The Lakers start a 4 game road trip tonight in New Orleans, a trip which will double as a Kobe retirement tour at every stop. So, expect there to be some tribute videos and electric environments full of fans for both teams eager to say their goodbyes to #24. With this, of course, comes some distractions, even if only small ones.
This isn’t the biggest deal, but it it’s not nothing either. Kobe will be showered with good vibes and the rest of the team will have to try and channel that energy into positive performances. Because no matter how the game goes, Kobe will get his cheers. I’ve no clue how his teammates fell about this — I’d imagine it’s a bit cool to see — but hearing “oohs and ahs” when one guy touches the ball or takes a shot regardless of result has to at least be strange.
Anyways, that’s just one backdrop here. The game will go on and the Lakers will look to try and build on their game against the Timberwolves. Replicating Kobe’s 38 point effort isn’t likely, but the good performances from the team’s young players seems much more doable. Hopefully, Russell, Clarkson, and Randle (who has been playing well lately in general) can take positive steps forward and have some good games on this trip.
The wins, though, aren’t that likely to happen. This game against the Pelicans offers the team’s best chance for a W so I’m interested in seeing if the team acts accordingly. Strong effort defensively and attention to detail on the backboards and in rotating to shooters on the perimeter are vital. Marking Anthony Davis is a gameplan unto itself, but you cannot pay so much attention to Davis that you ignore Ryan Anderson or Jrue Holiday or Eric Gordon. Those guys have been very good players over the course of their careers and all can hurt you with space and opportunity. The Lakers, then, must try to limit both. We’ll see how it goes.
Where you can watch: 6:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet and nationally on TNT. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.
Robert says
Kobe Alert: The 38 points against the Wolves was Kobe’s 428th, which is just 1 shy of KAJ for fourth all time. The total of 428 thirty point games for the Lakers compares to 9 for the rest of the Laker roster combined. Another tonight?
LKK says
Kobe is playing very well again. Great first quarter and after the Lakers lost the lead, he has come back in the 2nd and restored order. Like the way he and Clarkson are playing off each other.
LKK says
Nice half! Lakers making some tough shots and have regained a double digit lead. Everyone playing with confidence. Defense needs to concentrate on slowing Jrue Holliday and Anderson. A 2 game winning streak will have the GPS on the tank “recalculating”.
rr says
“Big homie is in town,” tweeted Simmons, tagging Russell in the post.
Russell and Simmons have known each other for a long time. They played high school basketball together at Montverde Academy in Florida. Simmons reportedly “ripped the rim down” during one of his first practices, via DailyNews.com. ”
http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/los-angeles-lakers-lsu-tigers-ben-simmons-dangelo-russell-020416
Anonymous says
This year is lost. If they start winning meaningless games and lose the pick as a result I will be pissed. As long as the kids play well I’m OK with losing. We clearly need more talent and the cheapest way to get it is by keeping the puck.
Marques says
I have fun just watching Russell on defense
He is a great passer, but is defense is comical…historically bad actually.
Tim says
Lakers hold on for the win and have a two game winning streak.
fern says
Lakers won!!! oh wait they need to lose 70 games
to secure that pick… solid games from all the youngsters, all in all DAR and Julius are playing with a lot of confidence, DAR fg% has been climbing steadily since November when he shoot 35% or something like that, it was up to 41.5% before the game so it must had climb a little more than that after this game, we needed this mini streak, i know i did…
LKK says
The Mamba with twelve 4th quarter points to help seal the deal. A little love from the refs would have helped. I thought hand checking on the perimeter was illegal. The Pelicans ( dumb nickname) got away with putting hands on the dribbler all night. They blitzed and doubled Russ all night on the pick and roll. Kid should try splitting the defenders every so often. Great win in a season where every win is a great win.
KO says
Worst record 25%
2nd worst. 19%
3rd worst 15%
Saying winning screws up the 1st pick is not quite accurate.
There is a Good chance finishing 2nd with no pick. Just play to win and let basketball gods decide.
Chris J says
Marques —
Russell leaves a lot to be desired on D, no question. But to me, Clarkson is more clueless on that end. There were multiple plays tonight where Dejean-Jones straight punked him. When a guy on a 10-day contract eats your lunch, it’s bad.
KevTheBold says
Marques has a personal negative obsession with Russell for some weird reason.
Maybe he didn’t dap him one day, I dunno.
The kid has gifts that can’t be taught: pure shooting and amazing passing; while defence can be learned.
Yet according to Marques, the kid is a bust.
Thank God, he’s not a GM!
fern says
KO February 4, 2016 at 9:38 pm
Worst record 25%
2nd worst. 19%
3rd worst 15%
Saying winning screws up the 1st pick is not quite accurate.
There is a Good chance finishing 2nd with no pick. Just play to win and let basketball gods decide.~~~~~~~ Totally agree.
rr says
The Lakers got an outlier performance from Kobe against Minnesota, and won by 4. They shot pretty well tonight, Kobe made some key 3s, they benefited from NO going 4/20 from the arc, and they won by 3. They are still 29th in ORTG and 30th in DRTG. So, for people who are worried about the tanking standings, I do not see these games as a harbinger of a sudden surge. The Lakers won three in a row not so long ago.
Also, Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell exchanged fist-bump/my bud Tweets earlier today. I think and have thought for awhile that Simmons wants to get drafted by the Lakers–which, of course, presumably means basically nothing in terms of getting him.
bleedpurplegold says
That is what we missed in a number of games this season, and what we can not expect to keep going this way. Expecting a 38 year old man doing this kind of clutch play to keep going on a consistant basis is foolish. But i enjoy these kind of games from him whenever he is physically able to give them to us here and there.
Hope the young gunz watch and, more importantly, learn from it….
J C says
It’s possible that Simmons, if his desire were strong enough, and was communicated to a team that picks before the Lakers do, that he could influence a team enough not to pick him if they were on the fence between selecting him or another name prospect. We could even sweeten the pot. Think Vlade.
Warren Wee Lim says
I agree with KO.
Fern says
I think Marques is Byron Scott in disguise lol
KevTheBold says
Lol,.. or maybe Russell reminds him of someone who took his lunch money.
bleedpurplegold says
@J C
Problem is, nobody in their right minds would pass on a prospect like simmons….
And i think no franchise would pass on his rights as you could trade him afterwards anyway…even if he forces his way out, we would likely have to let go one of randle/JC/DAR.
It is ben simmons and then everybody else this year…
Fern says
The way i see it we could have the second worst record and end up with nothing as KO said, then what? all the losing would had been for nothing. As far as im concerned getting the second pick last season is as lucky as we are going to get until proven otherwise…
Marques says
Fern, kev
I know you guys have purple and gold lenses…lol. I spent the whole game just watching Russell on defense, not because I wanted him to fail because it’s funny.
His knees buckle, he closes his eyes, reaches across his body for steals…one time he looked like he forgot where he was.
On offense he’s fine, I said he was a great passer. I look at things as they are, not what I want them to be. I hope over the summer he gets things together.
But right now, today, go to the footage……it’s funny. Take your purple and gold glasses off and just watch what he does instead of watching the ball.
Then you can come back and call me Byron scott, I’ll accept that.
KevTheBold says
Marques, this has been said, but it hasn’t been read, so I’ll say it again.
Go back and look at Curry´s first few defensive seasons, then come back.
Great defence takes training and a desire.
The kid has the desire, but not yet the strength and stamina, which is born of training.
For you you expect 3 out of 3 from a rookie 19 year old PG, is totally unrealistic.
Get off his case already.
DieTryin says
Forget the tank. KO is right. The outcome is wildly uncertain and the residual effects of losing are not trivial. We are a young team who is not very good. There will be plenty of losses but let’s at least try to win.
Let Russell, Clarkson, Randle & Black congeal on the court. And hopefully Kobe keeps having these great games as he completes his farewell tour.
Agrees with an earlier post about what an exceedingly dumb name The Pekicans is. And if that alone was not bad enough they okay in the Smoothie King Center. That’s like a football team playing in the Meineke Car Care or Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl games.
Vasheed says
I do think Russell’s defense gets blown a little bit out of proportion. His on ball defense isn’t terrible and he rebounds great for a PG. His problems come from off ball defense and getting lost in screens. Which is a bit surprising in that on offense he sees things 5 steps ahead of time. It doesn’t seem to translate on the defensive side.
All that said Russell is probably the Lakers best defender in the back court. Clarkson and Williams are even worse defensively yet Russell will get yanked for “defense”. I wouldn’t see it as an issue if the Lakers actually had a good defensive guard that Scott was favoring in those situations.
KevTheBold says
Insightful post Vasheed !
Agree 100% !
pat oslon says
KO …. I’m in agreement with you & have said so on a daily basis. We can agree to agree.
david h says
Hey Darius: is it even possible that kobe is gunning; I mean shooting for a 20 ppg average in this, his final nba season? starting to see that stubborn pride and drive kick in that few ever possess; health notwithstanding; I say yes. Currently at 16.7 ppg; if he decides to play only the 13 away games; he will need to average…….i’ll leave the math to Robert’s kobe alerts and why not as this can also be a story line for the remainder of the season; game in game out; if of course Robert chooses to do so.
Liking what I’m seeing in OAngelo’s and Clarkson’s offensive development. Understandable that both players still need to get into nba shape as sloppiness appears to ensue late in games. Improvement will come with experience. For now, can live with coach’s substitution pattern. Think I also saw an in-game teaching moment from Byron last night; miracles never cease to amaze me.
temper this with getting way ahead of myself here: he’s a scorer, not a shooter. if given the reigns to play his game, can see Randle trend upward and forward. laker’s could use a 20/10 power forward in a couple of years or so.
Lastly, not sure if I’ll have time on super bowl Sunday: Happy Birthday Darius.
Go lakers
T. Rogers says
First off, its great to see some of those old flashes from Kobe. Clearly his body is feeling better. Second Russell’s defense is definitely being blown out of proportion. Today’s NBA is about team defense. A guy could be Bruce Bowen out there and it won’t matter if the other 4 players are not defending in concert with him. Russell will never be Gary Payton. But with the right mix of players and a coach that actually teaches a true team defensive concept he can flourish.
Fern says
There is your problem Marques, you spend the entire game watching Russell playing defense and nobody else. Vasheed summarized perfectly so no need to elaborate. Historically bad? not quite, but the entire team is historically bad defensively, can’t single out a player that you don’t like when the entire team is as bad or worse than him. He isn’t the worse offender…
KevTheBold says
What a great relief to see Randle coming into his own again !
With him DAR, JC, we have a very promising trio !
Marques says
Kev and fern are like Johnny Cochran and rob kardashian.
Unfortunately, yes, I pick out games and just watch certain people or things, not just with Russell, but pretty much everything basketball.
He literally closed his eyes…what do you want me to say, I’ve seen kids do that, but not in an NBA game. Yes, all of our defenders are bad, but all in different ways.
But keep it up dream team, I relish any chance to discuss basketball, whether we agree or not.
Mr.G says
Lou Williams had 5 TOs and back to the game. The strange thing is that Byron did not criticize him in front of the soft media(always making simple/dumb questions as much as possible for the dude).
Sweet Lou(argh!) seems like a child in a professional basketball court. I really think he’s not able to understand some basics expressions: “DENY BALL” and “GO OVER-UNDER”
Marques-You need to see some films of ALL those matches man. Lou Williams and Clarkson are THE WORST DEFENSIVE BACKCOURT OF NBA. Clarkson, ok, we can give him the benefit doubt (he’s sophomore and tries something new) but Lou(who mislead dozens with his points) is not even a joke, he’s a SCRUB.
Craig W. says
This is a team – and they win or lose as a team.
When we isolate people, particularly very young players and rookies, then make pronouncements about how good or bad they are based on what an experienced and athletic player would do, we simply prove why we shouldn’t be anywhere near an NBA club.
The basic youth movement on our club may not feature superstar individual players – like Lebron James – but we do have a group of youngsters who show individual ability and a willingness to work together as a team. Sorry, but I consider that a real success – something the front office can take a lot of credit for.
Perhaps we fans should relinquish the specific corners we have painted ourselves into and let our team go forward with less fanfare.
Michael H says
No rookie comes in with a complete game. Seems like they are either scorers that need to work on defense or defenders that need to work on their offense. And sometimes a littl of both.
Even Magic and Bird, two of the most impactful rookies of all time we’re not much on the defensive end. I don’t think it’s every wise to try and compare a young player to an established one. If you must then compare them to that player when they first came into the league.
While the defense is still not good, there has noticeable improvements in some areas with all the young players. One area in particular is points being generated out of the defense. That’s wasn’t happening at all. By the way if it plays out the way it usually does with young players, don’t expect them to be great defenders next year either. Maybe a little better but the learning curve for defense is much steeper then then on the offensive side.
Anonymous says
Strongly disagree with those that say trying to keep our pick is a bad thing. How are the Lakers going to add any real talent this off season?
1) We are not likely to sign any free agents of note this summer. KD and DeRozan are not coming. Spending max dollars on Whiteside is a mistake.
2) We have nothing to trade except the kids and we won’t get better trading them.
Again, how are you going to add talent to this team? Unless you are thrilled about using cap space on another rent a vet — someone who was once good so the Lakers can spin acquiring him as an ‘all upside deal’ like Hibbert?
Without serious help we are going into next year as a 25 win team. If you believe that the Lakers only play for championships then this is a lost season. I’d gladly add a few more ‘Ls’ to our current total if that would even slightly improve our odds of keeping this pick.
So many on this board are penny wise and pound foolish. We need short term pain for long term gain.
anon says
But keep it up dream team, I relish any chance to discuss basketball, whether we agree or not.
Unfortunately for you, there is little to discuss. Your fallacious arguments have already been dismissed–keep it up to entertain yourself if that floats your boat.
rr says
Perhaps we fans should relinquish the specific corners we have painted ourselves into and let our team go forward with less fanfare.
—
Sounds good. Start by monitoring yourself, and try to post without criticizing fans and pumping up the FO.
rr says
Russell: I do not think that he is going to be a superstar, but there are many reasons to be optimistic about him. Randle has been doing better lately as well.
Tanking: I mostly agree with KO, in that I have never been a fan of trying to finesse the tank. The Lakers are a very bad team, and the ping-pong balls will fall where they will. The main thing is playing the young guys, but I am not going to worry so much about whether the Lakers go 17-65 or 20-62. There will be some blowback if Lou Williams has a Nick Young Game 81 vs. Utah in 2014 type of game that leads to a late win.
rr says
>>KD and DeRozan are not coming.
—
On Durant, I agree. On, DeRozan I think there is a chance. Not a good one, but a chance.
>>spending max dollars on Whiteside is a mistake.
I have only seen him twice. I am going to watch him carefully the next time I see him play. People are talking about him because he is a guy the Lakers might actually have a shot at.
Anonymous says
rr: On, DeRozan I think there is a chance. Not a good one, but a chance.
__
1. Toronto is a #2 seed in the East. They should be at minimum a conference finalist every year for the next 3/4 years. The Lakers are a bad team in an extremely top heavy conference. If you want to make the playoffs you stay in Toronto.
2. DeRozan has been playing SG all year. The Lakers would want him to play SF(Clarkson is slotted as the SG). His size is an advantage as a SG not so much as a SF.
3. Toronto can pay him more and add an extra year.
The only real advantage the Lakers have is that Southern California is home. How strong a pull that is remains to be seen.
LKK says
While Whiteside might not be perfect, he is certainly an upgrade from Hibbert. You can talk evolution of the game and “small ball” all you want, but a winning team needs a substantial presence in the middle. Hassan has size, quickness and mobility. He’s still young. Some folks on here act like every move has to be perfect and lead to a long term result. There are no perfect players. When and if the Lakers see an opportunity to upgrade their talent, they have to take a long, hard look at it. That BS about the Lakers playing only for Chips is passé. That ship has sailed. It’s time for this team to get up off the mat and claw its way back to respectability. I’m not advocating recklessness at all. I am calling for open mindedness, creativity and due diligence in building this team as it moves into the post Kobe era.
Anonymous says
Whiteside at 4/$80 mil has the potential to be a problem if he’s not all that. Stats say the Heat rebound better and play better defense with him sitting. Sure, one bad contract doesn’t kill you but it doesn’t help. It’s still a hard cap league.
Anonymous says
That BS about the Lakers playing only for Chips is passé. That ship has sailed.
—
I know it has — but there is a contingent of fans that still hold to Lakers exceptional ism.
BigCitySid says
– ESPN All Time NBA Player ranking just listed Kobe at #12. One behind The Big O @ #11. Comments on this board s/b interesting.
Gary says
I had a vision of next year’s roster:
SF: Simmons (Lakers get #1 pick)
PF: Randle
C: Whiteside (Lakers roll the dice)
SG: DeRozan (misses seeing mom)
PG: Russell
__
PG/SG: Clarkson
PG/SG: Williams
PF: Nance
SF: Brown
C/PF: Black
Kbj says
I don’t usually pay attention to ESPN and their drivel. Currently, I have Kobe 5th behind Jordan, Kareem, Wilt and Russell.
I don’t get where people are getting the idea that Whiteside will get a max contract. He has never seemed to be a max contract player. I was hoping we can get him for 4 yr/44 mil, but if that’s not possible, then move on.
Anonymous says
I don’t get where people are getting the idea that Whiteside will get a max contract.
__
Rising cap and shortage of free agent talent this summer. 20 or so teams with $20 million and more in cap space. Someone will overpay — supply and demand.
Fern says
These anoms, looking for the home run aproach, and thinking that the Draft is going to turn the Lakers into contenders overnight, not happening, the Lakers dont need KD it would be awesome but it’s not happening, Derozan? honestly? he is all right in my opinion, would not mind him at all. How we can improve the team? Maybe all that cap space 65 million to be exact can help a lot, what we need is surround our team with young talent that can complement our young core. The home run aproach? that ship sailed, for it to work again you need to have some talent in place already. About Whiteside, i take him and max the living hell out of him in a second if we don’t do it someone will without a shadow of a doubt. He is young and athletic and 14ppg with 12rpg and 4bpg!! are nothing to sneeze at. Perfect rim protector for our young guys. Why max him? Because the Lakers have a glaring hole down low and this guy fits the bill and is really young. What else is going to be available that can cover that need? Horford? Tim Duncan? Dwight if he opts out? That’s the guy right there…
rr says
The only real advantage the Lakers have is that Southern California is home.
—
Not quite. Like George and Westbrook, DeRozan is an LA guy and KB was his hero. DeRozan will be the first one hitting FA post-Kobe and will be given a chance to take the torch:
“He meant everything,” DeRozan said. “I try to emulate, learn so much from him ever since I was a kid. Watching every single game growing up in Los Angeles, having a chance to get with him and learn from him and from conversations even when I was in high school [to] playing against him, competing against him and being in big games with him.”
Whether that will mean anything when it comes down to money remains, as you said, to be seen. But if DeRozan does come here, I am pretty sure Clarkson will either be allowed to walk or will come off the bench as a combo guard.
Anonymous says
These anoms, looking for the home run aproach, and thinking that the Draft is going to turn the Lakers into contenders overnight, not happening,
—
Wait, the home run approach is Jim’s. And, I believe it had to do with signing multiple max free agents, not drafting them.
Fern says
Jim can try all he wants but it’s not gonna happen until we have enough talent to have at least a decent team and FAs feel that they have a shot if they sign with whatever team not just the Lakers, unless something like Boston in 07or Miami in 2010 happens and i doubt it pretty much. Forgot to mention that Whiteside is shooting 61% fga, those dont grow in trees…
Mid-Wilshire says
Tonight Hassan Whiteside had a triple double in 27:02: 10 pts. (4-8 shooting), 10 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots.
Not bad.
LKK says
Anon…
Wasn’t really responding to you as much as to the general idea from some fans who always shoot down any player as not being good enough or not young enough or having an attitude or some other concocted reason for not wanting the Lakers to pursue them. This team of ours is not going to win 20 games this season. Incremental improvement is a must. Also, at some point, the FO is going to have to take a risk or two. No risk, no reward.
There is more than one Anonymous posting here… Why not choose a name? Helps with the flow of the discussion.
Mid-Wilshire says
Whatever might be said about Jordan Clarkson’s defensive liabilities (which I think are a bit exaggerated by some of the FB&G commenters), the fact remains that he has been the Lakers’ most consistent player this year. There’s real value in that. Below are his stats from the last 10 games (beginning with the game on January 17). Bear in mind, he’s scored in double figures 19 straight games:
16 pts., 3 rebounds, 3 assists
14 pts., 5 rebounds, 1 assist
16 pts., 3 rebs., 1 assist
10 pts., 1 reb., 3 assists
18 pts., 6 rebounds, 7 assists
16 pts., 4 rebs., 4 assists
17 pts., 8 rebs., 2 assists
13 pts., 0 rebs., 1 assist
16 pts., 3 rebs., 2 assists
18 pts., 5 rebs., 2 assists
Over the last 4 games (after a bit of a shooting slump), he’s shot 52.8%.
BTW, his defense on Jrue Holiday on the last shot of the game last night was excellent. He recovered beautifully, got a hand in his face, and forced Holiday into an air ball. Check out the video and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I think what JC needs on defense is consistent focus and much better coaching. If he gets both of those, he’ll be fine.
Meanwhile, look at his numbers. He is consistent.
Now, imagine if we didn’t have him.
LKK says
Whiteside at 4/$80 mil has the potential to be a problem if he’s not all that.
He also has the potential to be a bargain with the rising cap if he is all that. I’m not championing this guy. All I’m saying is I hope the FO takes a good , hard look at him. The Lakers need a good big man. It’s just that simple.
Baylor Fan says
From “NBA’s Five Most Overrated Players”:
“Whiteside apparently doesn’t know — or doesn’t care — that the opposing center is the biggest threat to grab offensive boards and that the most important job of any center, after a shot goes into the air, is making sure that opponent has no clear path to the basket for a rebound.
Instead of boxing out, Whiteside appears to want the rebound for himself, according to my video review of Whiteside’s play. This boosts his totals but costs his teammates rebounds. At the same time, opposing centers actually see a bump in their rebounding numbers against Whiteside, who is often ball-watching once a shot goes up.”
It goes on, but the basic message is that Whiteside is getting by on raw physical skills and has yet to learn to play as part of a team. We have the rest of this season to see if he can change his ways and trade stats for smart basketball.
matt says
Gary my visionary team is better
Russell / clarkson
Derozan / hield
C.parsons / a.brown
Randle / bass
Ezeli / black
matt says
IMO clarksons Defense has improved recently, russell’s has declined, but as been said russell is a rookie, and showed greatness flashes running the floor vs the pelicans
matt says
Notice my team is spending money at sg and sf, if we lose the pick trade up
Kbj says
This is Whiteside’s first full season in the NBA. Good coaching and experience can help him learn from his mistakes, such as not boxing out. He has a lot of potential and hes in his prime. Why wouldn’t the Lakers want him? He’s much better than Hibbert or Sacre.
Btw, I don’t think he deserves a max contract nor do I think he will receive one. I don’t care about the rising cap. You guys can say “I told you so” if I am wrong.
bleedpurplegold says
I dont care about some visionary teams, which will never come to fruirion anyways….but it is noce seeing peoples thought process.
However, i want to pick up Kbj’s thought about this current espn poll:
If i was him, i really would feel offended… Kobe ranked at 12 behind timmy and lebron.
So 2-6 > 5-7?!? Dont get me wrong, lbj is a beast, but Heck even magic and others stated kobe is the greatest laker of all time, yet u cant make room on your top10 because you guys hated on kobe for all his career and now argue KB has only 1 MVP?!? Who stole at least 2 from him?!? (Really any1 belive nash deserved an mvp over kobe?) It was the same guys now discrediting him for that fact. It is because of guys like these at espn kobe gets all the hate, and lebron also to a certain degree, as people pick on him to defend kobe (which is stupid). To quote MJ, the closest thing to the GOAT is not a top 10 player……now that is a joke….
Same with zeke: as great as steph is right now, can u really put him in front of zeke up until now?!? No way! Zeke was a top5 defender all time with great offensive game….way too soon to put steph ahead….
They always preach to pay homage to the ones paving the way, yet spit on them in polls like that…
These guys should all be banned from talking sports.
rr says
is really young.
—
He is actually 26 and will be 27 in June. The other side is that he does not have much NBA mileage on his legs.
rr says
Why wouldn’t the Lakers want him?
–
As I said back when the Lakers took Russell, by doing so, they pretty much locked themselves into having to get a big in FA. I am not saying that to bag on the pick; I backed taking Russell over Okafor. But it means that they are probably going to need a big in FA if they want to compete before the end of the decade. Whiteside and Festus Ezeli, flaws and all, are the obvious guys on radar right now.
Kbj says
Yes, rr, that’s my reasoning too. The Lakers must get a rim protector, such as Whiteside and Ezeli, in the offseason. I don’t see how the Lakers do much better next season without one.
Fern says
@LKK Miami don’t have his Bird rights. Somebody is going to give him a max, next summer is going to be an overpaying bonanza. We have to take risks if this team is going to move foward. Ezeli would be a great addition too and cheaper…
Craig W. says
IMO, I would rather take a chance on Ezeli. Whiteside is old enough that his talent arc is better known and he has habits that will be harder to change. Besides, I think the Lakers will be looking for a dominant big in the next few years and Ezeli can either turn into this player or hold down the position until we can get one. Yes, it will cost more than he is worth, but the market is changing and we have to take a chance somewhere.
The second part is that Golden State can only max out so many players and they have other talent that they need to pay.
Craig W. says
This is a good article on Russell – for those who like him. http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2016/2/5/10922624/la-lakers-dangelo-russell-analysis-breakdown-film-rookie
Baylor Fan says
The Lakers need all 5 players to play defense. Having a “rim protector” simply does not matter as long as the key is treated as an express lane. The current version of Whiteside does not improve team rebounding and team defense. Shooting percentage at the rim improves when Whiteside is on the floor since he routinely leaves his man open when he goes to block shots. Hibbert is a rim protector and look how much that has helped. The Lakers need an athletic big who also has a high basketball IQ. They wisely avoided Okafor who plays defense with sandbags for shoes.
The Lakers defense will improve next year since Kobe will have retired. Whoever fills his spot will be a much better defender. In addition, they will be able to practice as a team unlike this season as Kobe needs time off between games.
rr says
Whiteside: Miami is 6th in DRTG right now, and Whiteside has a PER of 23.8, highest on the Miami roster. So, whatever his faults may be, I find it very unlikely that a 27-year-old guy with those numbers, as well as his other numbers, would not help the Lakers quite a bit. Playing with high-end veteran talent like Wade and Bosh presumably helps Whiteside; Miami has some other useful players, and Spoelstra is a pretty good coach. But even so, we are talking about Whiteside basically replacing Hibbert, and HW’s on/off numbers with Miami probably look different than they would with the Lakers.
That said, I would also be fine with Ezeli.
I said over the off-season that the Lakers were probably going to have spend big money on a couple of youngish FAs, in that
a) They lack draft picks
b) Putting together a dream team of 3-4 elite guys on rookie deals and then 2-3 elite FAs is a very long shot. That is sort of what Sam Hinkie is trying to do in Philly, and it will be very, very tough, even with all the picks they have.
So, if the Lakers get a guy like Whiteside or Ezeli, or DeRozan or Batum, on a ginormous deal, there will be blowback about how the guy is not a max player, etc. But given where the Lakers are, given where the cap is going, and given the whole chessboard, it may be the right play.
rr says
Craig,
No quibble with a lot of that reasoning, but Ezeli is only four months younger than Whiteside is. Both were born in 1989; Whiteside in June, Ezeli in October.