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A Lakers Blog. Thoughts, reflections, and the odd rant on the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA (even the Clippers).

Preview and Chat: Lakers vs. Thunder

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After winning 5 of 6 games to push their record to 6-4, the Lakers have lost 3 of 4 to settle back in at .500 (7-7). Their recent skid is mostly about their defensive decline where they’ve surrendered points in bunches by defending poorly at the point of attack in isolation and in the P&R in the two man game while also continuing their trend of fouling shooters too often. The team has still been in games and continues to battle hard through the final buzzer, but the mistakes they have been making defensively have been the difference and need to be cleaned up.

Considering the types of issues the Lakers have been having defensively, tonight’s game against the Thunder and Russell Westbrook offer a difficult challenge. Westbrook’s ability to get downhill and to the rim is among the best in the league. His relentlessness in attacking is unparalleled and he must be accounted for early in possessions lest you want to see him finish above the rim. He will consistently threaten the paint and if the Lakers do not find a way to bandaid their defensive woes, Westbrook won’t just exploit them, he will drive a wedge into the fissure and crack their scheme wide open.

I will be interested in seeing who guards Westbrook tonight. D’Angelo Russell is still questionable with a sore knee and there are reports that, after taking mostly 3 pointers on Sunday while saying he played cautiously, Luke Walton wants Russell playing his normal game or to sit out to let his joint mend. If Russell does play, he might not still guard Russell and instead be put onto Andre Roberson or Victor Oladipo in favor of Nick Young guarding Russ. That’s not an ideal situation for Young, but he offers more size and ability to get through picks. If D’Angelo doesn’t play and Calderon starts, I think Young has to guard Westbrook and the other matchups just fall into place organically. (UPDATE: Russell is reportedly out with his sore knee.)

Regardless, though, the Lakers must be conscientious about their defense and adjust to OKC’s personnel. Oladipo his hitting over 40% of his 3 pointers, but I still think the Lakers must sink into help positions early to deny driving lanes to Westbrook. They must also pinch from the weakside in the P&R to dissuade lobs to Steven Adams and then recover to shooters under control to again avoid the types of blow-byes which trigger more help and the opening of easy passes. In other words, think help early and often and make the Thunder beat you from the outside.

That said, surrendering wide open threes is not the plan. I mentioned Oladipo, but OKC has other players who will threaten from distance. Besides Westbrook, rookie big man Domatas Sabonis is shooting 39% from deep and big man Joffrey Lauvergne is shooting 36% from deep. These two will try to stretch the Lakers out so the bigs must be active in helping, but also smart in closing out against these two in order to force them to put the ball on the floor in order to slide with them and funnel to help.

Offensively, the Lakers must continue to play with pace but do so smartly. OKC has no issues running with any team in the league with Westbrook leading the way. Avoiding turnovers, especially live ball ones, will be important in ensuring OKC doesn’t get easy points in transition. This about balance; the Lakers must attack and look for early offense. Run drag P&R’s, look to penetrate and kick or penetrate to score (especially when Adams is out of the game), but then pull back and run their actions if nothing is there.

With Russell out, Lou Williams and Jordan Clarkson become even more important. Clarkson could not find his offense against the Bulls, but he’ll need to do so tonight. I’d like to see him get his mid-range game going as that can often feed the other parts of his offense while keeping the defense off-balance. I would also like to see Williams continue his strong play, especially in the P&R where he can be a dual threat as a scorer or a passer.

In terms of the big men, Julius Randle (who is listed as questionable) is important this game should he play. His ability to play with pace and battle on the glass are important against a team with Adams and Kanter attacking the O-glass. If Randle cannot go, Nance needs to be more assertive in looking for his own offense — taking his jumper with confidence and attacking creases to try and finish at the rim. I’d also like to see Nance get to the foul line a bit more, so diving hard in the P&R should be a focus tonight.

While we’ve discussed needing to take a patient outlook during this rough part of the schedule, this game is sot of important. The Lakers play the Warriors on Wednesday night in Oakland then again at Staples on Friday. It would be nice to get a win in this game before that home and home against a surging Dubs team.

Where you can watch: 7:30pm start tim on Spectrum Sportsnet.


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. david__h says

    Darius: with the second unit’s chemistry, coach Walton should consider starting them while DAngelo and now Randle are on the mend. With the 2nd unit you know what kind of effort you’re going to get coming out of the gate. Starters can sub in when needed. If not tonite, maybe against the Warriors tomorrow?
    Like to see Zubac get some burn versus Thunder tonite.
    Go lakers

  2. Joel_ says

    I realise Luke wants to keep the second unit intact, but Jose Calderon should not be starting an NBA game in 2016. Catastrophe always ensues when he sees the court. Just go with Clarkson for these 2 games, the second unit isn’t going to spontaneously combust.

  3. Shaunis007 says

    Calderon shouldn’t be getting off the bench at this point…. the starting unit just isnt dynyamic enough with him on the floor… randle is the only one creating for himself and others …… need clarkson to start when russel isnt there as deng,mozgov amd even young get their shots from the play of others … not happening with an old calderon

  6. LKK says

    Except for the 6 TO’s, great 1st Q… 5/7 from 3, 8 assists, 16 rebounds. Also forced 6 OKC TO’s. Let’s hope it continues.

  8. 30twhite40 says

    Nick Young with a nice defensive play on Westbrook and leads to a frustration foul on Westbrook.

  9. LKK says

    Didn’t like that Westbrook foul on Deng…. at all. Refs needed to put him in check and they did call a tech.

  13. LKK says

    Turnovers… too many empty possessions. JR needs to be more careful with his passes and find a way to make an impact offensively… no points at the half.

  23. 30twhite40 says

    Cannot believe a foul was not called on Westbrook as Nance Jr was going to the rim. Really bad missed call.

  28. fern16 says

    Calderon has always been a lights out shooter he is like what,over 40% for his career?. He is a savvy veteran and would be getting a lot of minutes in a veteran team. Im glad we have him and have a pretty capable backup…

  29. fern16 says

    I haven’t dmseen the entire game, but it looks to me the Lakers have done some adjustments in defense. Still a crapload of turnovers though…

  42. fern16 says

    Those 3 point attempts were just plain stupid. Attack the basket!!! Your the ones in the lead!! Try to draw a freaking foul!!!! Man!!!

  55. Shaunis007 says

    Nick with the steal and the 3 for the win …. noice ….felt good to win one of theae after so many kind of slipping away ….. still though 2 quarters of 60%+ shooting allowed is rough …. surprised deng and randle got almost no run late but happy for the win

  56. DieTryin says

    Fun finish and good to see our guys win a game that they were not favored in. But truth be told they were lucky and just squeaked by. They stopped doing the things that got them a lead in the first place. Ball stopped moving and looked very tentative on offense. Meanwhile Westbrook went super nova. Still Swaggy P nails the 3 for the W!!

  58. davis luv says

    Its pretty clear at this point that the best move of the offseason was not getting rid of Nick Young.

  59. bluehill says

    Interesting read given all the Nick love and more proof of the difference Luke has made.

    “The Lakers signed Young to a four-year, $21 million deal, rewarding him
    for averaging a career-high 17.9 points the season before. But that same
    month, the Lakers also hired Scott as their head coach. And from the
    start, Scott, with his old-school mentality, and Young, with his
    light-hearted approach, seemed to clash. Young’s opportunities and scoring fell in 2014-15 and dropped even more
    last season, when the Lakers posted a franchise-worst 17-65 record.”
    http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18091057/luke-walton-belief-nick-young-saving-lakers-guard

  60. Tom Scherer says

    I’ve watched the Lakers for almost 40 years now and I can see talent. Lou Williams is a talented player and should be starting. Clarkson is a talented player and should be starting as well as Nick Young. Ingram is hurting the Lakers right now. He is tentative, and makes mistakes. Front line players for the Lakers are pretty good. Randolph is best. If Walton continues grooving in Ingram and fails to recognize Williams and Clarksons talent we are in for a long mediocre season when we could be a top team in the NBA 
    Watch when Williams comes in,he gets penetration and is an excellent scorer. Clarkson is good also. Ingram is not. He does not get penetration and hurts the team. 
    People are raving about Ingram are they watching the games. Do they see his mistakes and lack of innitiative? And when Williams gets to the hoop and scores do they not see that? I am disgusted with Waltons lack of perception on this. His starting line-up should be: Williams, Clarkson, Young, Mosgat, and Randolph. This team could challenge anyone in the NBA. They need to play together and be treated with respect by the coaches. Ingram can come off the bench and prove himself along with the others.

  61. Tom Scherer says

    Nick Young is an all-star calliber scorer, but has been treated like a bench player. He is still coming off the bench. His confidence can be damaged by this and I believe it has been.