PACERS -vs- LAKERS - 8/8 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

 
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:33 pm    Post subject: PACERS -vs- LAKERS - 8/8 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

Not There Yet... It’s hard to get locked in when you’ve got things locked up...especially when there’s no crowd to play to.

“I think we took steps in the right direction as far as offensively,” Anthony Davis said. He took a step back with just 8 points, but the rest of the team started to show a pulse.

The team basically struggled anytime LeBron sat and AD was out there. LeBron was a +13, AD a -20.

“It is on me. I have to be better,” AD said.

Some good performance by the bench guards as well as Dwight, but down the stretch the Lakers simply couldn’t knock down shots or get stops with under a minute left. Granted the refs missed a big call, but the team didn’t close strong, either, falling 116-111.


LeBron -- -- When he sat in the first and second half, the Lakers floundered. AD struggled to pick up the baton. LeBron just needed his partner to deliver a reasonable game instead of a weak 8-point outing. We need both guys ready for the postseason. LeBron flexed that playoff muscle in the first half of this one. He went after the rim, getting downhill and finishing layup after layup. When he’s got that rim attack activated, we’re at our best. When he has room to spin to his strong hand and finish in transition, it’s usually money. He had 17 points on 8-10 shooting in the first half. In the second half, he might have settled a little bit too much for the fade, but he still came up with some big scores down the stretch. Unfortunately, the guys he was passing to in the close could not hit anything. AD was stone cold. Cook, who was smoking, couldn’t deliver on some key looks. “I feel like my legs are just starting to get underneath me,” LeBron said. I want to see a double-digit assist game again. The Stats: He scored 31 points on 13-24 shooting (2-6 from three, 3-6 from the line) to go with 8 boards, 7 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 35 minutes. He was a +13.

Davis -- -- Awful game. He was a team-low -20. Just 6 points in the first half. Not good shot selection with some long jumpers on iso. He also got backdoored for a score (it would happen later again) and picked from behind for a turnover. Also he threw another bad post entry pass. Certainly, the McGee lineup pushes him out on the perimeter. In the second half, he would add only 2 more points. We got outscored with that McGee lineup as AD was relegated to long, missed jumpers. But even when McGee is out, AD couldn’t captain the second units. He still got pushed out of the post and ended up with the ball 20 feet from the hoop. We didn’t really run much two-man action to get him going to the hoop. Down the stretch he had wide open threes and couldn’t knock down those key shots. He did have a tip in (see what happens when you get near the hoop to fight). “We got to get Kuz involved and AD involved,” Vogel said of the second unit struggles. Warren iced the game with a three over AD with 10 seconds left. He had several scores over AD to close this. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-14 shooting (0-4 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 8 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers and 1 foul in 35 minutes. He was a -20.

Caruso -- -- With Green out, we moved AC into the starting lineup. He hit the floor at least four times in the first half. We miss that intensity from Bradley in the starting lineup. AC was battling. I like seeing him set screens for LeBron. They had a nice one in early offense that Caruso scored an easy layup when LeBron hit him with the pocket pass. They nearly worked the same sequence with AC as the passer next time down. AC sank a three in this one and had that layup for his only scores. Some good playmaking, including finding Dwight on a drive and dish after getting penetration. Several steals. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-8 shooting (1-4 from three) to go with 1 board, 5 assist, 3 steals, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 27 minutes. He was a -11.

McGee -- -- Oof. I’m just waiting for him to be subbed out right now. AD gets pushed out to the perimeter, the lane gets clogged. Defensively, his closeouts are slow on the perimeter and teams are getting comfortable shooting over him. It’s still not working. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-4 shooting (1-1 from the line) to go with 4 boards (2 offensive), 2 steals and 1 turnover in 13 minutes. He was a -5.

Caldwell-Pope -- -- His ankle was stepped on as went he down under the hoop after getting blocked. He went down in pain but after a timeout was back on the floor. Glad it wasn’t serious. He’s toughing out these knocks he’s been taking in the Bubble, but it’s scary anytime he goes down. The Lakers went 7-18 from three in the first half of this game. KCP drilled a confident looking corner three in transition. I like when he quickly gets locked and loaded and fires on threes. It just seems like he’s in a good flow when you see that. He’d sink a couple of threes and have a nice lefty finish high over a big after cutting off ball to take a pass. It felt like his shot had been getting on track in the last one. Hopefully, he can string together some good shooting games now. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-7 shooting (2-4 from three) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 32 minutes. He was a -19.

Kuzma -- -- Some excellent defensive reads to swipe passes and help get the team into transition in the first half (he’d finish with 3 steals and 1 block in this game). The shot wasn’t dropping for him today. The little floaters and chippies in addition to the threes all weren’t quite there. Some good work on the offensive glass, including a nice tip-in off a cut from the corner. Too bad he couldn’t get a couple of those chippies to drop. The Stats: He scored 11 points on 3-14 shooting (1-5 from three, 4-5 from the line) to go with 5 boards (3 offensive), 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 25 minutes. He was a -10. The Action: Miss long pull-up. Miss long three. Bad inbounds after timeout, turnover. Blocked shot. Attack spin miss. Swiped pass. Read the double and swiped pass. Hit in face on baseline drive for FTs. Tip in missed jumper. Knock pass away to ignite break. Buried corner three in trans. Miss runner andputback. Miss jumphook. Drew FTs in trans. Miss corner three. Made tech. Layup in trans.

Howard -- -- There he is. Double-double Dwight. That’s the kind of Dwight that we saw in the regular season, making that level of impact with consistency. He had a series of battles on one trip down the floor that regained multiple possessions and frustrated the Pacers into a tech. Eventually, he capped off that possession with a dunk after getting another offensive boards. Things got a little chippy briefly. We need someone stirring up that intensity right now to light a fire under the team. I want us going into the playoffs with that intensity and swagger. We’ve lost that. When our second units are struggling, I don’t mind dumping it down low to Dwight to get a post up or two in. He had a nice one today. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 3-5 shooting (4-5 from the line) to go with 12 boards (3 offensive), 1 steal, 1 block and 3 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a +13.

Cook -- -- We finally saw that three shooting as he drained a few in a row during a stretch in the first half. Much needed. I don’t know if just seeing the ball go through the rim helps the team as a whole, but the three shooting certainly looked much better by the team. Cook also had some layups in transition and on the give and go with AD. He had 13 points on 5-8 shooting in the first half. Again, issues with the post entry passes. Seems like he’s consistently having a turnover in that department every game. Love that they basically left him in for one play to start the fourth, set up the three, then subbed him out for Dwight. They brought him back later in the fourth to help space the floor and set some screens for LeBron. Unfortunately, he couldn’t knock down some of those late in the game. The Stats: He scored 21 points on 8-14 shooting (5-9 from three) to go with 1 board, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 24 minutes. He was a -9.

Dudley -- -- A team-high +15. He only scored a hoop, but it was off an offensive board. He’ll get you extra possessions whether it’s smart plays on D or something like where it’s a good hustle/effort play. Or he’ll turn a good shot into a better one with an extra pass. That second unit with AD needs that ball movement, maybe run him a little more with AD out there so we get into a better habit of not just dumping the ball and standing around. He couldn’t knock down a three in this one, unfortunately. Some good rotations on D, as always, that put him in the right place at the right time to be disruptive. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-4 shooting (0-3 from three) to go with 2 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 13 minutes. He was a +15.

Horton-Tucker -- -- He got more run in this game as we sat Waiters, Smith and Green. These are valuable minutes for multiple reasons. Obviously, just getting the reps and run is good for him. But the team also needs to invest time in him as you can see with KCP having a couple sketchy looking moments flirting with injuries. We need to build some chemistry with our bench guards after losing a Bradley and Rondo. What was great about this one was he did exactly the same type of thing offensively as the last one. He hit some looks from three and also got to the rim to finish off the dribble. Consistency is not what you expect from your rookies, so stringing back to back 10-point outings in limited minutes is great. Defensively, some confusion with LeBron on how they wanted to cover a pick and roll. The two were talking at the end of the first quarter. The coaches are talking with him, as well, about that end of the floor. Great to see him staying aggressive and being effective. He’s making a case. These are typically my favorite minutes right now since we're aren't playing for anything. Keep it up! The Stats: He scored 10 points on 4-7 shooting (2-4 from three) to go with 1 board, 1 block, 1 turnover and no fouls in 16 minutes. He was a +8.

Vogel -- -- Key Moment: Vogel was ticked when AD got pushed to the ground with no call allowing Warren to score with 50 seconds left and take a 3 point lead. That’s a different game down the stretch if you call the obvious offensive foul. Now, down 1, you’ve got the chance to take the lead. They missed an obvious one there.

Key Substitution: The Lakers were down 7 heading into the fourth. We went on a run behind Dwight, Dudley, LeBron, Kuzma and THT and took a 4-point lead. With 7 minutes left, we subbed out LeBron, Dudley and THT for AD, Caruso and Cook. One minute later, we trailed by 3 and Vogel called a timeout. You could put this under the key moment above, as well. In those non-LeBron minutes, we were just getting torched. AD was completely MIA trying to lead the second units. We really need the guards to step up and organize the offense better.

Key Stat: The defense had been reasonable so far. Today, they gave up 52% shooting, including 15 threes. Some signs of life from this team, but it’s not from everyone.
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Laker7
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:50 pm    Post subject:

First!

Thanks DB!

A.D. and Kuzma could not buy a bucket. And the Lakers were still in it at the end. They’ve got to start producing. As the announcers kept saying teams are going to double team A.D. once the playoffs start. He’s got a recognize the double team and get the ball to the open man. The open man has got to hit the shot. It’s a simple as that.
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Aeneas Hunter
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:00 pm    Post subject:

I know this was a glorified exhibition game, but we sure don't look like a team that's about to explode in the playoffs. We're going to need to grind out the wins with defense, I guess.
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LakerSD
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:16 pm    Post subject:

Aeneas Hunter wrote:
I know this was a glorified exhibition game, but we sure don't look like a team that's about to explode in the playoffs. We're going to need to grind out the wins with defense, I guess.


Feel like they are what they have been all season, a grind it out team. Basically, they will not blow any team out except for when they are 40%+ hot from 3.
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calistrtballr
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 08, 2020 9:17 pm    Post subject:

Maybe its time to start dwight? Kuz? McGee is giving us nothing
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 7:56 am    Post subject:

calistrtballr wrote:
Maybe its time to start dwight? Kuz? McGee is giving us nothing


I don’t know if it is the Vegan food or what in the bubble, but JaVale’s minutes are killing the team. It’s not all him because other breakdowns are causing problems.

However, it’s challenging to play him in quite a few matchups. Vogel is going to have to have a quick hook in the playoffs and tbh there will be some games or series where JaVale probably shouldn’t start or play at all. Just is what it is.
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 09, 2020 8:40 pm    Post subject: Re: PACERS -vs- LAKERS - 8/8 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

DancingBarry wrote:
McGee -- -- Oof.

Thanks DB! Oof, indeed! That is a good one word descriptor of that whole game. Not worried about the loss, but our lack of chemistry. Hope these next two games show some improvement in that regard. For instance, AD doesn't want to play center and doesn't defend that position well, yet he hasn't played very well when he plays with another center.

OOF!
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