Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2024 10:39 pm Post subject: BULLS -at- LAKERS - 1-25-24 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings
Letting It Fly... This game was about Vando in the second quarter and Russell in the third. Superb individual efforts by both with a lot of great Laker passing in the mix.
Both teams played even in the first quarter. Then Jared Vanderbilt put together one of his best two-way quarters as a Laker. His defensive energy in the second quarter helped get multiple stops, while on offense he was finishing around the rim, making all six attempts in the half.
The Lakers pulled out to a 20+ point lead in the third quarter behind Russell’s electric perimeter shooting, bombing threes from all parts of the quarter. It looked like the Lakers were on their way to an easy blowout win.
The Bulls picked up the pressure defensively in the fourth. The Lakers strung together three straight turnovers, and the Bulls picked up a fourth possession in a row after a challenge. That string of empty possession helped the Bulls find some momentum and trim the lead in half.
They’d chip away at the lead, but didn’t have time on their side. The Lakers won the high scoring game, 141-132. The Lakers made 20-31 threes, and Russell had 8 of those.
“He’s been letting it fly and in a really good rhythm,” LeBron said.
LeBron -- -- He led some of the Lakers best ball movement of the season with 12 assists (team had 35). He hit AD with a lob early on. He kicked to Vando for a three, hit him diving for a dunk and then set Vando up on a pocket pass for an And-1. He found three shooters in the second half, finding Russl across court as well as Prince as Bron was falling out of bounds for corner threes. Late in the game, he’d pass up on a corner three to find Vando alone under the hoop for a dunk. Scoring-wise, the Bulls tried to play him small with AC and White covering him at times. Bron used his size to bully his way for scores. He was a little frustrated with on getting a couple trips to the line and picked up a tech after one no call. The Stats: He scored 25 points on 10-19 shooting (3-4 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 12 assists, 2 steals, 5 turnovers and 2 fouls in 35 minutes. He was a +15.
Davis -- -- Well, they at least went to him in the fourth quarter a bit more in this one. Pretty low-key game from AD. He had some nice finishes, including a lob dunk from Bron, another dunk trailing the break and big putback dunk from behind a smaller player to clean up a Bron miss in transition. The midrange jumper was also dropping. He moved the ball well, also. Defensively, he seemed kind of in cruise control, not challenging as well and disruptively as he typically does. That seemed to impact the Laker overall D. The Stats: He scored 22 points on 10-18 shooting (0-1 from three, 2-5 from the line) to go with 11 boards (5 offensive), 6 assists, 1 block and 1 foul in 36 minutes. He was a +13.
Russell -- -- “He’s hungry, man. He’s playing at a high level,” Ham said. Russell just went off in the third quarter. Three after three. Some good Laker ball movement to find him for catch and shoot attempts, but once he got going, he was just burying right over defenders. He had one from the logo area. He hit another wing three going to his right and off one foot. He could have easily passed the 30 mark, but was unselfish on the break to hit AD trailing for a dunk. He also made an extra swing pass on one sequence where all the Lakers touched it before a score. Hopefully, he can bring the gunslinging on the road. The Stats: He scored 29 points on 10-18 shooting (8-13 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 37 minutes. He was a +8.
Reaves -- -- The leading scorer at the half with 16 points and 5 assists. He’d end up as one of four Lakers to score 20 or more in this game. He sank a couple of threes and did a great job getting to the lane and finishing around defenders. He even muscled in an And-1 bullying his man baseline and powering up. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that from him. Late in the game, some good work setting the table for Bron on the two-man action, both pick and roll/pop. His best pass was probably a long bounce pass to AD, threading it through defenders on the two-man action early in the game. He and Bron combined for 20 assists tonight. When things were going bad, he piled on by fouling a three shooter for a 4-point play. Super efficient night. The Stats: He scored 20 points on 7-9 shooting (2-3 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 8 assists, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 33 minutes. He was a +14.
Prince -- -- The Laker passing tonight was highlighted the most on one sequence where the ball was kicked out from the paint and then quickly went around the perimeter on three straight passes before connecting with Prince in the corner for a three. He’d make three threes in the second half, and come up with big buckets in the fourth quarter, including a pull up at the FT line to help the Lakers keep the Bulls at arm’s length. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 5-8 shooting (4-7 from three) to go with 4 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 fouls in 29 minutes. He was a -1.
Hachimura -- -- Quiet night for Rui. AC/Rui matched up against each other briefly for a stretch. Then White was defending him. It took a while before he got his first post up attempt. He had 10 points on 3-3 shooting in the first half. He and Vando were a combined 9-9 for 23 points, including three threes in the half. In the second half, the Bulls ran some twin towers to try to get more size out of there. No scoring for Rui in the half. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 3-3 shooting (2-2 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 19 minutes. He was a +4.
Vanderbilt -- -- He was a one-man wrecking ball in the second quarter. One of his best shifts as a Laker. He had 13 points on 6-6 shooting, including a three. Great job finishing around the rim. Bron found him for a dunk in the middle of the lane and hit him with a pocket pass for another And-1, and then a corner three, as well. He turned defensive into offense with a pick six. He blocked a drive from behind, hit the floor for a loose ball to get a shotclock violation, and forced a turnover at midcourt with pressure. In the second half, he attacked from the corner for an off-hand jumphook. He’d get a new Laker high late in the game finishing a big dunk off a feed from Bron (should have been an And-1 as he got hit upside the head). It seems like he’s found his wind. His energy has been there for multiple games now. He did a great job taking advantage of mixing up how to attack teams that want to leave him. The Stats: He scored 17 points on 8-11 shooting (1-1 from three, 0-1 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 3 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 26 minutes. He was a +1.
Wood -- -- Quiet night. He’d draw a couple FTs in transition for his only points. He had a nice block on Drummond defending the post at the front of the rim. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 0-1 shooting (2-2 from the line) to go with 1 block and 3 fouls in 12 minutes. He was a -4.
Christie -- -- One of the first subs off the bench. He’d earn a couple FTs with a strong attack off the three line. Quiet otherwise. No Reddish tonight with the ankle twist. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 2-2 from the line, including 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 turnover in 9 minutes. He was a -1.
Ham -- -- Key Moment: Russell going off in the third quarter, bombing threes. Glad we didn’t pull him and cool him off. The game could have been a little easier if they dialed it in more defensively. The Lakers certainly shot themselves in the foot in the stretch of home games. They’ve got a poor record on the road. It’s time to see what this team can do.
Key Substitution: Once again Vando made a strong impact. I’m sure part of it having his wind and health, but I do think the Lakers have done a good job mixing up how he is being used in offense. Some on-the-ball screen setting/rolling, some duck-ins and dives as team try to zone up, some stretching out to the corner for a three or attacking off the three line. When we aren’t as predictable with how we use him, it’s difficult for teams to leave him to help elsewhere.
Key Stats: The Lakers made 11-17 from three in the first half. They’d finish 20-31 (64%). Between the second and third quarter, the Lakers scored 81 points.
Thanks DB! Was very concerned about the defense today. Even when Russell was going off, it felt the lead barely expanded because they were giving up 2 on the other end. I wouldn't be surprised if the number of non-scoring possessions for the Bulls in the entire second half was in the single digits. 75 points given up in the second half
Maybe you're right about AD being on cruise control on defense. I felt like he barely had any impact at all which is very out of character.
Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 6467 Location: Past left field
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:54 am Post subject:
Thanks DB. Halfway through the season and the Lakers still have not learned to defend at a high rate. Lakers shot 64% from three and only won by 9. SMH _________________ Darvin Ham is an idiot!
Thanks DB. Halfway through the season and the Lakers still have not learned to defend at a high rate. Lakers shot 64% from three and only won by 9. SMH
What did we wrong in the 4th? Shoulda call TO? Wrong players combo? _________________ “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.“
Joined: 17 Jun 2003 Posts: 6320 Location: Central Coast
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:51 am Post subject:
Looked like we got out rebounded by the Bulls, that might have contributed to the close game in the 4th. _________________ LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!
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".
Let me say it again, I think DLo really likes it in LA (and doing what he can to stay there.) This recent version of DLo I welcome with open arms (his last 7 games 27.4/2.3/6.6/.538 FG%/.531 3P%). These numbers are elite. _________________ "A metronome keeps time by using a Ringo"
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 145050 Location: The Gold Coast
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:28 pm Post subject:
tox wrote:
DLO is not gonna keep shooting 53% from 3. But aggressive DLO is what we need.
Yes, great to see him realize that he doesn’t need to subjugate himself to AD and Lebron, they can be a 3-headed attack. _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023.
Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 310 Location: Los Angeles
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 3:47 pm Post subject:
i can't get over the lakers giving up 75 points in the 2nd half, at home. they won, but still...
we're going to south bay lakers tonight, i expect a bit more fundamentals out of the g-league squad _________________ Final moments 2010 NBA Finals Game 7:
"I don't know if we'd won this game without these fans. Thank you!" - Phil Jackson after Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, 6/17/10
i can't get over the lakers giving up 75 points in the 2nd half, at home. they won, but still...
we're going to south bay lakers tonight, i expect a bit more fundamentals out of the g-league squad
Yo, write how JHS look _________________ “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.“
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-- Well, they at least went to him in the fourth quarter a bit more in this one. Pretty low-key game from AD. He had some nice finishes, including a lob dunk from Bron, another dunk trailing the break and big putback dunk from behind a smaller player to clean up a Bron miss in transition. The midrange jumper was also dropping. He moved the ball well, also. Defensively, he seemed kind of in cruise control, not challenging as well and disruptively as he typically does. That seemed to impact the Laker overall D. 
-- The Laker passing tonight was highlighted the most on one sequence where the ball was kicked out from the paint and then quickly went around the perimeter on three straight passes before connecting with Prince in the corner for a three. He’d make three threes in the second half, and come up with big buckets in the fourth quarter, including a pull up at the FT line to help the Lakers keep the Bulls at arm’s length. 
-- Quiet night for Rui. AC/Rui matched up against each other briefly for a stretch. Then White was defending him. It took a while before he got his first post up attempt. He had 10 points on 3-3 shooting in the first half. He and Vando were a combined 9-9 for 23 points, including three threes in the half. In the second half, the Bulls ran some twin towers to try to get more size out of there. No scoring for Rui in the half. 
-- One of the first subs off the bench. He’d earn a couple FTs with a strong attack off the three line. Quiet otherwise. No Reddish tonight with the ankle twist. 
-- Key Moment: Russell going off in the third quarter, bombing threes. Glad we didn’t pull him and cool him off. The game could have been a little easier if they dialed it in more defensively. The Lakers certainly shot themselves in the foot in the stretch of home games. They’ve got a poor record on the road. It’s time to see what this team can do.
