FIGHTING SPIRIT. They just keep doing it.
After a letdown against the Mavericks at home, the Lakers have won four of their last five games as they made an impressive comeback against the Kings in Sacramento, 101-91. The thing is… it really looked bleak early on.
The Lakers looked like they would either watch paint dry or watch leaves fall from a tree. They looked lethargic, fatigued, and a step slower in the first half. The young guns had 12 turnovers. Sactown took advantage; nobody seemed to be able to stop DeMarcus Cousins. He scored 18 of his 28 points in the first half. The Lakers were down as many as 19 points before they had a late surge to close out the half.
D’Angelo Russell, who looked indecisive in the first 24 minutes, caught a bit of fire as he scored eight of his 17 points in the first six minutes of the third. The Lakers did a much better job guarding Boogie as Timofey Mozgov got more physical and they did timely double-teams. In about a nine-minute stretch between the third and the fourth, the Kings only scored two points. Boogie finally did come alive in the fourth quarter but by that time, it was too late. After a deadlock at 82, the Lakers broke away with a 10-0 run that was led by Lou Williams and Nick Young. Sweet Lou scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and continues to be that incredible veteran presence. And the resurrection of Nick Young continues. He continues to put a lot of effort on the defensive end. Swaggy P scored the last five points of that aforementioned 10-0 run that pretty much put the game out of reach. He scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half.
I know Luke Walton is still figuring out his rotations as the season goes on. It definitely helped that Larry Nance, Jr. came back for this game after he passed the concussion protocol (who, by the way, did his role as the energy guy off the bench with seven boards). But I like that Luke stayed with the hot guys. The line-up that the Lakers had during the closing stretch was Mozgov, Brandon Ingram (his length bothered the Kings on the boards and on defense), Julius Randle (he still continues to attack; he had 15 and 8), Lou Will, and Nick. I know most coaches would go back to his regular starters but I thought it was a great decision for Walton to stick with the line-up that got them the lead. And it was so encouraging to see all the other guys cheer for the team. Guys, they are so so much fun.
The Lakers did end with 21 turnovers; that is an extremely high number. And I would like it if they could get off to better starts in the game. But I like that the Lakers never stop playing; they have been in every game by the fourth quarter this season. The fight never stops with them and it is so much appreciated by the coaching staff and the fans.
They will face the New Orleans Pelicans next in Louisiana. Those birds just got their first win earlier today so they’re going to be hungry to extend that marvelous one-game winning streak.
The baby Lakers are 5-4. Over .500 after nine games. Quite a pleasant surprise.
nojoe says
Great Win!
Why didn’t the rest of you write in Luke for president like I did. The last time I had this much fun watching the Lakers was when we made the run with Pau in ’08. It is so great to see adjustments made at half-time and the Lakers always competing,
On a related note, I think that Byron got a raw deal. I don’t think he was a good coach, but I think some of the things he was criticized for we are seeing from Luke as well. The difference, Luke is winning (big difference). However, I wonder about DLO, and Luke’s decision to keep him out of the end of games. He was hot in the third, but Luke decided to still keep him out of the run tonight. I don’t think this means he is a bust, just that maybe some of what Byron saw Luke is also seeing. Or maybe Luke is really just committed to running the group that is making the run at the end of the games.
Whatever it is, I can’t complain because they are winning and looking good doing it.
Vasheed says
It was a tale of two halves. In the first half the Lakers gave up 20 points on turnovers. Turnovers seems to be a key issue for this young team.
MT87 says
This team is so much fun! I gotta say, winning feels a lot better than rooting for keeping a draft pick. We should let the Sixers know they can have their pick now, we’re done losing and they clearly are not.
Renato Afonso says
One of the biggest criticisms made to “older” american coaches is their “need to go back to the starting lineup, regardless of how well the bench is performing. Keeping the lineup that made the run that turned the game around was a very pleasant surprise by Luke.
I think this is the type of game that Phil would’ve lost because he always kept the same substitution pattern and the same lineup to close out a game…
wwlofficial says
nojoe I think Luke’s going to make D’Lo earn it. If he’s struggling, then he must play better. Superstars do that. The kid has all the potential in the world to achieve just that.
BigCitySid10552 says
Baxter Holmes: “It’s Nov. 10 and the Lakers have five wins.
Last season, they didn’t record their fifth win until Dec. 22, at which point they were 5-23.”
Young guys have already vindicated themselves. Everyone associated with the team last season who felt “they’re not ready” did so for their own selfish reasons.
The truth continues to come out
wwlofficial says
Vasheed As is the case for all young teams.
mindcrime says
After LA beat HOU I posted that Luke should point out one stat and one stat only from that game–18 points allowed in the fourth quarter–and keep emphasizing the importance of sustained effort on defense, especially in crunch time.
This seems like an “obvious” stat, because the point is to score more points than the other team, and if you do, you will usually win, but I can’t help but post it:
In wins, LA has allowed an average of 21 points in the fourth quarter, including holding three quality offensive teams that rank in the top third in OEff (HOU, ATL, and GS) to 18, 22, and 15 fourth quarter showings. The only “hiccup” or outlier in that dataset is 32 points allowed to PHX.
In losses, LA has allowed an average of 31 points in the fourth quarter, including surrendering 31 to an average UTA team in a game where neither scored 100 points and 36 to an OKC team that ranks among the worst in the league in terms of OEff, with the “best” offensive showing being allowing 26 to an offensively-challenged beat up DAL team the other night.
I recognize that part of playing good defense is playing good offense, and I’ve no doubt that a key component of the “good” fourth quarter defensive efforts has been cutting down on the TO’s that plagued LA again in the first half tonight. (LA remains near the bottom of the league in terms of TO’s committed per 100 possessions). I haven’t dug into that stat but it’s highly likely that LA committed TO’s at a lower rate in the fourth quarters of the “good” games. But that doesn’t explain all of it. LA has shown the ability to lock good offensive players and teams down in crunch time when they want to, with the effort on Cousins in the second half last night being the latest example.
This team has proven it can score, at least in spurts. If it can cut down on TO’s and sustain its defensive effort–I don’t know if 27 wins is the over/under anymore.
fern16 says
Totally agree. He sticks with the hot guys. Phil was a great coach, God bless him, but he was too rigid at times. But it’s different when you have MJ, Pip,Shaq, Kobe and Pau in your teams. What i love about this team is that a TEAM is developing and the players trust each other. I can’t say enough about Luke’s coaching and instinct, he has the Midas touch. I know it’s way early but if the Lakers keep playing like this. Even if they don’t make the playoffs which i still think is a real tall order, Luke could be a seroius candidate to COY. Im still astonished at how this team has improved so fast. All the credit to him.
fern16 says
This team has the potential of being and absolute terror in 2 years. And the thing is that potential quality FAs are watching what the Lakers are becoming. The Lakers could be reslly appealing as soon as next summer.
bluehill says
Man, the start of this year has been such a nice surprise. We knew that these guys had some talent, but a lot harder assess whether they had grit and resilience that they are showing this year. Just too much noise last year to get a good read on the young guys.
I do think the FO deserves a lot more credit than they have gotten for drafting these guys, hiring Luke and signing/keeping the vets that could fit with Luke’s plan. I think if they would followed fan consensus, Randle and Clarkson would have been traded by now; Swaggy and Lou would definitely have been traded or cut; we probably would have drafted Okafor. Fans definitely were right on Luke, though!
Still want to see how they do when they face the better teams for a second time, but how they won tonight makes me think we will have a pretty shot in those games.
_Craig W says
fern16 The thing is — do we really want free agents? Should we be more picky? What, exactly, is wrong with the talent level and chemistry of the team we have.
We have four valuable free agents on the team now – Lou W., Young, Moz, Deng. Unless we get a top 5 player – are aren’t going to get this – what do we gain?
Vasheed says
wwlofficial Vasheed
Let’s look at some other young teams turn overs this season:
Portland 15.4
Minnesota 14.7
Utah 12.9
Boston 12.4
The Lakers are averaging 18.1. Some of it is the pace the Lakers play at but, it is something they need improvement on.
Vasheed says
_Craig W fern16
The Lakers 1st and 2nd units are all signed through next year with the exception of Young having a player’s option. The Lakers free angents likely next year are Metta, Calderon, Huertas (Team Option), and Robinson. Waiving those guys will give the Lakers roughly $19 million in cap to sign someone. Can the Lakers improve the team with $19 million over one of those four guys? This seem like a fairly obvious yes. Things only really become debatable when speaking about chemistry or making a trade that gives something up.
BigCitySid10552 says
_Craig W fern16 Where does Gordon Hayward rank on your list of free agents?
fern16 says
Perfect fit at sf. The kind of player that Luke’s system woud work perfectly
_Craig W says
fern16 My point in questioning the pursuit of free-agents wasn’t that Hawyard wouldn’t be a good fit (he will probably cost over $25M in the new NBA), but that free-agents is all we have really been talking about over the last 3 off-seasons. A major part of our dissatisfaction with the front office is that they have been unable to sign any big free-agents.
We have ignored the fact that all of their draft choices have stuck with the club (A. Brown lasted two training camps). and was the last cut. This level of success with the draft is simply unheard of.
Given this, I am thinking it would be better to miss the playoffs and have enough luck to keep our draft choice, rather than try to sign a ‘really big’ free-agent. Yeah, ok, this can be infinitely argued, but it is now something we could realistically talk about.