Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:34 pm Post subject: THUNDER -at- LAKERS - 1-15-24 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings
Bounce Back Win... The Thunder are very much no longer looking like the future, but also the present. The Lakers would have to bring their A game to beat them.
A couple of runs early as they went back and forth. The Lakers ran off a 10-0 run late in the first quarter to go up 8. Then, the Thunder finished the quarter on a 7-0 run to reel them in.
It was an up-tempo first two quarters, but both teams were tied 50-50 at the break.
The Lakers turned defense into offense late in the third to get some transition points. AD had a couple of big dunks on a 10-2 run and the Lakers led by 8 heading into the fourth.
After going into a zone and giving up a couple wide open threes, the Lakers locked down their defense in the fourth and kept the Thunder from recovering. A strong defensive game, turning defense into offense allowed L.A. to take the 112-105 win.
LeBron -- -- Some really nice cuts by Bron in this game. He had a couple off AD for scores at the rim. Both Reaves and Russell hit him cutting backdoor on his man for layups, as well. Part of having the Reaves/Russell duo out there more is quick reads. Despite the injury a couple games back, his first step looked really strong in this game. A number of times, he exploded past defenders to get to the rim. A couple sloppy plays, one where he traveled not making a post entry pass. Another, he didn’t roll hard when Russell was expecting it and the pass went the Thunder. Russell also hit him with a pass that was intended for a man in the corner and ended up a turnover. He did hold onto a deflected pass well for a score, but he and Russell combined for 10 turnovers. A little too sloppy. Big drive and dish late by Bron to setup AD for a key score. The Stats: He scored 25 points on 12-20 shooting (1-2 from three, 0-1 from the line) to go with 7 boards, 6 assists, 5 turnovers and 1 foul in 39 minutes. He was a +2.
Davis -- -- I liked the passing tonight. He had 4 assists in the first half as he drew doubles from the left side. He found Bron and Wood cutting for finishes at the rim and hit Russell for a three. He hit Bron cutting down the lane for an And-1 layup. Scoring-wise multiple dunks in the game, including a big two-handed one over Chet late in the third that he was fired up about. He’d get another in transition shortly later off a Vando steal. On a key play late in the game, he finished what should have been an And-1 dunk off a Bron drive and dish. He did a good job running the floor tonight. Reaves found him trailing the break with a no-looker for another score. Defensively, he battled on the glass after a slow start where he gave up a couple offensive boards not boxing out early. The Stats: He scored 27 points on 9-17 shooting (0-1 from three, 9-10 from the line) to go with 15 boards, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 38 minutes. He was a +8.
Russell -- -- A couple of big steals in the second half. One he picked Chet at midcourt and hit Wood for a dunk. Late in the game, he had a huge steal in transition with a minute and half left up 6 swiping a ball under the hoop. But he was then called for an illegal screen on the other end, one of 5 turnovers he had in the game. Good first half with 12 points on 5-10 shooting, including a couple of threes. One off some great ball movement with multiple Lakers touching it before Prince found him open on a kickout. The other on a kickout from AD out of a post double team. But just 2 points in the second half, getting to the line off a change of speeds. He was a big part of that run in the late third quarter, including a great pocket pass to AD for that massive two-handed jam. Highlight reel play of the game. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 5-12 shooting (2-7 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 5 turnovers and 2 fouls in 36 minutes. He was a +3.
Reaves -- -- “I wanted to put as much skill and shot making around on the floor around our two captains,” Ham said of going back to the AD/Bron/Prince/Reaves/Russell starting unit. He said he’s going to go with that for the foreseeable future. Christie was their backup. Scrappy game from Reaves. There was a sequence with a minute left where Reaves battled for a huge defensive board in a crowd on one end, then did a great job setting a screen that picked off two men for Bron to set up AD for a dunk to go up 8. (Prior to that he also had a nice boxout on Chet on a switch that sealed him off well.) He and Russell both had big defensive plays late. Offensively, he sank an open three on a kickout. He got into the middle of the paint for some runners. He had the crowd going on a drive off a high screen where he held the ball up high, brought it down around the defender and scored a layup. Next time down, he had a great cut and Russell hit him for a layup. Good passing by Reaves and Russell, both with 7 assists, and both making those quick reads to hit Bron backdooring his man, or finding AD on the two-man actions. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 6-10 shooting (1-3 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 7 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers and no fouls in 33 minutes. He was a +7.
Prince -- -- Seemed like he had more assists than he did. He found Russell and Reaves on kickouts for threes. He attacked and dished to AD for FTs. He hit a corner three early, but struggled with his shot. Defensively, he had the primary defensive assignment on SGA. His length forced an airball late in the game and did a generally good job of making him work. Good job by our SFs defensively tonight. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-6 shooting (1-5 from three) to go with 2 boards, 3 assists, 1 block and 2 fouls in 30 minutes. He was a -3.
Hachimura -- -- Great job by our backline bigs of AD/Wood/Rui defensively. They combined for 7 blocks. On one of those, he swatted a shot, pushed it out, gave it up and got it back and slammed. Love when Rui gives us that rim protection. It always seems unexpected but should be more of a regular thing. We saw some of it in the playoffs. Speaking of which, he had that three ball going tonight, as well. They set him up on some set plays and he answered the call with a couple from the wings. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 5-8 shooting (2-3 from three) to go with 3 boards, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 turnover and no fouls in 20 minutes. He was a +6.
Vanderbilt -- -- He got the SGA assignment off the bench. Some disruptive D, including forcing a push-off foul against him for a stop. He also had a pick six for a layup. And another steal and no-look feed to AD for a dunk in that third quarter. He was a key component of that Lakers late run in the third. Early in the fourth he stole a pass, gave it up, got it back and scored an And-1 layup. He needs to maintain this level of energy and production. It changes the game for the Lakers. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-2 shooting (1-1 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 1 assist, 3 steals and no fouls in 18 minutes. He was a +3.
Wood -- -- Off the bench to run with Rui and Bron at our backup C when AD sat. He and AD also shared a short stint together, as well. Good size in those lineups and Wood did a good job with the boards. Offensively, he had a dunk off a bullet feed from Bron down the middle of the lane. He also swished a three on iso and scored cutting off the AD post for a layup. In fourth, he missed a couple of shots around the rim, but got a dunk off a Russell steal at midcourt right after one of those misses and seemed a little fired up about his misses during that timeout. I like the intensity. Out of that timeout, he then blocked a drive (his third block). The Stats: He scored 11 points on 4-7 shooting (1-2 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 7 boards, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 14 minutes. He was a -2.
Christie -- -- I like how we are using him lately. He was the first sub in for Russell to work across Reaves, then he’d play alongside Russell when he’d return. Quiet game, but he gives us floor spacing around Vando and opponents have to honor that, which makes it easier for others. Defensively, he did get dunked on by SGA on a baseline spin move, but since they got the W, that never happened. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-2 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 1 offensive board, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 11 minutes. He was a +5.
Ham -- -- Key Moment: The AD, Rui, Vando, Christie, Russell lineup late in the third quarter did a good job building a lead. With how Rui and AD are shooting from the perimeter that makes it easier to play Vando offensively. But if we can turn defense into offense like they were doing, then the halfcourt offense doesn’t matter as much. That unit built the lead that the Thunder couldn’t dig out of. Although, Ham went to a zone early in the fourth to try to mess with the Lakers momentum.
Key Substitution: Credit Vando for bringing that extra gear defensively tonight. He was very disruptive, especially with that group above, turning defense into offense. When AD sat we had Wood at C. He brings his floor spacing, which helps make Vando’s minutes easier.
Key Stats: No 30-point quarters for the Thunder. The Lakers had 27 points off turnovers and a 21-11 advantage on the break.
Coach’s Challenge: Burned his challenge after 4 minutes on a Prince blocking call. Unsuccessful. Kind of seemed bogus. The Thunder burned theirs on a goaltend call on a Reaves layup. Unsuccessful.
Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 8393 Location: Santa Monica
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:41 pm Post subject:
Thanks DB for always putting up these detailed recaps even through all the disappointing play.
It seems Reaves plays better offensively when he's not the main ball-handler. But the Lakers try him as a point guard, he has to work so hard to get good looks and needs one or two good ball screens to get past his initial defender.
It's maddening how the Lakers will win games like this against OKC and the Clippers but they cannot consistently win games against other teams. _________________ Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 35976 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:55 pm Post subject:
Had to miss most of this one. Encouraging win to show we can beat the #2 seed. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2024 11:21 pm Post subject: Re: THUNDER -at- LAKERS - 1-15-24 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings
Heh, three cheers for the Lakers playing with size vs, the Thunder's small man lineups most of the night... it really made a difference in our defense and rebounding in the paint as well as how good we were disrupting the passing lanes.
DancingBarry wrote:
Key Substitution: Credit Vando for bringing that extra gear defensively tonight. He was very disruptive, especially with that group above, turning defense into offense.
Yeah, huge props to Vandy tonight, who finally looked like his old self before the injury. He was out there getting some grown man steals, and even though it doesn't show in the box score, he did a great job running his man off the 3PT line to force a rotation pass.
Since the game was down to a six point lead with in the last minute with OKC in possession of the ball, the outcome could've gone either way if not for Vandy's defensive contributions in the second half.
As icing on the cake, it always surprises me when he gets in a smart pass with skill and timing... one day I might get used to it.
Also, out of all the players that Laker fans go back and forth over to throw into a trade that is ostensibly supposed to make us better, the one role player that should be high on the keeper list is Rui (when healthy).
He can score inside, outside, rebound, play solid D in the paint for a forward and doesn't cough up the ball in a TO too often. With his 6'8" size, you would have to give up a lot of quality assets to maybe get a decent replacement for his overall game on both sides of the court. We still need a thick, defensive center with some athleticism more than anything else, but I'd hate to lose Hachi in a trade for a guard.
Joined: 13 Sep 2008 Posts: 5742 Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 6:02 am Post subject:
Better effort, the offense looked much more fluid and they were very active on D. But man, they let OKC get three consecutive offensive possessions that resulted in a 3-pointer FOUR different times. I guess the D was out of whack because of all the switching and activity, but those possessions were really deflating.
Hopefully they can build on this and slowly rise in the standings.
Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 6405 Location: Past left field
Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:07 am Post subject:
Thanks DB.
Lot more flow offensively with Reeves and DLo out there with LBJ and AD. Also helped hold OKC to 50 points in the first half so good results defensively.
Now keep Cam on the bench and keep Christie and Wood coming in and we will be fine. _________________ Darvin Ham is an idiot!
So how were we containing the threes differently? They shot a ton of them _________________ “The main goal for the Lakers is to win a championship. All I care about, all we care about, is to raise another banner in the rafters.“
So how were we containing the threes differently? They shot a ton of them
I saw much of the same ... letting them shoot a whole bunch of uncontested ones.
I didn't see a lot of difference other than we were a little bigger at times on some challenges. Killed me when we went to zone in the fourth and gave up two completely wide open threes.
Thanks, DB! _________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
So how were we containing the threes differently? They shot a ton of them
I saw much of the same ... letting them shoot a whole bunch of uncontested ones.
I didn't see a lot of difference other than we were a little bigger at times on some challenges. Killed me when we went to zone in the fourth and gave up two completely wide open threes.
Did Big Game James/BScott hinted that OKC wasn't the best 3pt shooting team, plus their focus was on SGA?
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-- Some really nice cuts by Bron in this game. He had a couple off AD for scores at the rim. Both Reaves and Russell hit him cutting backdoor on his man for layups, as well. Part of having the Reaves/Russell duo out there more is quick reads. Despite the injury a couple games back, his first step looked really strong in this game. A number of times, he exploded past defenders to get to the rim. A couple sloppy plays, one where he traveled not making a post entry pass. Another, he didn’t roll hard when Russell was expecting it and the pass went the Thunder. Russell also hit him with a pass that was intended for a man in the corner and ended up a turnover. He did hold onto a deflected pass well for a score, but he and Russell combined for 10 turnovers. A little too sloppy. Big drive and dish late by Bron to setup AD for a key score. 
-- I liked the passing tonight. He had 4 assists in the first half as he drew doubles from the left side. He found Bron and Wood cutting for finishes at the rim and hit Russell for a three. He hit Bron cutting down the lane for an And-1 layup. Scoring-wise multiple dunks in the game, including a big two-handed one over Chet late in the third that he was fired up about. He’d get another in transition shortly later off a Vando steal. On a key play late in the game, he finished what should have been an And-1 dunk off a Bron drive and dish. He did a good job running the floor tonight. Reaves found him trailing the break with a no-looker for another score. Defensively, he battled on the glass after a slow start where he gave up a couple offensive boards not boxing out early. 
-- A couple of big steals in the second half. One he picked Chet at midcourt and hit Wood for a dunk. Late in the game, he had a huge steal in transition with a minute and half left up 6 swiping a ball under the hoop. But he was then called for an illegal screen on the other end, one of 5 turnovers he had in the game. Good first half with 12 points on 5-10 shooting, including a couple of threes. One off some great ball movement with multiple Lakers touching it before Prince found him open on a kickout. The other on a kickout from AD out of a post double team. But just 2 points in the second half, getting to the line off a change of speeds. He was a big part of that run in the late third quarter, including a great pocket pass to AD for that massive two-handed jam. Highlight reel play of the game. 
-- “I wanted to put as much skill and shot making around on the floor around our two captains,” Ham said of going back to the AD/Bron/Prince/Reaves/Russell starting unit. He said he’s going to go with that for the foreseeable future. Christie was their backup. Scrappy game from Reaves. There was a sequence with a minute left where Reaves battled for a huge defensive board in a crowd on one end, then did a great job setting a screen that picked off two men for Bron to set up AD for a dunk to go up 8. (Prior to that he also had a nice boxout on Chet on a switch that sealed him off well.) He and Russell both had big defensive plays late. Offensively, he sank an open three on a kickout. He got into the middle of the paint for some runners. He had the crowd going on a drive off a high screen where he held the ball up high, brought it down around the defender and scored a layup. Next time down, he had a great cut and Russell hit him for a layup. Good passing by Reaves and Russell, both with 7 assists, and both making those quick reads to hit Bron backdooring his man, or finding AD on the two-man actions. 
-- Seemed like he had more assists than he did. He found Russell and Reaves on kickouts for threes. He attacked and dished to AD for FTs. He hit a corner three early, but struggled with his shot. Defensively, he had the primary defensive assignment on SGA. His length forced an airball late in the game and did a generally good job of making him work. Good job by our SFs defensively tonight. 
-- Great job by our backline bigs of AD/Wood/Rui defensively. They combined for 7 blocks. On one of those, he swatted a shot, pushed it out, gave it up and got it back and slammed. Love when Rui gives us that rim protection. It always seems unexpected but should be more of a regular thing. We saw some of it in the playoffs. Speaking of which, he had that three ball going tonight, as well. They set him up on some set plays and he answered the call with a couple from the wings. 
-- He got the SGA assignment off the bench. Some disruptive D, including forcing a push-off foul against him for a stop. He also had a pick six for a layup. And another steal and no-look feed to AD for a dunk in that third quarter. He was a key component of that Lakers late run in the third. Early in the fourth he stole a pass, gave it up, got it back and scored an And-1 layup. He needs to maintain this level of energy and production. It changes the game for the Lakers. 
-- Off the bench to run with Rui and Bron at our backup C when AD sat. He and AD also shared a short stint together, as well. Good size in those lineups and Wood did a good job with the boards. Offensively, he had a dunk off a bullet feed from Bron down the middle of the lane. He also swished a three on iso and scored cutting off the AD post for a layup. In fourth, he missed a couple of shots around the rim, but got a dunk off a Russell steal at midcourt right after one of those misses and seemed a little fired up about his misses during that timeout. I like the intensity. Out of that timeout, he then blocked a drive (his third block). 
-- I like how we are using him lately. He was the first sub in for Russell to work across Reaves, then he’d play alongside Russell when he’d return. Quiet game, but he gives us floor spacing around Vando and opponents have to honor that, which makes it easier for others. Defensively, he did get dunked on by SGA on a baseline spin move, but since they got the W, that never happened. 
-- Key Moment: The AD, Rui, Vando, Christie, Russell lineup late in the third quarter did a good job building a lead. With how Rui and AD are shooting from the perimeter that makes it easier to play Vando offensively. But if we can turn defense into offense like they were doing, then the halfcourt offense doesn’t matter as much. That unit built the lead that the Thunder couldn’t dig out of. Although, Ham went to a zone early in the fourth to try to mess with the Lakers momentum.
