tarik Black: Byron likes veterans, and BB has not done anything to warrant getting benched. Hibbert has, but Hibbert is a former All-Star etc. I am not saying that I agree with it; I have said many times that the Lakers should be Kobe and the Kids. But this is who is Byron is and who he came here as.