LAKERS -at- JAZZ - 12/4 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

 
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:51 pm    Post subject: LAKERS -at- JAZZ - 12/4 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

Scary on the Road... The Jazz were one of those darling teams of the offseason that people wanted to place in the top tier. While that may not have come to fruition yet, they are a pretty good home team (8-1 at home before this game).

So they got the Lakers tonight, a few of them sick, on the second night of the back to back. The team that should be tired, but the Lakers promptly ran the Jazz off the floor.

L.A. turned steals into fastbreak points with a 32-5 advantage in transition. They won every quarter tonight and got to rest their stars in the fourth quarter with the 121-96 blowout win.

I love seeing previews for the Lakers with terms like “scary” in them. Yes, when this team has come to visit your house, they are scary. Outside of Staples, they are 10-0.

They head to Portland next, which has never been an easy win. Hopefully, they can keep the road show rolling.


LeBron -- -- He’ll probably get on Shaqtin’ for the travel-double-dribble play that wasn’t called. He picked up the dribble as the offense was setting up, kept walking, then dribbled again. That was a brain lock. He said he felt bad for the refs because they would probably get written up for that one. Really loved how the team played when he wasn’t on the court. They held the line and even extended the lead. Once we blew them out, he got to sit. He had 16 points on 7-15 shooting and 6 assists in the first half. He’d finish the night with 12 assists and just 1 turnover. Excellent execution again. His three ball wasn’t falling tonight, but he’d get out in transition for scores. Love when he grabs a board and goes coast to coast for a layup. Reminds me of Magic back in the day. Just too big, too fast for defenders once they are on their heels. He and Rondo have some great non-verbal communication out there. There was a backdoor cut LeBron made that Rondo was waiting for and it led to an easy layup. The Stats: He scored 20 points on 9-21 shooting (1-6 from three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 12 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 29 minutes. He was a +14.

Davis -- -- Really efficient scoring on iso tonight. He didn’t settle for the jumper. When he was on the right side of the floor, indead of chucking jumpers which he’s been awful at from that side, he attacked to his left across the lane just about every time. That worked extremely well and manufactured points on a make or earned FTs. On the left side of the floor, he had a couple sweet plays. One, he dropstepped and scored with the lefty one-hander. On another, after the ball moved off the primary options in our stagger screen play, he got it, spun between a couple of defenders and jammed over a third. No threes in this game and he had a very efficient first half with 15 points on 5-7 shooting. The threat of our bigs rolling to the hoop also seemed to be in the Jazz collective heads. They tried to stay with our bigs to a fault and gave up quite a few buckets at the rim for our guards. Defensively, AD had several blocks. He had a play in the third quarter where he was in the middle of the paint, closed out to the shooter on the sideline. Did the fly by, but then bounced back up to block the three attempt from behind. He had another rejection of Mitchell behind Caruso. The key to that was Caruso recovering to stay in front of Mitchell, that just T’d it up for AD to take a big swing and send it flying. The Stats: He scored 26 points on 9-11 shooting (8-9 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 1 assist, 3 blocks and 2 fouls in 26 minutes. He was a +3.

Green -- -- He had a couple of early threes in the game and swatted a layup in transition as the Jazz tried to attack between him and AD. Good luck with that. Otherwise, not too much to write about in this one. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-4 shooting from three to go with 5 boards, 1 block, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 21 minutes. He was a +2.

McGee -- -- Whenever there’s a huge play and McGee is on the bench, his reactions are usually the best. Love how guys like Caruso can make a big dunk on the road and look over to his teammates and they are going nuts for him (I think it was McGee yesterday who sprinted up the sideline on that play). But our two C’s have been excellent teammates when not playing. Really appreciate that. Great job on one play getting down in a crouch to deflect the pocket pass, then he changed ends to finish the lob. Normally, Dwight is great at that and McGee, not so much. But it’s felt like he’s made a little more of an effort in defending the bounce passes lately instead of always trying for the block. He scored on various dunks. He had putback, a dunk off an interior feed, a lob on the break and another lob to start the second half. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 2-4 shooting to go with 5 boards, 1 block, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 21 minutes. He was a +2.

Caldwell-Pope -- -- Evolution. Earlier in the season we had issues when players top locked against us. Tonight, KCP and LeBron just worked over the Jazz D on several possession in the second half. KCP would start to work off a Davis pindown screen and as the D tried to deny him with the top lock, he’d back cut and force them to switch. They didn’t and it left him open again and again and again for layups. LeBron just picked the D apart and milked that play. That had to be frustrating for the Jazz coaches and fans. Earlier in the season, we didn’t know how to counter that when the D tried to take away an option with the top locks. “He’s been phenomenal,” LeBron said of KCP. He said they told KCP they were in the foxhole with him earlier in the season. Get him in plays like that and it makes the game super easy. “Those rumblings have quieted down quite a bit,” LeBron said about the KCP talk. Defensively, feisty game from KCP again. He had to take on the Mitchell assignment. He did a pretty good job recovering around the screens at times. If the big could make Mitchell hesitate on the drop coverage, that’s all we needed at times. Once Mitchell got more aggressive that got a little trickier to deal with in the second half. Mitchell was still a force, but as long as it’s not leading to other guys scoring with ease, the Jazz are easy to beat. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 5-8 shooting (2-4 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 1 block and 2 fouls in 25 minutes. He was a +14.

Kuzma -- -- Where to start? He drained a 30-foot three at the end of the first quarter. Then at the end of the second quarter, he hoisted up and swished an off-balance three thinking the buzzer was going to sound. He was a few seconds early. I’m not sure what his percentages are on quarter ending threes, but he’s been hitting those a lot this season. He’s had a play I’ve seen a few times from him lately where he comes across the top off a screen off the stagger screens to take a pass and isn’t looking to shoot or attack off it. I don’t understand what he’s looking for on those, but it wastes clock and forces us into bad possessions. To start the fourth quarter, they ran the same play, this time he slipped the screen, then got the pass on his way to the hoop and scored a layup out of it. Much more successful getting the ball late versus early on that set play. Defensively, some moments tonight. He had some steals early on, whcih has been rare this season. LAte in the game, he had a shot block on a rotation, then a second later, blocked his man again. The bench was already on their feet on the first one. Then he had a track down block as they were showing the highlights of the first two. He’d finish with 4 steals and 3 blocks. Be the change we want to see, Kuzma. That was a season worth of defensive plays right. Let’s skip talking about the FT shooting. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 4-11 shooting (3-5 from three, 2-7 from the line) to go with 1 board, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers and no fouls in 31 minutes. He was a +25.

Howard -- -- Tonight on an inbounds, he swished a corner three in the fourth. A little jab step, then swish. He held up the three fingers on the way down court and the bench was on their feet. “I told Do if I get another chance at a three I was making it tonight. I was glad I had my feet set,” he said. Rondo fed him on that and he drilled. “It was like one of those scenes from Major League when Willie Mays Hayes catches it over his shoulder and the manager says ‘great catch. Don’t ever do it again.’ It was one of those situations,” Vogel said. We were up big at that point. Earlier in the game, when it was more in doubt, he knocked down a long wing jumper, but he had to take that one as the shotclock was winding down. Both of those plays were on inbounds passes. (Of course, he couldn’t hit a freethrow tonight.) Defensively, he was beasting again. He rejected 3 shots, challenged others and was a menace. Honestly, when he came in and was doing his thing tonight that’s when you could really tell the Jazz were in over their heads with this team. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 3-3 shooting (1-1 from three, 0-4 from the line) to go with 9 boards, 1 assist and 3 blocks in 19 minutes. He was a +19.

Caruso -- -- “The biggest thing for me is team defensive rating when you are out there,” Vogel said in terms of stats and what he looks for. He was answering a question about AD, but that also explains why he loves playing Caruso, as well. He’s just so disruptive. He drew a moving screen call on Gobert and then a charge on Ingles in the first half. He deflected a pass to force a shotclock violation, then had a great close to force his man to the dribble and another shotlcock violation. None of that goes into the stat sheet in a traditional sense, but the team D stats sure appreciate Caruso as a result. Offensively, a couple of scores tonight. He hit a three in transition and then split the D to score a layup on another attack off the three line. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-4 shooting (1-2 from three) to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 21 minutes. He was a +14.

Rondo -- -- He and Dwight were a +16 and +17, respectively, in the first half. The minutes when LeBron sat started a little slow in the first half. Rondo didn’t really get the team into the offense and we iso’d a bit. But they held serve. Then in the second stint where LeBron rested, we actually stretched out the lead as Rondo dished out 7 assists in the first half. A couple great plays to open the fourth. First he hit Kuzma slipping a screen on a set play for a layup. Then, he blindsided a man on the other end to steal the ball and found LeBron for the hammer dunk. A few minutes later, he added a layup on the break, a three behind a screen, then a pull-up on an open 15-footer against the drop coverage. Those were killers and forced the Jazz into a timeout. That was a flurry of buckets to help us lead by 22. He was a rebound a way from the triple-double. I’ll give it to him. Just an excellent night from Rondo. You can’t ask for more than that. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 5-12 shooting (2-3 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 9 boards, 12 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 32 minutes. He was a +25.

Daniels -- -- He was in the rotation, not just garbage time again. He had a nice play diving to the floor to knock a ball ahead to a teammate on the break. Later, he also hit a three in garbage time. Good to see some of that hustle work. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-4 shooting (1-3 from three) to go with 2 boards, 1 steal and 1 foul in 13 minutes. He was a +2.

Cook -- -- Garbage time minutes. He slipped in a layup past the D for his only score. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-3 shooting to go with 1 board and 1 foul in 5 minutes. He was a +4.

Dudley -- -- Even he got in the steal action with a stolen pass in the paint in garbage time. He sank a three, as well. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 101 shooting and had 1 steal in 5 minutes. He was a +4.

Vogel -- -- Key Moment: It was a blowout so not so much of a singular moment. Let’s put any of those minutes where LeBron wasn’t playing. Lakers were up 8 when LeBron sat with 3 minutes left in the first quarter. They were up 8 when he returned as we held the line. We were up 11 when LBJ sat midway through the second quarter and up 16 when he returned. Again, those minutes when LeBron has sat have been our worst, but not so much lately.

Key Substitution: Hmmm. Let’s go with Dwight anytime he came in and AD got to sit. Dwight came in with 1:11 left in the third for AD. The lead was 18 points. AD didn’t return to the game and finished the night with just 26 minutes. The bench did the job tonight to lighten the load on our stars.

Key Stat: These stats are related. Lakers had a 21-3 advantage on the fastbreak in the first half and finished 32-5 for the game. They also had a season-high 13 steals. You steal the ball, you’re getting out on the break.
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akgolf
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 9:51 pm    Post subject:

First!

Thanks DB!
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 10:04 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB! Let’s get the house of horrors trifecta on Friday.
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 10:08 pm    Post subject:

Thanks,DB!
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 10:25 pm    Post subject:

Thank you DB.

Man I expected us to be good, but what are we on, like a 65-70 win pace? With a new team and Kuzma not playing well at all. Great redemption for Howard and Rondo is a baller no matter what anyone else says.

Wow.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 1:42 am    Post subject:

71 win pace right now.

Yes - wow.


This was supposed to be a horrible stretch for the season. It's turning into the best stretch yet so far. That defense ftw.


DB thanks again for your excellent T&R's, this has GOTTA be more fun than it's been for years! Since the days of a certain detective and his Yenko Nova searching for lost little Larry O'Brien.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 2:29 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB. Team D incredible again. Gone are the days of lack luster defensive efforts (like they had a steamer in their shorts). Frank has really set the tone and Lebron (what a change) and AD are leading by example.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 3:40 am    Post subject:

In the words of REO Speedwagon, "Keep on Rolling."
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danzag
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:24 am    Post subject:

This team is very, very good.
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wolfpaclaker
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 5:57 am    Post subject:

Team stats

Points +25
Lakers 121
Jazz 96

Field Goals shooting +13
Lakers 46-90
Jazz 34-83

3 point shooting
Lakers 14-29
Jazz 14-31

Points in the paint +18
Lakers 52
Jazz 34

Fastbreak points +27
Lakers 32
Jazz 5

Rebounds +6
Lakers 46
Jazz 40

Assists +7
Lakers 27
Jazz 20
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wolfpaclaker
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 6:02 am    Post subject:

Look at those fastbreak points, and look at the points in the paint difference. When the Lakers shoot well from outside like we saw last night, and considering they are so good inside, they are pretty much unbeatable.

In a playoff series is our 3nD guys to make a nice contribution from outside, and let AD and Lebron do what they do best. We have a great balance when this happens, as stay with teams from outside but kill them inside. Very few teams can even stay competitive with us in those situations.

The defensive combination inside of AD to Dwight, and then a little Dwight-AD together is so good. Its a joy to watch as a basketball fan.

After a stretch where this team stopped playing defense possession by possession, they are now back doing so. They have in the last 2 games picked up their defensive intensity and the rotations are very quick.
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wolfpaclaker
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 6:03 am    Post subject:

Also small note on Kuzma. As much as he looks awkward and inconsistent (and flat out a poor fit) at times on offense. His defense these last 2 games has been note worthy. I have seen him contest more and be far more active with his feet than he ever did in his first two years in the league.
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Laker7
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 7:36 am    Post subject:

Possibly the best game of the season for the Lakers. Offense, defense, rebounding, fast breaking, etc were all clicking last night.
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Nobody
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 11:16 am    Post subject:

Incredible game from start to finish. Okay, minus the quick 11-5 hole they dug in the first three minutes. The defense during the last three quarters was something else. Contesting, rotating, fighting through screens and of course meeting guys at the rim. More of the same, please!
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 12:15 pm    Post subject:

Too bad that wasn’t a home game. The fans would of gone nuts with all the highlight plays, dunks, 3 pointers by Dwight & Kuze, defensive plays by AD, AC, Kuzma, not to mention some highlight passes. A fun game for sure.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 4:13 pm    Post subject:

wolfpaclaker wrote:
Team stats

Points +25
Lakers 121
Jazz 96

Field Goals shooting +13
Lakers 46-90
Jazz 34-83

3 point shooting
Lakers 14-29
Jazz 14-31

Points in the paint +18
Lakers 52
Jazz 34

Fastbreak points +27
Lakers 32
Jazz 5

Rebounds +6
Lakers 46
Jazz 40

Assists +7
Lakers 27
Jazz 20


DOMINATING performance!
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:21 pm    Post subject:

TooMuchMajicBuss wrote:
71 win pace right now.

Yes - wow.


This was supposed to be a horrible stretch for the season. It's turning into the best stretch yet so far. That defense ftw.


DB thanks again for your excellent T&R's, this has GOTTA be more fun than it's been for years! Since the days of a certain detective and his Yenko Nova searching for lost little Larry O'Brien.


Very enjoyable.

It’s just nice having smart basketball.
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:28 pm    Post subject:

wolfpaclaker wrote:
Also small note on Kuzma. As much as he looks awkward and inconsistent (and flat out a poor fit) at times on offense. His defense these last 2 games has been note worthy. I have seen him contest more and be far more active with his feet than he ever did in his first two years in the league.


Finally some scrappiness to his defensive game. Really hope it’s not a temporary thing. He’s not as bad as he’s portrayed as, but he really needs to be making things happen a bit more than he has. He only had 2 steals all season coming into this one and doubled that up in one game (only 5 blocks, too).
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 05, 2019 10:30 pm    Post subject:

Also a heads up, I won’t be able to watch/cover Friday’s game.
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wolfpaclaker
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 3:51 pm    Post subject:

DB. I'll try to send you a PM with a TnR style recap.
Edit - Done.
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