We just did this the other day so I will save you the in-depth analysis. The results from Wednesday’s game was the Lakers getting trounced by the Grizz by not defending anywhere on the court. Yes, the Lakers scored well, but some of that felt like the product of the Grizzlies simply relaxing on defense because they knew they were getting whatever they wanted on the other end.
Will tonight be any different? Well, per a report from Shahan Ahmed of NBC Los Angeles, Byron Scott took his team to task upon the return from Memphis in both practice and a film session regarding their lack of defense:
The Los Angeles Lakers practiced on Thursday afternoon despite arriving back home after a three-game road trip earlier that same morning. After losing all three games and failing to show any defensive resistance, Lakers coach Byron Scott didn’t appear to be in the mood to take a day off.
“We’re just playing as individuals. We showed the tape today of our guys, and everybody is just trying to play their man. Nobody is really concerned about weak-side defense and helping each other,” Scott said after Thursday’s practice. “And it was very blatant today when we showed it.”
Scott added, “I asked the guys a question: ‘Do you think that you’re helping each other on the defensive end?'”
To the coach’s relief, his players visibly and verbally saw the same issues.
It’s good to hear that Scott got into his players and that they got to see (and agree on) the mistakes being made. All season the team has been poor defensively, but the three game road trip offered an even worse atrociousness than what has been displayed all year. Holding them accountable and trying to get them to do what is expected is important.
How this translates to today’s game remains to be seen. I’m neither hopeful nor discouraged, but more interested in how it goes. Earlier in the season, I recall Mitch Kupchak speaking about how he gauges success in a season with so many losses and one thing he mentioned was how hard the players are playing and trying to get a feeling for how responsive they were the coaching staff. So, seeing how the team responds tonight defensively should be something to watch.
Offensively the Lakers have enough talent to get buckets against this version of the Grizzlies. Tony Allen may not play and Marc Gasol is already ruled out. Those two are the heart of Memphis’ defensive attack. Yes, Mike Conley offers strong perimeter defense and Matt Barnes/Lance Stephenson are capable, but if the Lakers can get through that first wave of perimeter pressure they can get some shots in the paint and use that penetration to create open outside looks.
Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM.
KO says
Defense will be 15 points better tonight.
Quarenteed.
Marques says
Ms cleo is that you?
KO says
Never mind. They are worse then a team of one legged overweight girls.
How could any franchise keep this coach. No wonder Jimmy dosen’t show up to work.
So here is the 8 game streight I predicted.
karen says
Awful game, russell so over rated, only out there for himself. No passing, seldom setting anyone up.
stats says
Traveling, so can’t watch the game. But after Darius’ write-up, I expected a closer score. I wonder if the guys have tuned out BS?
That said, no KB give the young guys chance to shine, whether they believe in their coach or not. Sad to see that they didn’t compete (judging from the score)
KO says
Buss family should be indicted for fraud.
Stealing money to watch this crap should be illegal.
LA Clowns
Mid-Wilshire says
So, KO, how do you really feel?
KO says
45 years.
Worst team I have seen.
Worst FO.
Worst Coach.
Top seat and parking prices.
Buss family will make $100 million.
2-times what Jerry Buss made in any season.
So how do I feel?
When does baseball start?
Marlon Brando says
Really disheartening loss. No fire, no grit, no effort. When you get punked by a 39 year old Vince carter, things are truly awful. The thought of this team becoming competitive in the next few years seems outlandish at best. I’ve done my best to stay positive these last few years, but performances like tonight make me crack open the bourbon a few hours early.
Im with KO, when does baseball start? I’m a die hard Giants fan, and I’m ready for some even year magic.
Josh says
Expecting this team to magically turn a corner when they’ve given zero to believe they would over and over is insanity. At this point why would you even want them to win? Or buy tickets? I watch to see the kids try to develop their game there’s just no point to ranting after every loss especially when there’s over 20 left to go.
I wonder if some posters on here will point out how Kobe even at a diminished state gets DLO and JC better offensive looks. Holding them back huh? lmao
Don Ford says
Russell is quoted saying that the team got a whole new offense for the Griz game. Huh?? I guess there ain’t much at stake this far from any playoffs, but still a characteristically odd choice by Scott (if true) to switch offenses this far into the season. Of course, with the painful Princeton thing he’s saddled our young guns with, perhaps it’s just finally a relief….
BigCitySid says
– “D’Angelo Russell says Lakers switched to new offense prior to 60th game of season.”
http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles-lakers/post/_/id/42846/dangelo-russell-says-lakers-switched-to-new-offense-prior-to-60th-game-of-season
– At least it’s an attempt to develop the team going forth. Finding out what guys can do so the FO has a better idea of the type of talent they need to bring in. 2015-2016 version 2.0, 60 games in, better late than never.
Anonymous says
I realize each loss makes it more likely the Lakers keep the pick and makes the future brighter.
However, each loss makes me more frustrated with management — 165 losses in 2+ years. By any measure we are beyond bad.
J C says
Attended the game.
New offensive scheme was invisible.
If the high PNR failed to yield a good shot the team tossed up brick after brick from long distance.
Vince Carter turned back the clock but the Lakers somehow made everyone on the Griz look good. Conley, Brandon Wright, Lance Stephenson all looked like world champions.
Karen, not sure what game you watched but Russell scored 22 points on 9 shots in 29 min. including 2-2 from distance and made several scintillating passes to teammates. Perhaps your comment was meant for Clarkson: 4-16, 0-7 from 3.
To me, other than Kobe, Russell is the most intriguing player on the team by far. Randle is tough but he’s predictable, a bit of a black hole on offense.
When I saw Huertas lacing up his sneakers in the 4th, I knew Russell wouldn’t be returning to the floor and that’s when I decided to leave. I wasn’t the only one.
J C says
Byron’s continued employment and the team’s statement of “torn” sentiment can only be attributed to their increasingly not-so-subtle tanking efforts. Byron’s attempt at a new offense is a good idea, but also smacks of a desperate, too-little-too-late affair.
I read that Jerry West was at the game last night, probably in support of Kareem’s eerie appearance. I wonder if JW’d be interested in leaving that laughingstock of a franchise up north and join a real up-and-comer like the Lakers?
Mid-Wilshire says
Below are the so-called highlights of last night’s game with Memphis. It’s painful to watch. But it’s worth seeing it to the end (2 minutes worth of viewing) to catch a shot of Mitch Kupchak at the very end, clearly unhappy with the state of affairs. What could be going through his mind right now?
http://www.nba.com/lakers/?ls=iref:nba:gnav
matt says
Everyone on grizzlies is underated, quality both sides of the ball players.
Lakers should sign any of them that become free agents.
TempleOfJamesWorthy says
This is what happens on bad teams. There is nothing exceptional in the Lakers’ makeup that grants them immunity from human nature.
The Lakers players know that Kobe is below-replacement-level player and his “farewell tour” 3-point chucking doesn’t help their cause. And when it comes to helping on defense, Kobe hasn’t done it since 2011.
The older Lakers players know they have no future with the club. By the time the Lakers are relevant again, they will all have moved to new teams or retired.
The younger Laker players know this is essentially a “lost season,” where their development has been sacrificed for the pretense of competing, the reality of tanking, and the Kobe Bryant Memorial 3-Point Chucking Exhibition.
What incentive do the players have to continuously play hard and sacrfice their own interests for the good of the team?
It sounds like Byron Scott’s installation of a new offense is the equivalent of what Mike D’Antoni did during the Howard/Nash/Pau/Kobe season, when the Lakers abandoned their regular offense to post Kobe up 40 times per game. If not everyone is comfortable in one offense, making everyone EQUALLY unhappy in a new one at least forces the players to try to figure out how to make it work together. It worked for the H-N-P-K team, and what does Byron have to lose at this point?
nimble says
TOJW and BCS are most hyperbolic KB haters I have ever read.
rr says
TOJW and BCS are most hyperbolic KB haters I have ever read.
—
Heh. I hear you, but there are people out in internetville who go a lot further than they do. What makes them stand out is they are bilious about KB day after day at a site that is filled with long-time Lakers fans.
rr says
James (Baltimore) [via mobile]
Any thoughts on Whiteside being a Lakers target? He has a high WARP and seems to fit what they need even more than a 3 and D small forward
Kevin Pelton (4:05 PM)
Outside of Durant, I don’t see anyone else who makes more sense for them this summer. The question is only whether they’d want to roll over their cap space for the superior 2017 crop rather than settling for a sub-elite player.