After a really fun game that saw the Lakers suffer a close loss while D’Angelo Russell scored a career high 40 points this past Sunday, the Lakers find themselves back at Staples Center tonight to face the Clippers. Luke Walton has already said Russell will remain in the starting lineup next to Clarkson, Ingram, Randle, and Zubac, so any intrigue around that decision is gone. Russell will likely be tasked with chasing JJ Redick around screens defensively while Clarkson tries to handle CP3, but that’s already getting into details which only slightly matter to me.
That’s because with only 12 games left, I’m worried less about the specifics of the Lakers’ opponents and more about the players’ and team’s performance in a vacuum and compared to their own ability. To say this another way, the process of what the players do individually and how they perform as a collective when on the floor.
So, I want to see if Russell can continue to attack the paint. I want to see if Clarkson can continue to make good passes out of the P&R. I want to see Randle and Nance continue to shoot 3’s. I want to see Ingram continue to be assertive as a shooter. As a group, I want to see them make the extra pass, set good screens, and move well off the ball. Defensively I want them to…well, I want to see them engaged and making fewer mistakes while moving more on a string.
If these things happen, all while the team plays hard, I don’t care about the final score. We all know the lottery implications of losses anyway, so would anyone really be that upset about losses anyway. So, I want to see the team do the little things better; to get back to playing loose and fun. If they get down big, them trusting each other and battling as much as they can is all we can ask for. Against the Bucks and the Cavs, they showed they can do this. That they can play together, fight for each other, and not get overly down on themselves when things go wrong. If we can get another performance like those games tonight, I’ll take it. Let’s see what they can do.
Where you can watch: 7:30pm start time on Spectrum Sportsnet.
A Horse With No Name says
Suns Tanking Hard. Shut Bledsoe down for the season. DNPs for Brandon Knight and Ronnie Price, leaving 5’10” 160 LB. rookie Tyler Ulis to man the point for 42 minutes. LOL. It’s going to be tough to out tank them….
Magic and Pelinka go visit Adam Silver to “get a cap tutorial.” Sure. I mean, couldn’t they just read Larry Coon’s cap faq, maybe consult with their in house cap expert? Nope; they clearly needed a personal meeting with the Commissioner. There is something much bigger here that isn’t being said in the public domain–and you don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist to see it. My guess is that it has something to do with the number of laker ping pong balls in the hopper (remember, the “observers” don’t get to count the balls–nobody does), or more pessimistically, they went to ask/beg for special consideration in the lottery, given the veto and to point out just how important the lakers are to the the corporate sponsors who pay handsomely for high ratings.
FredP says
It could also be that when you are Magic Johnson you do not mess around with the help and go straight to the top. Besides, Silver probably wanted Magic to autograph a basketball for him. They could also talk about the league’s finances going forward and when will the league expand by two teams? Maybe another big jump in the cap is expected.
Clay Bertrand says
Suns ARE tanking hard……and the Lakers have a much easier road the rest of the season. I posted some schedule particulars in another thread but this is DANGER time for sure on the Tank/Lottery prospects.
RE the meeting in NY, apparently, ALL teams are sending representatives to review the CBA and meet with the Commissioner. Its not some special LAKER TREATMENT or LAKER requested meeting. Clearly if there was some INSIDER lobbying going on, the last thing they would do is Tweet out a picture of themselves together.
Initially, I thought the meeting was only because Pelinka was a new GM and was going to be formally introduced etc. But that is not the case. This is a case of each team FO having the opportunity to inspect and get league interpretations if necessary on all aspects of the NEW CBA. Larry Coon, for all of his renowned expertise is not a league official. This is a chance for the teams to each hear what they need straight from THE HORSES MOUTH (sorry Horse, had to do it).
The meeting about the Ping Pong Balls was held the night before…..at SCORES….. ; )
A Horse With No Name says
You’re no fun, man. There will always be doubts since only the operatives count the pong balls . . . . ; – /
Clay Bertrand says
Lol…..I need to lighten up!!! I DID say that the meeting of which you speak took place….. it had to be at SCORES because Silver won’t set foot in the BATA-BING : )
Fern says
Gimme a break man. There is no nefarious mustache twirling conspiracy.
A Horse With No Name says
How could there be? All of them are clean-shaven!
drrayeye says
Phoenix has already lost. This could be a dangerous game for the Lakers–who might be tempted to show those Clippers a thing or two. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail . . .
LALaker#14 says
Lakers dug themselves in a hole early in this one.
LALaker#14 says
Slow start got us in the hole early
pat oslon says
This one got ugly real quick.
Rick in Seattle says
Nothing wrong with this Lakers team’s offensive abilities. Its that they do not DEFEND. Anytime you can score 120 points on the defending champs (and lose), its a bad omen. Where is Mike D’Antoni when we need him. Now that the Lakers are such an offensive jouggernaut, he is nowhere around. Instead, he was hired to coach a declining Kobe and the remnants of a half-court, triangle-based veteran team! But that was on the former regime!
Hoping that Magic, Pelinka & company are in the process of developing a Plan A, Plan B, & Plan C, for the off-season ( which is moving up on us very quickly).
Dont keep us in suspense, Magic. We know you’re new to the front office stuff, but lets use you creativity, and Pelinka’s inside knowledge to gather up at least one good free agent, possibly a trade or two to upgrade the roster on defense, and if possible some creative magic (pun intended) to find new teams for Mozgov & Deng!
Lakers need leadership, defense, and a quality SG.
Never thought I would say I miss Kobe dominating the team…but he won a lot of games for the Lakers!
FredP says
Whoever is giving Luke advice on how to work with younger players needs to stifle himself.
Lakers Future says
Defense has to be a priority this summer. You just can’t win in the NBA playing the kind of defense the Lakers play. They’ve been this bad defensively for too long. For all the talk of drafting glizty point guards they Lakers need some defenders.
And they really need some protection in the paint. I think that’s where the Mosgov contract really hurts. All that money going to that position and still no rim protection. This summer Rob and Magic need to works some magic.
drrayeye says
What we saw yesterday is a reminder of this whole season, hopefully not our future. We’re the worst defense in the NBA. Right now, we need to accept the need to lose, but expect to show some defensive fundamentals ASAP.
Hopefully the David Nwaba contract sends a message.
david h says
I never liked the back to back games at any level of basketball since I was young. it probably has more to do with venue then it does with common sense. in order to stick with the six and a half month regular season (of 82 games) nba needs to get rid of the 3 and 4 day off between games and stick to a tighter every other day schedule. and to coincide with my get off my grass mentality, limit the all star weekend to just Saturday and Sunday. substitute the game of horse and get rid of the skills contest.
david h says
And while they’re at it; if someone needs a day of rest due to fatigue, ankle sprain or their tooth hurts; a mandatory period of three games, not three days should be imposed.
TheDane says
Nets might actually catch the Lakers. They are 5-5 the last 10 games. They do not own their pick, no reason for them to tank. Just got to beat five of these teams:
L Wizards
L Hawks
W 76’ers
? Pistons
W Magic
L Hawks
W 76’ers
W Magic
L Bulls
? Celtics (resting for PO?)
L Bulls (might still be fighting for PO)
That is W likely W’s and two ?-marks and even Hawks, Wizards and Bulls are not the most formidable opponents. It is most likely not going to happen, but it could…
Kareem says
The sad state of things. I was looking at Brooklyn’s schedule yesterday too. Here’s to no longer wishing for last place finishes next year.