TWOLVES -at- LAKERS – 12-8-19 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

 
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 11:23 pm    Post subject: TWOLVES -at- LAKERS – 12-8-19 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

wolfpaclaker wrote:
Lakers vs Wolves

Battle of two elite bigmen, although LA's big guy is also an elite defensive player. Towns has improved so much since entering the league that he now takes half of his shots from outside. Wolves are a playoff caliber team this year so this will not be a cake walk. Wolves are 7-2 on the road coming into Staples. The Lakers did not play their best defensive game, but their offense was high octane, and they dropped 142 points. In regulation.

Quarter 1
Started off going to AD. He delivered. A lot of paint points early. 16 of 17 points came through inside points, all layups or dunks from AD, Lebron and McGee. Defensively though a little bit coasting mentality. Didn't lock in. Caruso came in and played very well, important with Rondo out. AD just dominated. Defensively we continued to coast the entire the quarter not much defensive intensity.

Lineups
McGee/AD/Lebron/Green/KCP
McGee/AD/Lebron/KCP/Caruso
McGee/AD/Lebron/Caruso/Cook
AD/Kuzma/KCP/Caruso/Cook
AD/Kuzma/Daniels/Caruso/Cook

Lakers win Q1 39-31

Q2
Lebron carried the second unit well, but then picked up his 3rd foul. Lakers never got going after that, but ironically it was their defense that struggled more without Lebron than offense. Were able to keep scoring. Needed that tone setting guard defense, and were not getting it. Lebron came back in, looked like we would get control, picked up his 4th. Then Lakers upped their game, with some defense, finally. Finished the half and Q strong. 11-0 run. Yes.

Lakers tie quarter#2 34-34

Lineups
Dwight/Lebron/Kuzma/Daniels/Caruso
Dwight/Kuzma/KCP/Daniels/Caruso
Dwight/AD/Kuzma/Green/Cook
Dwight/AD/Kuzma/Green/Caruso
AD/Lebron/Green/KCP/Caruso
Dwight/AD/Green/KCP/Caruso

Quarter 3

Lakers have Lebron with 4 fouls. Go with the pattern and slow down their pace a bit and go with more AD/Lebron usage offense. And like the Portland game seems the superstars peaked at the right time. Lebron and AD led the Lakers to a 16 point lead at one point. However with Rondo out, Lebron when he sits Lakers have no QB to run the offense and we saw the lead be cut going into the 4th.

Wolves won Q3 38-37.

Lineups
McGee/AD/Lebron/Green/KCP
McGee/AD/Lebron/KCP/Caruso
AD/Kuzma/Lebron/KCP/Caruso
AD/Kuzma/KCP/Caruso/Cook
AD/Kuzma/Daniels/Caruso/Cook

4th Q
Lakers came out with AD and Lebron, and wanted to establish a significant lead back. They accomplished that within 4 minutes of the Q. AD gets 50. What a marvel.

Lineups
Dwight/AD/Lebron/Kuzma/Caruso
Dwight/Lebron/Kuzma/Green/Caruso
Dwight/AD/Kuzma/Green/Caruso
Dwight/AD/Lebron/Kuzma/Green
(Garbage time lineups)

Lakers win Q4 32-22

Davis - Lob attempt right at the first play of the game, didn't make it but showed intention. He's our #1 option. Great coast to coast drive and then a layup which he was fouled on so the AND1. Then 1 on 1 in the post on KAT, easy score. Love that he got deep post position made a spin (footwork not ballhandling) and a shot right under the basket (no fade). That's a dominant post player play. Ran post to post to beat KAT and get a dunk inside. Again ran the floor, Lebron kept finding him again and again. Just dominant 1st Q by Davis. Great second effort play on a rebound. Some continued "I am the franchise go to player" play by AD in this one. Start of the 2nd, a post up finish. Another score on a pick and roll from the wing with Lebron. Throughout the game AD was unstoppable. We kept feeding him. People complained and ragged on the Lakers offense when we were force feeding AD. Well, it has it's upsides. AD needs to develop the post game he has shown this past week, and take it into the playoffs. That's how we will win a championship. No one can stop a big man that can handle the ball and shoot from outside, but then also dominate in the low block. Paired with LBJ, that is. AD finished the game with 50 points 7 boards 6 assists 4 steals and was a + 24

Lebron - Bully ball play to get his first score of the game. Made a reverse layup with on the drive. A step back 3 over KAT. Took a break, came back in, hit a 3 right away. Monster dunk off a wing drive. Picked up 3 fouls and had to go out with 9 minutes left. Came back in with a few min left in the 2nd. Right away wing screen/roll with AD and led to an AD dunk. Same play, this time led to a Danny Green wing spot up 3. Had the a 3 ball going in this one. Hit some long 3 balls. Despite the foul trouble finished with a very strong night. Was not too happy with his or many of our players defense tonight, though. Lebron finished with 32 points 13 assists 6-8 from 3 pointers and was a +24.

KCP - Is getting good at running that give and go with Dwight, leading usually to a lob attempt for Dwight or a layup for KCP. Avery Bradley is good at running this play as well. In the 3rd, hits a wing 3 on a push the ball play. Love the 5 assists stat. Two games in a row. KCP finished the game with 9 points 5 assists and was a +13.

McGee - 2 dunks in the first Q. Nice finish in the 3rd using his off hand. McGee finished with 6 points 5 boards and was a +13.

Green - Missed a corner 3. Slow start. Hit a wing 3. Then a leaning 3 at the top of the arc. Another corner 3. Good shooting game was due.Green finished with 12 points 8 boards 2 steals 4-6 3 pointers and was a +27.

Caruso - First guard off the bench. Hit his first wing spot up 3. Then off an AD wing pick and roll play, drove for a reserse layup. Another spot up midrange J off a AD high screen/roll. Good dish to AD on a fastbreak. Had some blood on his leg, but like the tough SOB he was, it felt Good PG play pushing the pace and ball to get AD a basket on a post sprint. Hit a corner 3 of some great ball movement.
Caruso finished the game with 16 points 4 assists 2-3 from 3 pointers and was a +7.

Cook Filling in for injured Rondo. Missed the corner 3. Vogel clearly has lost faith in Cook, right now he is even willing to try Kuzma at the 2 (Or Lebron defending 2s) with Caruso at 1, over Cook. Cook finished the game with 2 points and was -13.

Kuzma Bad pass to Dwight when open, telegraphed. Didn't look like he could get involved in the offense even though several minutes had passed. Good pull up mid-range J off a Dwight screen. Good dive to get a dunk.
Kuzma finished the game with 7 points 1-3 from 3, and was a +7.

Dwight - Big dunk to show he arrived in the game. Nice put back. Good screen setting in this game. They should give him assists on those screens, some of them give his ballhandler so much room to shoot. Bad foul on Covington for 3 FTs. Some good contests by Dwight against smalls in isolations in this game. Dwight finished with 8 points 6 boards and was a +8.

Daniels - Pull up 3 off the dribble not a fan of those. Daniels finished with 0 points and was a -6.

Coaching: Vogel

Offense - Lakers are having success more with the wing pick and roll with AD but not so much with the high pick and roll with Lebron/AD. Interesting to see if Frank is noticing this. I was looking at some advanced stats and noticed our PPP for pick and rolls with LBJ as a ballhandler are good but not great. Perhaps Frank can start to scheme some more wing pick and rolls. I remember Pau and Kobe even, had their best pick and rolls on the wing, and Phil would often go to it late in games. Was monitoring the different positions our bigs are setting screens. Dwight is very effective up high. AD is far more effective at the wing setting screens.

Defense/Lineups - With Rondo out, he had to make some changes, especially with Bradley out as well. Cook didn't too well in his first run, so he leaned more on Caruso who was playing well. But when LBJ picked up his 3rd foul, he allowed a 2nd unit with no Rondo, no AD, no Lebron out there. Not the best idea. Kuzma wasn't going either, so you sort of see that struggle coming. Good timeout going down 51-52. Took a big risk bringing Lebron back in with 3 min left in the 2nd. Backfired. Not in love with the Cook/Caruso/Daniels 1-2-3 lineups. However it's not like he is running those when he has a healthy rotation. With the game close he runs Dwight/AD/Lebron/Kuzma/Caruso lineup to start the 4th. Kuzma at the 2. Interesting. Nice recognition by Vogel to see that Cook and Daniels were non-impact. Leaned on Caruso and Green/KCP more, even tried Kuzma at 2. Like that adjusting to win a game.

Team Stats
Points: 142 (+17 Lakers)
FGs: 55-94 (+11 Lakers)
3PT: 14-31 (-1)
Points in the paint: 70 (+18 Lakers)
Fast breaks: 32 (+7 Lakers)
Rebounds: 41 (+8 Lakers)
Assists: 32
A/TO: 3.2
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 11:24 pm    Post subject:

First. Wolf rocks

Just got home. Going to try to watch the game now. Thanks, wolf!!
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DrDent
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 11:36 pm    Post subject:

DancingBarry wrote:
First. Wolf rocks

Just got home. Going to try to watch the game now. Thanks, wolf!!


Bah

This is the real first!


Great job both of you.
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Startrout
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 08, 2019 11:52 pm    Post subject:

This is the most fun I’ve had watching Lakers games in along time. I’m still not totally convinced we can keep it up, but I’m starting to lean that way.

I’m starting to wonder if we should bring Norvell in to see if he can be more productive than Cook or Daniels. I believe he’s a better defender and he can attack the rim.
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 12:39 am    Post subject:

Thanks wolf and db!!
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:35 am    Post subject:

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danzag
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 3:00 am    Post subject:

WINNING IS GOOD

Thanks Wolf and DB
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 3:50 am    Post subject:

Thanks wolf and DB!!!
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wolfpaclaker
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 5:52 am    Post subject:

Wanted to make two key notes about the offense, the Lakers are getting really good at running wing screen/rolls with AD. They don't use the high screen as effectively, although with Dwight they do a better job at the high screen/roll. They are doing an excellent job of also doing some post sprinting and then quick outlets to the post sprinter. AD is feasting off those. I think with AD's speed it makes a lot of sense to use him as a post sprinter. His post skills combined with his elite speed size and athleticism, it is great we get that offense for him. The other thing is in the last few games we are seeing AD on another level due to his post game. He is using his footwork to get to the basket. We're seeing him catch the ball deeper as well.

Three main areas we need to monitor all season for playoff execution.

1) If we can keep getting those post sprints and points/shots for AD.
2) If we can keep running screens/rolls at the wing with AD, at an elite level.
3) If AD keeps fighting for deep position (not mid-range post ups or Isos) and then using his footwork off the catch, instead of ballhandling and trying to fade.

If those 3 things keep developing the way they are, the Lakers will have the #1 offense in the NBA by playoffs.

Lakers are 4th in offense rating at the moment. I still think we can get better on this end.
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NMLaker
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 6:12 am    Post subject:

Wow is Cook terrible. A ball hog shouldn’t be the primary ball handler. Nor does he play defense.
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wolfpaclaker
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 6:12 am    Post subject:

NMLaker wrote:
Wow is Cook terrible. A ball hog shouldn’t be the primary ball handler. Nor does he play defense.

Tough game for him, he had a defensive rating of 170 in this one. Glad Caruso had the game he did, we needed it with Rondo and Bradley out.
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:04 am    Post subject:

THT-scintillating two dribble drive possessions (even though he didn't score).

I just remember Crittenton having that "ooh" moment too when he first played. Now he's in jail. But I digress.
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numero-ocho
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:21 am    Post subject:

The one thought I had the entire game was that AD is so much better than KAT.
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Dr. Laker
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:30 am    Post subject:

Missed the game, so "Thanks Wolf!"
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:53 am    Post subject:

What about Tucker and his amazing 2 minutes?!
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 9:17 am    Post subject:

numero-ocho wrote:
The one thought I had the entire game was that AD is so much better than KAT.


Man has KAT ever become too dependent on the 3. AD put him in the blender.

He’s always been soft on defense, but AD really dominated.
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 10:17 am    Post subject:

AD took KAT to school last night
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:18 am    Post subject:

scottpot29 wrote:
What about Tucker and his amazing 2 minutes?!
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TooMuchMajicBuss
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 1:38 pm    Post subject:

I missed the game yesterday - Wolf thanks a bunch for the recap!

This is the first time since Phil Jackson I've felt like we have a coach we can trust in an NBA Championship series. I appreciate your comments on his coaching and what likely has influenced his player decisions in particular.
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:50 pm    Post subject:

AD made 50 look effortless. No made 3's. I wonder has anyone done that recently?
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 3:36 pm    Post subject:

Klone_dd wrote:
AD made 50 look effortless. No made 3's. I wonder has anyone done that recently?


I thought for sure he made some, guess they were just long twos
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