Let’s get the formalities out of the way first: Kobe Bryant is expected to play tonight, per Byron Scott. He will also travel with the team to Phoenix with the hope of playing in Wednesday’s match up vs. the Suns — his last in Phoenix. This isn’t the first time we have heard in the morning that Kobe would play, only to have that end up not being true. However, considering the days off the Lakers have had and the fact Kobe’s not played since March 13th, I would imagine he gives it a go tonight.
The second “injury” note is that Larry Nance, Jr. will not play tonight. Coming out of the All-Star break and after dealing with a sore knee, Nance was ruled out of back to back games. Rather than sit out the 2nd half of the back to back, Nance will sit out the front end against the Grizzlies and be available on Wednesday against the Suns. The Lakers, then, will be somewhat shorthanded this game, especially on the wing where Nance has been moonlighting of late. This means you should expect to see some Ryan Kelly, if SF must go three players deep (behind Kobe and Metta).
These roster concerns, though, pale in comparison to what the Grizzlies are going through right now. Due to a boatload of injuries and a trade deadline which saw them say goodbye to some rotation players, the Grizzlies are beyond banged up. Rather than list everyone who is hurt, it’s better to just say the only players you are likely to recognize on this roster are Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, and Lance Stephenson. Oh, and you’ll also remember our old friend Jordan Clarkson Farmar who was recently added as an injury replacement.
This, however, hasn’t stopped the Grizz from grit & grinding their way to some wins. After a rough patch, they worked over the Clippers and then beat the Suns in back to back games. That may not seem like a huge deal, but for a team as banged up as Memphis who is also trying to hold onto their playoff spot, those victories are massively important.
What does this mean for tonight? Well, on the one hand the Grizz played on Monday and, when combined with their injuries, they should be a bit tired. That said, this team still poses some significant match up issues for this specific Lakers team which they can lean on to make traction.
The first of those is Zach Randolph who is playing some really good basketball lately — including getting a triple-double against the Clippers. He will give Julius Randle all he can handle, especially when it comes to using craftiness and when earning position on quick duck-ins. Randle will need to show better awareness defensively than he has this year, especially when moving into help position and then back to finding a relocated Randolph.
The other thing the Lakers need to watch out for are leakouts from the Grizzlies’ wings. Memphis doesn’t play very fast in general, but smart teams know to leverage their athleticism on the wing to get easy baskets. The Grizz have two players — Stephenson and Barnes — who love to create scoring chances in the open court and both will look to feast on the Lakers’ poor transition defense in this game. Finding better floor balance and getting their bigs back defensively should be a Lakers’ priority this game. If it is not, they will suffer for it.
Lastly, what I am really looking for is the Lakers young backcourt to find their stride again. After a sustained stretch of good basketball, both Clarkson and Russell have not played well lately. When Lou Williams returned from injury and Marelo Huertas stuck in the rotation, both players’ minutes went down and both often found themselves on the bench together for longer stretches. They have not responded well to the new lineup configurations, but need to bounce back soon. The Grizz offer veteran wings who will pester them defensively, but they need to overcome that and find their stride again.
Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on TWC Sportsnet and nationally on TNT. Also listen on ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.
BigCitySid says
– – Very tricky Darius. Testing to see if anyone is actually reading before posting. 3rd paragraph you wrote Jordan Clarkson…I know you meant Jordan Farmar, lol.
KO says
is Jordan hanging out with Tric Young a good idea? Might as well include Rodman to the mix.
Oh well.
JeffT says
I got real worried there when I read Jordan Clarkson. Whew. Of course, thinking about it now, I’m not really sure why I was worried…
Mid-Wilshire says
It’s our Jordan vs. their Jordan. May the best Jordan win.
Kevin T says
I really don’t like Clarkson. He shoots whenever he touches the ball. Never passes. Ever. Just as I type this he shoots 2 more.
Tim says
D’Angelo Russell with a bruised left shin is done for the night and questionable for tomorrow night’s game against Phoenix.
rr says
Just as I type this he shoots 2 more
—
If he goes 8/13 it’s all good.
J C says
D’Angelo! Get out there!
I don’t care if you’re hurt.
I said, NO MATTER WHAT.
Kevin T says
Don’t get me wrong I like the percentage for sure but when you are watching the game it gets pretty frustrating, he needs to learn how to pass a little.
Mid-Wilshire says
I actually thought that this was one of Clarkson’s better games in a while:
22 points (8-13 shooting), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 3 TOs
Randle stuffed the stat sheet, too:
13 points (6-8 shooting), 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks
DAR was on his way to a solid night as well before he had to leave. It’s games like this that I find so very encouraging and lead me to believe that there really is a future for this team. Then again, there are those other games…
Next year should be so interesting.
LKK says
Real classy post-game interview with Kobe on TNT. Bass really played a strong game tonight. Guy is a warrior on the court.
Renato Afonso says
The more I see Clarkson, the more he seems the 6th man/scorer off the bench type…
BigCitySid says
-Off topic: Soooo, for all of the FB&G NBA general managers. Based on what you know now, if the Lakers w/l record &/or the ping pong balls have our team picking 3rd in this years’ draft, is 18 yr old 7’1, 216 lb Dragan Bender the consensus pick (assuming Simmons & Ingram are gone)?
teamn says
Mid-Wilshire,
Careful using the word “interesting” around here. I (and others) said that about the season two years ago I think and Robert still reminds us!
In all seriousness, although these past few seasons have been very frustrating, they have still been interesting to me in their own way. Maybe I’m just old enough now to appreciate the process of watching a team come together (or fail to, as the case may be). So, given the potential pick, Kobe’s retirement, and presumably some new free agents, I think next year will be interesting as well. Hopefully to the point of competing for that 8-9-10 spot, then moving up the following year.
DG says
Bender would be my Plan C
Vasheed says
@BCS,
At the moment I think it would be between Bender and Jaylen Brown. All things being equal Brown is the more obvious fit. I think there are a couple of guys beyond those two the Lakers would likely consider too. There would probably be less consensus then there was about Okafor.
Mid-Wilshire says
teamn,
I hear you. I have been thoroughly (and deservedly) skewered for using the term “interesting” rather loosely in the past. But I truly believe that next year should be interesting without the quote marks, interesting in a positive and far less frustrating way.
I say this because the kids, for one thing, will be one year older. Next year should be interesting because those same players will have a full year of playing together (which really matters). And it should be interesting if there are new players around them (which is a sure thing) and if they have a new coach (which is less of a sure thing but a very real possibility).
If that isn’t “interesting,” I don’t know what is.
BigCitySid says
– Will next season be interesting? Yes w/ a new coach. “Interesting” if Scott’s still at the helm.
R says
Renato, what do you think of Randle and DAR? I.e. Something special compared to other NBA young guns or are they more run of the mill to journeyman types?
rr says
Incidentally, I put up a long post responding to Clay about Randle and Clarkson in an earlier thread–post #59.
I will be interested to hear Renato’s opinion on the question.
rr says
Mid,
If I was one of the skewerers, sorry. Basically, I think it depends on whether one was using interesting as in this team will be better than people think or interesting as in let’s see what the young guys can do and maybe Kobe will have a couple of party like it’s 2006 moments. Two different things.
I will say that I did not see the 2014 or 2015 teams as being interesting in either way. Russell and to a lesser extent Kobe and Randle make this year’s team interesting in a very limited sense for me personally.
If the 2017 team somehow has Ben Simmons, Festus Ezeli, and DeMar DeRozan, then I would consider that team to be interesting.
Renato Afonso says
Like I said before, I want to see them work on their flaws during the Summer and how they play next season. And above all, I want to see is defensive improvement. If they’re not a positive on that end, then I don’t think they are the building blocks we need but rather complementary pieces… Nothing wrong with being complementary pieces on a contender but they don’t seem to be one of those special talents that Towns, Davis and a couple of others seem to be. We’ll need to wait and see.
For some reason, it seems that Randle can become the better overall player but this is still a point guard driven league. What do you think?
rr says
For some reason, it seems that Randle can become the better overall player but this is still a point guard driven league. What do you think?
—
I had a long exchange with Clay about Randle on the other thread. I comp’d him to Faried, Millsap, Green, Griffin and Odom–comps which have all been made by people here, and the Odom comp was loosely made my Mitch. Clay had this to say:
>>>Not entering the game as polished as some, Randle does have glaring weaknesses that he will need to work on like his right hand, his mid range, and his learning how to finish against length. I just don’t see that there is any predictive measure to a player’s success by looking at early numbers for guys who are clearly in the midst of developing in this game.<<<
My take is people here have made many claims/expressed many hopes about why Randle's ceiling is higher than it might appear to be: one-and-done, injury, Kentucky system, Byron's incompetence, physical traits, etc. That may be so, but we know that Randle has not been as good as a rookie as most of his hoped-for-comps were–that is established and there are specific reasons why. So, I am in Show-Me mode with Randle, which is neither a knock on him nor on the FO for drafting him.
As to Clarkson, he has improved in two key areas–shots 3-10 ft and 3PA. That is seen with both the eye-test and the numbers. He has regressed in others and his overall production has been about the same, and he has had the same USG. One could argue that since he did this with a crowded backcourt, that he is actually better. One could also argue that Kobe's being gone and playing for a better coach will allow him to break out. The other side is that he turns 24 in June and has had two years playing at pretty much the same level. Clay pointed out that Jimmy Butler had a big breakout year at 25. But Butler's USG in the breakout year spiked…to what Clarkson's already is.
As to your point about D: I commented weeks ago that I see Russell, Randle, and Clarkson as being guys with more value on O than on D. I think a good coach could help the Lakers team D with consistency, schemes, etc. but I don't see any of the three of them being elite on D. But I am not a coach and have not played organized ball since high school, so you would know better.
I do think that Russell can be elite on O and can be an All-Star level guy.
LKK says
Until and unless the young corps/core decide to play some defense they are going to be stuck in the limbo of mediocrity. I’m hoping that the Lakers retain this year’s pick and can add some pieces and start fresh next year. The priority has to be defense. It has to be stressed by whatever coaching staff is in place next season. Until the “corps” and the rest of the team start playing hard D, nothing changes. I see kids in the NCAA tournament with a lot less talent and athletic ability than the average NBA player, selling out and giving a total effort on defense. Understandably it’s two different levels but the principle is the same. Play hard on D and give yourself a chance.