Records: Lakers 11-43, Last in the West; Cavs 37-14, 1st in the East
Offensive ratings: Lakers 97.2, 29th in NBA; Cavs 106.5, 4th in the NBA
Defensive ratings: Lakers 109.9, Last in the NBA; Cavs 100.8, 8th in the NBA
Projected Starting Lineups: Lakers: Clarkson, Williams, Kobe, Randle, Hibbert (hoping for this, though!)
Cavs: Kyrie, Shumpert, LeBron, Love, Mozgov
Cavs Blogs: Check out Cavs the Blog and Fear the Sword for all your Cavs news and analysis.
Keys to game: I’m skipping the formalities and getting right to it today. The Lakers have been playing well and the Cavs, after disposing of David Blatt and hiring Tyron Lue are 7-3 in their last 10 games. The firing came as a surprise, but when reading the postmortems from those close to the situation, there was clearly a disconnect between Blatt and the players, one that the FO thought needed addressing right away. That change has been made and now there aren’t many (any?) excuses left for this team to not accomplish their goal (unless you count not being as good as the Warriors as an excuse).
Regarding today’s game, it’s easy to talk about the X’s and O’s and matchups. LeBron, Kyrie, and Love will all see plenty of time against Kobe, Russell, and Randle. Those matchups alone are worth the price of admission and I’ll be interested in seeing how the Lakers side of these battles fare. I expect the Cavs to win these head to heads, but seeing both sides go at it will at least be fun.
The bigger story, though, isn’t these match ups and instead shifts back to Kobe, his last visit to Cleveland, and one of the last times he’ll be on the same court as LeBron. Kobe’s farewell tour offers moments like these a lot, but this one feels a bit different. At least it does for me.
Kobe and LeBron are the two marquee, post-Jordan (and Shaq) players in the league. Their careers have overlapped since 2004 and they have been viewed by many as the two premier players in the league for most of this time. And while they have never faced off in the Finals, they have been viewed as rivals (of sorts). I won’t get into arguments about who the better player has been, but many fans of both guys will go to the tilt to cape for their own.
Anyways, seeing these two compete means something. LeBron’s teams have typically come out on top in these matchups and I expect the same tonight. But watching them go at it — especially since they will likely guard each other to start the game will be fun. If for no other reason, this is worth tuning in for.
Where you can watch: 5:00pm start time on TWC Sportsnet and nationally on ESPN. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.
pat oslon says
I expect the Lakers to play well tonight but it probably won’t be enough to win the game. At this point of the season I’m looking for overall team improvement and the continued growth/development of our young guys. Anything else is gravy. Go Lakers!
Anonymous says
Lakers are going to get schooled tonight. Only way they make it interesting is if the Cavs coast in the 2nd half.
Gene says
When your worse shooter is taking the most shots….and is even worse on defense…..the team will lose…..
Fern says
Well, the Lakers are hanging around, so i guess the school isn’t in session yet…
rubenowski says
Did anyone else notice the screen Julius set on Lebron? He knocked him off balance. It was impressive. If you recorded the game it’s at the 3:30 mark in the 2nd quarter.
Fern says
And then were down by 17 lol school in session lmao
Eddie Pinetti says
If the Lakers had Tyronn Lue as coach and the Cavs had Byron Scott, would the Lakers actually be leading at Halftime??? Lets ponder the thought…
Marques says
Russell hit 3 threes, why not let him keep playing. Irving doesn’t play D, this is the game to let Russell play every minute.
KevTheBold says
Well what a surprise, Marques isn’t dogging Russell?
Have you seen the light bother?
Gene says
No Hibbert….No Kobe next season….Just that will make the team better.The 3 kids are playing well and getting better….
Eddie Pinetti says
Russell just got hit in the balls by Lebron. Poor kid. Blame it on Byron
karen says
Just saw kobe laughing it up on the bench, didn’t he recently light into the team about doing the same while they were losing
Eddie Pinetti says
I wish lebron would have thrown the ball at Byrons junk while his arms were crossed
matt says
Wow cant believe young ty lou actually looks old now
matt says
They got mosgov and varajao on the court at the same time
matt says
Is clarkson better than jr smith?
matt says
Eddie byron would’ve just stood there and took it like a man
Fern says
LOL @Eddie & Matt, imagine if Byron got hit in the jewels? i think the entire Lakers fanbase would scream YEAAHHH in unison. One can dream…
Marques says
I guess when kobe is gone they will hire a coach that wants the team to play superfast.
No way this backcourt can compete on defense the next few years.
matt says
Do you think the youngsters would be good in the triangle
Fern says
Kobe chants in Cleveland, and he taking on Lebron full court only to hit the open man because someone blew his assignment. Man, Well, good effort that’s what i want to see, DAR is improving more and more, good sign for the future…
R says
Matt nobody is good in the triangle. For one thing, it’s for the most part a figment of PJ’s imagination. The only people who were “good in the triangle” were all time greats (and Pau) who ignored it most of the time, to be brutally honest about it.
R says
Matt nearly everybody is better than JR Smith. Cmon, the dude is pathetic.
matt says
Looked like at end of game when kobe was hugging and giving pounds, as he gives lebron a hug, jr smith was waiting and kobe doesn’t notice him and walks off
Mid-Wilshire says
Although the Lakers’ back court got torched by a red-hot Kyrie Irving (who tonight absolutely looked like the 2nd best point guard in the NBA), I thought the kids played well, especially Clarkson and Russell. In fact, if you look closely, you can see the seeds of a very solid partnership being planted between the two. These were their numbers tonight:
J. Clarkson — 22 pts. (8-15 shooting, 3-5 from three), 6 rebs., 7 assists, 1 steal
D. Russell — 15 pts. (5-11 shooting, 3-5 from three), 2 rebs., 3 assists, 2 steals
TOTALS — 37 points (13-26 shooting, 6-10 from three), 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals
Also, kudos to Tarik Black for his 4 pts. (2-3 shooting), 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in a little over 17 minutes.
Furthermore, they did this against a tough team on the road. These are encouraging signs. Also, I think the Lakers outplayed Cleveland in the 2nd half. It’s true that their defense must improve. But we probably won’t see that happen until next year when a different coaching staff (hopefully) starts teaching them the ropes.
So, the kids continue to grow. Slowly but surely, they’re figuring this thing out. At least, that’s the way I see it.
KevTheBold says
Sharing sage observations as usual,.. I agree totally !
BigCitySid says
– Scott goes out of his way to dump on DAR:
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/42777/lakers-scott-says-dangelo-russell-not-as-mature-as-kyrie-irving-chris-paul-were-as-rookies
Completely unnecessary. With all the coaches being fired this season, this guy still has a job? Any more proof needed he’s just following the ownership’s deirection to the tee.
No question, this is the worst Laker season I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve been a fan since ’65.
Fern says
Well, I don’t know Sid, I don’t think he said anything really mean about him and what he said is probably true. Looks like DAR likes to goof around in practice more than he should. Out of the very few things that Byron has done more or less right, i think his handling of “the bust” have been all right. I heard some rumors about “entitlement” and maturity issues, not surprising since he is 19 but who knows maybe Byron calling him out is a way to keep him in check…
Fern says
Well if DAR don’t do anything else in the NBA, he got hit in the balls by Lebron James, that’s something to tell the grandkids lol.
Anonymous says
Should note that most opponents look past the Lakers. It’s perceived as a night off with a win. Reality is that Laker stats are often inflated due to that factor.
The climb out of the cellar will be steeper once teams take us seriously and play hard for 48 minutes.
Bottom line — we’re pretty bad.
mindcrime says
Re: Scott and DAR
Fern, you are right, his statements weren’t particularly “off” or untrue, but Scott seems to have an unhealthy obsession with talking about DAR publicly. It’s understandable that passionate fans come on to a site here and use words like “bust” or “overrated” to describe a recent #1 pick that is having growing pains, but coaches are supposed to be a little more immune from the vagaries and passions of fandom.
Is it possible Scott has learned that DAR plays harder and focuses more when Scott is “riding” him in the media? I suppose (though that would probably make DAR an exception), but failing that, I don’t understand the logic of continually harping on the kid publicly when he can deliver the same message privately.
Anonymous says
I’m not a big fan of airing dirty laundry in the press. PJ could get away with it because of the rings, but it didn’t make it right. Byron doesn’t have that gravitas so the the response is rightfully, “who is this guy to criticize.”
Leaders reprimand in private and praise in public.
Anonymous says
DeRozan sounds like he’s staying. Per ESPN:
“My whole mindset has always been this is home for me,” DeRozan said in an interview that will air in full on Saturday’s Meet the All-Stars show on ESPN Radio at 5:30 p.m. “I never think otherwise unless it’s brought up to me, or you see things, or people ask you about certain things.
“This has always been home to me. I took pride in putting on this Toronto Raptors jersey since I’ve been drafted here. And my whole goal was to get this team to the point where it is now. And I feel I’ve been a major key to that.”
___
Jim needs to pray that the Lakers keep their pick — looks like the only way to add talent to this team.
matt says
I’m remembering, didn’t the cavs hire byron scott, awhile ago when he was considered a good coach, hoping it would make lebron happy and he would stay in Cleveland, but lebron left anyway.
Chris J says
What a shock… Rockets reportedly exploring trades for Howard. Even with three straight losing seasons I am so glad the Lakers never kept that clown. Awful to watch, awful to continually feed the off-court drama…
Fern says
~~~~~Jim needs to pray that the Lakers keep their pick — looks like the only way to add talent to this team.~~~~~ I guess those 65 million in capspace means nothing huh? If Derozan wants to stay in Toronto let him stay there, he is a good player not a superstar, what we need is to get complementary pieces to add to our young core. This is not the time for the homerun approach. We have to add to the foundation we have first. And yes Chris J, Howard bolting to Houston was a blessing, he proved two things, that he can’t get the job done and he’s past his prime. If he stayed with the Lakers we would he just like Houston right now, fighting for an 8 seed, and with a depleted cap.
Fern says
In hindsight, besides a wounded pride Howard leaving was for the best. If he stayed, the Lakers would had been at best a lower playoff team and there would be no Randle no DAR no Clarkson no Nance, no capspace and no future. Just a diva past his prime…
bluehill says
Yeah, we lucked out on Howard. Didn’t like it when he came and wasn’t sad to see him leave. Our cap hit would have been even bigger than Houston’s is.
Anonymous says
Fern — no elite took our cap space these past two off seasons. This summer 20 teams will have 20+ million in cap space. If KD and DeRozan are off the table and Whiteside has 20 options to go where he will get the max what elite free agents are left this summer?
If we lose our first round pick who are going to draft?
If we don’t trade a kid how are we going to trade for talent? And if you trade a kid how do you really get better?
So yea, without the pick the Lakers are in a bind if they want to improve in a big way.
Unless you think that mid tier free agents and next summer’s version of Hibbert is improving.
J C says
I wonder if we could get a certain injured Power forward from the team that shares our building in exchange for Hibbert, Williams and Clarkson?
Fern says
again…. i dont think we need “elite” free agents right now. Before dreaming about elite players we need to build a team that make it atractive for an elite to come to the Lakers. We need to build around what we have. If we keep the pick and Draft Simmon or Ingram, (my fave is Ingram), we still not contending right away, we need to build.
matt says
Shouldn’t have got howard in the first place, i remember listening to the radio when the trade was announced, i was not happy, the guy is not a good team player, still i couldn’t believe they pulled it off, they were anticipating it for like the whole week on the radio, max Kellerman was a big fan of Dwight coming over, he talked about it the whole month before it happened. I was sick of the talk, then the trade really happened..
Dwight actually chose the lakers as a team he wanted to be traded to, and Orlando granted his wish.
Rockets should trade him to philly
matt says
Maybe they trade Dwight to the Celtics and he ruins their team
rr says
Howard: People are making the same mistake that some made with the unfounded optimism about this year’s team: conflating how they feel about it with interpreting actual data/results. Houston won 110 games the first two years Howard was there and made the WCF; the Lakers have won a total of 59 games since he walked. Like I said at the time: every team that has lost an All-Star 5 uncompensated in his prime has collapsed until they got another star, and the Lakers have not proven to be the exception. People also need to remember that this whole Simmons/Ingram hope is still just a dice-roll; there is a 45% chance that the Lakers will lose this draft pick if they finish with 2nd-worst record.
As to what is going on now, Howard has an opt-out, so Morey is going to see if he can cash him in. At the time Howard went to Houston, I don’t think anyone was anticipating that two and a half years later, Golden State would have one of the greatest teams in NBA history and that San Antonio would still be this dominant with Duncan and Ginobili both pushing 40. As people have often said when defending the FO—hindsight is 20/20. Finally, of course we don’t know what else would have happened if Howard had stayed, so presuming that the team would be in a certain place with him here is an error.
Another thing that I said at the time was that it was certainly possible that Howard’s leaving would eventually connect to the Lakers landing the next franchise cornerstone player, and we may look back some day at Howard’s leaving as the prelude to the Brandon Ingram Era. But for now, the Lakers are at the very bottom of the league, and are counting on ping-pong balls, cap space, D’Angelo Russell, and hope.
Chris J says
Howard: People are making the same mistake that some made with the unfounded optimism about this year’s team: conflating how they feel about it with interpreting actual data/results.
—-
I’m not among those people. I hated Howard before he came to L.A., and hated him while he was a Laker all the more. As I wrote, I’d rather have had the losses the past few seasons than have seen him remain a Laker.
I don’t claim to have an empirical evidence to support that the Lakers were better off because he left; I’m only saying I think the guy is a malcontent drama queen whose personality and style of play (nonstop locker room issues, missed FTs, Hack-a-Dwight, etc.) make for a less enjoyable fan experience for myself, and I suspect others who are fans of his team(s). He never wanted to be a Laker and I’m glad he left when he did, even if it meant more losses the past three years. That’s how much I dislike him.
If his absence helped get Randle or Russell or whomever, so be it. But that wasn’t my point.