So this is one game you want to throw in the trash. The Raptors worked the Lakers, 113-80. The 80 points are a season-low for this young team.
All you needed to do was watch the first half. The Lakers were down, 15-4, at one point. They did cut it down to six by the end of the first but the Raptors shot the lights out in the next 12 minutes. Canada started out 16 for 19 in the second quarter, which I’m sure got Celine Dion singing. The Lakers never got it going on the offensive end and they got killed on the other side of the ball. Toronto took advantage of the Lakers hedging too far and had some ball movement that got L.A. chasing pretty much all night.
Even when Toronto came back to earth in their shooting, the Lakers couldn’t take advantage. L.A.’s turnovers certainly didn’t help; they had five in the third (16 overall). It resulted in an ugly third quarter which saw the Raptors barely win it, 15-14. That’s good for the Lakers in a close game but not so great when they were down 21 in the first half. The Raptors were back to burning the rim in the fourth and the Lakers never had a chance. T Dot never trailed in this contest.
While DeMar DeRozan (16 points) and Kyle Lowry (24 points) did their usual damage, Lucas Nogueira (13 points), Cory Joseph (14 points), and Norman Powell (16 points, and he replaced a resting DeMarre Carroll in the starting line-up) all took advantage of the Lakers’ porous defense. The Raptors shot over 54 percent. As for the Lakers? They can’t shoot under 35 percent, play poor defense, and expect to win. It doesn’t work like that. Also, hope that Larry Nance, Jr. is okay as he bumped knees late in the game.
The Lakers continue to get off to poor starts. In 21 games this season, they’ve only won the first quarter five times. Coming into the Raptors game, the Lakers were 27th in scoring (24.5 points per) and 26th in offensive rating (96.0 points per 100 possessions) in the first quarter. And we all know the team usually finishes strong. Maybe they need to make some tweaks in the starting line-up and put in some more scoring with Nick Young and D’Angelo Russell out. Brandon Ingram led the team in scoring with a career-best 17 points.
All you can do is move on to the next game. But at least, for the Lakers, it’s almost immediate as they travel to Memphis for a game tomorrow night. The Lakers are 1-2 in this current road trip and 10-11 overall. I guess it could be worse, right?
Shaunis007 says
Was at the game – calderon just shouldnt start, 1st unit has been off to terrible starts every game … just no flow with the group which i guess is understandable with injuries but still we might need a switch to chamge things up
fern16 says
Ugh, that was uglyyy.
new rr says
4-in-5s out of time zone are very tough, and the team is a little
short-handed, so the Lakers getting blown out a couple of times is not
surprising. Memphis is not quite as good as Toronto, and the Lakers have shown
the ability to bounce back, so I expect that tonight’s game will be much more
competitive.
Minor Threatt says
Last night was ugly, yeah, but it’s hard not to be excited by Ingram. He’s getting bumped off his spots and it’s affecting his shooting, but that’s going to change as he bulks up — and as he gets more PT to figure things out, which you can see him doing these last few games.
Meanwhile, in spite of the strength issues, his defense has been well ahead of what I expected. He’s long enough to be consistently disruptive; more important are the hustle and the instincts to use his physical gifts. Inside of two years, look out.
Clay Bertrand says
new rr
Bro, I never want to prejudge things in the Summer too definitively because obviously, we never know sometimes when players will surprise us a la Swaggy. None of us saw Swaggy being relevant.
I didn’t like mainly the length of the Mozgov and Deng deals like most of us. However, in the interest of letting things play out, I refrained from being too critical of these signings instead taking a wait and see approach. I had more of a “YES the contracts are too long and YES they seem to be overpaid….But lets see how they mesh ON THE COURT.”
Now I know things change as the season goes on and its a long season. But I have seen enough of Luol Deng. JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The apparently TINY little bit of gas still sloshing around in his tank may result in the occasional veteran savvy on D or the occasional rebound and quick put back. But this little bit he has left isn’t even enough to power the guy for more than a handful of games this season (MAYBE) and then he is DONE. 3 MORE years at $18 Mil!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?! Horrendous……..
No amount of locker room mentorship or professionalism can give the Lakers ANY value to the tune of $18 mil for 3 MORE seasons!!!!! Imagine the possibilities were that money available to be spent!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean, I saw this fading/decline of Deng’s career happening toward the end of year 2 or perhaps year 3 of the deal. I was willing to ride with the last year to year and a half of his deal being a relatively “bad contract”. But man, Deng and our pace is NOT a match. Now even Marc Stein is commenting about it on BSPN so its clearly a BLATANT situation. When the National media seizes on something its usually an open and notorious issue after all.
I can still stomach (barely) the Mozgov deal. Honestly, Mahinmi, Biyombo etc. have been even less impressive than Mozzy which is almost ASTOUNDING. To a degree, the Center position and what he DOES bring to it is at least of SOME use. But Deng…………
I know the rules in this forum but I GOTTA SAY, if Mitch/Jimmy can somehow get out from under this Deng contract at all EVER, (sooner than later would be awesome) it would be a real COUP!!!!!
If I’m Mitch, I’m seeing what BAD (yet shorter) deals I can barter away from Minnesota for Deng to return to Thibs who may be the only coach in the league that would REALLY desire him as a player. Pekovic or Rubio?? Throw in a Kevin Martin or a Jordan Hill???
All the negatives to particularly Deng’s deal seem to be upon us NOW. ALREADY!!!
Your initial criticism of his contract (and all of our concerns that he isn’t a 3 anymore), though premature to a degree certainly, are turning out to be only too correct. In hindsight, I actually think your criticism was mild compared to how Deng has actually looked. Stu Lantz has bascially taken to trying to Jedi Mind Trick him to put some damn ARC on his jumper every time he shoots for god’s sake!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARC on his JUMPER!?!?!??!!?
There has got to be significant buyer’s remorse league wide with some of these deals. HOPEFULLY, there can be some willing traders where we can SOMEHOW not have to see Deng in year 4 of his deal—–when he is playing with a freakin Walker!!!!!!!!
LonShapiro says
In the first half, the Lakers did not contest open jump shots, and Lowry went 5 for 6 from beyond the arc. Bad shooting nights can happen, especially when the team has played three games in four nights. But the lack of defensive effort is inexcusable. The Lakers number one strength is playing with energy and wearing down the opposing starters, so the bench can come in and crush it. Let’s hope Deng and Mozgov play better and Randle has a monster game.
KevTheBold says
Taking this in perspective, games like this are expected with a developing team, especially with two of our top players out.
What made it worse than usual was the fact that all of our veterans were all having a poor shooting night.
Ingram however was the one shining light on our team 18pts on 50% shooting, and another good defensive effort from our rookie.
Things will improve once we our starters are back in the lineup.
new rr says
Clay Bertrand new rr
Clay,
Thanks for the feedback. Will reply later. Go UCLA.
Clay Bertrand says
new rr Clay Bertrand
All good brother!!
And on UCLA—HELL YESSSSSS—-Take THAT Calipari!!!!