LAKERS -at- KINGS - 3-13-24 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

[DancingBarry]

No Star Power... Flat night for the Lakers top three players.

The Lakers got the role players scoring early. Austin Reaves started them off with 11 of the Lakers first 13 points of the game.

But the stars didn’t show up. By halftime, Rui and Reaves had 36 points on 15-20 shooting -- very cool. But the rest of the starters scored just 14 points on 5-22 shooting -- not cool at all.

LeBron was atrocious in the third quarter. The team stopped running plays. He was turnover-prone, missing shots all over the floor and not playing defense. The Lakers made just 2 points in the first 5 minutes of the quarter and trailed 88-73 heading into the fourth.

Bron’s man on D, Harrison Barnes, led the Kings with 23 points on the night.

Despite LeBron picking up his game some in the fourth, the Lakers couldn’t make up ground in the fourth and they fell 120-107. Really poor job rising to the occasion against the Kings once again.


LeBron -- -- He was extremely stationary on defense. Defensive stands where he barely moved. That hurt the team, sometimes it was one Laker covering a couple of guys as a result. Offensively, in the third quarter he came out coughing up the ball and missing shots. Just a poor performance. He had just 9 points after three quarters. To start the fourth, he picked things up to try to make a run and that helped on the offensive end. But the D was still missing. He had the low -10 of the starters. The Stats: He scored 18 points on 6-16 shooting (2-8 from three, 4-6 from the line) to go with 13 boards, 9 assists, 1 steal, 5 turnovers and 3 fouls in 40 minutes. He was a -10.

Davis -- -- Really poor first half. Just missing easy ones, fumbling the ball away a couple times, and getting score on easily when pulled out to defend a smaller player on the perimeter. When his guards could get penetration and find him, he scored. But he struggled from everywhere else. Sabonis had another triple-double with 17-19-10. Of those 19 boards, he had 5 offensive. The Stats: He scored 22 points on 7-18 shooting (1-2 from three, 7-8 from the line) to go with 10 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 41 minutes. He was a -5.

Russell -- -- He started the game 0-7 after three quarters. Then he hit a three to start the fourth, his first basket of the game. He’d also score a layup on a slip screen. Some good plays defensively in that fourth quarter, but he was missing in action for the most part. If Bron and AD give us their usual, this weak game by Russell probably isn’t an issue with our other role players stepping up. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-9 shooting (1-4 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 33 minutes. He was a -4.

Reaves -- -- He started this game off hot, carrying the scoring and taking an early Laker lead. He had 19 points in the first half, making 5-7 from three. He’d finish the game with 7 threes, tying his career high. He’d get a couple of breakaway layups for scores. He twisted his ankle slightly at the end of the first half, but played through it. He had Fox defensively, who had 21 points on 20 shots. They kept Fox from getting downhill this game. The Stats: He scored 28 points on 10-17 shooting (7-12 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 37 minutes. He was a -2.

Hachimura -- -- He had 17 points on 8-10 shooting in the first half. He attacked from the corner, stepped around the help D and scored a layup. He dunked when he got his man out of position cutting from the elbow and Russell hit him. He hit a hook across the lane on a post up. We found him on a rim run against a smaller defender for a layup. Some great passing opened him up for a midrange and an open three. Really good ball movement by the Lakers on those sequences. He’d hit another midrange off an AD post up. He scored a layup, stepping through against a couple of defenders. He had a nice cut to take a pass, then kicked it to AR for a corner three. That was all in the firs half. In the second half, just one attempt, hitting a three on a corner kickout. Good job, Lakers, working the hot hand. Sheesh. The Stats: He scored 20 points on 9-11 shooting (2-3 from three) to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 36 minutes. He was a -6.

Dinwiddie -- -- Scoreless night, missing a couple shots he took. His one assist was a drive and dish to AD for a layup. They really don’t put the ball in his hands much. With Russell struggling, you’d like to be able to switch gears some and give him a bigger offensive role. But we typically just stick him into the corner. Defensively, he forced a turnover on a pass deflection. But, overall, quiet night. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-2 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 1 board, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 foul in 20 minutes. He was a -9.

Prince -- -- The 13 minutes and a -13 led the team. He scored a layup on a DHO with AD. He made a corner three on a kickout from Bron. Nice pick on Murray from the perimeter for a steal. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 2-2 shooting (1-1 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 2 steals and 1 foul in 13 minutes. He was a -13.

Christie -- -- A couple nice moments. He forced a man to hit the top of the backboard with a challenge. He hit a half court shot, but it was after the first quarter buzzer. In garbage time, he crossed over and dunked. Lazy post entry pass in the first half that was picked off. The Lakers had a couple bad post entry passes that were telegraphed. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-2 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 1 board, 1 assist and 1 turnover in 9 minutes. He was a -6.

Hayes -- -- This looked more like a game from him we saw earlier in the season. Foul-prone with 3 in his 7 minutes. Yuck. Nice play for his only basket, cleaning up a Russell airball/missed runner for a dunk. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 1-1 shooting (2-2 from the line) to go with 1 offensive board, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 7 minutes. He was a -5.

Mays -- -- Garbage time run. The Stats: No stats in 1 minute.

Lewis -- -- Nothing to report as usual. The Stats: No stats in 1 minute.

Giles III -- -- Nothing to report. The Stats: No stats in 1 minute.

Ham -- -- Key Moment: That third quarter offense was a mess. Just one bucket in the first 5 minutes. A lot of freelancing. They came out of the half very, very flat. They went into the half a little flat, as well.

Key Substitution: No Cam Reddish in this game, despite a little extra time off. Really not sure what’s going on with how they are managing him.

Key Stats: Lakers were 7-15 from three in the first half, Kings shot 9-23. Kings led the break 9-2. In the second half, the Kings made 10-18. The Lakers made 7-17. They’d finish shooting 43.8% from three for the game. That part of the game was fine. They were outscored 28-17 in the third. The Lakers went 4-14 in that quarter. Horrible.

[pio2u]

Thx DB!
Looks like we picked the wrong night to come out flat. It was ugly.

[A Mad Chinaman]

Even with our Big Three playing terrible, our Triple Threat of No Defense/No Offense/No Rebounds lead the way with a +/-13.

Sabonis has identified and highlighted a way (amazinglingly) to play AD off th court - like Jokic. If the uber-talented/HOFer AD wants to be Da Man for the Lakers, he has to find a way to beat Sabonis (along with others like Jokic). Greek Freak to Embiid, Magic to Kobe, MJ to Bird and other iconic NBA HOFers will never accept anybody can beat them consistently

DLo/Spencer were MIA

Seems as if the Kings have found the way to take away the mind, spirit and heart away from these Lakers - four times this season.

LBJ didn't have a good game (as any 39+ years old - First Ballot HOFer or not is entitled to), but in the fourth quarter - he empty "His Bullets" in an attempt to carry the team on his back since AD wasn't willing/able

At least AR and Rui came out firing

How will our Lakers beat teams like Nuggets/Kings who are our Achilles' Heal that have a PG that can score three different areas of the court and an unselfish center who is an excellent center that have a definitive system.

Our strengths (AD & LBR) can be an issue since the need to have them wasting energy in a "motion offense" system is great because they are great players.

Since Sabonis and Jokic has repeatedly and definitively outplayed AD (something that doesn't exist with many other teams), how many HCs will find an offensive/defensive scheme(s) to beat the Kings and Nuggets. With these teams having the ability to play AD off the floor/neutralize their AD matchup advantages (along with possibly Greek Freak/Embiid/KD), what can/will Ham do.

What is ironic is that many other teams have found the way to beat the Kings, while Jokic is just a great player

Ham has to treat AD as an uber-talented player that needs to be an integral part of a system that features LBJ as Da Man

Since the hardest teams for the Lakers to make it to the Finals are the Kings and Nuggets

TLue has found a way to show the leadership, along with Kwahi/PG/Harden/Westbrook's willingness - at least for now while they are HEALTHY- lol) to implment a system. However, one can argue that Kwahi-PG duo is not as potent or dangerous than LBJ/AD.

Spoelstra doesn't have that problem because Jimmy buckets/Bam duo doesn't come close to the AD/LBR duo

[slavavov]

It's super annoying how the Lakers come out emotionally flat quite often, only to also play hard and often beat teams with better records than them.

I don't know what's up with this team emotionally. Last season, when it made its run in March and April, it didn't really have this problem.

If this problem continues, the Lakers will lose in the play-in tournament. You can't half-ass things and go through the motions and then suddenly turn it on when the postseason starts.
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Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers

[Nobody]

[sonic the laker]

Thanks, DB!

This game, the problems that plagued the Lakers were more easily definable, as opposed to the last time we played Sac. The constant is that Sabonis just beats the breaks off AD. To the point where it seems that it's literally psychological with AD. His body language was beyond horrible, in the first half, and his play reflected that. No energy, emotion, or grit, from AD, translated into no game, no show. This was compounded by LeBron having an off shooting night, as well as being careless with the ball. Despite being rested, our best players did NOT show up.

DLo had an off night, but you could tell he was trying to get AD going. That's what threw the whole 3rd quarter offense into the trash. You could tell the Lakers were making a concerted effort to get AD touches, to the point where they were forcing the issue, resulting in a disjointed offense.

The only reason the game was fairly close in the first half was Reaves/Rui leading the offense.

The bench, led by Dinwiddie, continues to disappoint.

Not putting this loss on Ham. But, he and the coaching staff are going to have to figure out how to get more production out of the bench. Trying to fit Spencer into our offense, this late in the season, is obviously not working. Maybe allow him to freelance, with the ball in his hands, and see how that works...let him loose. Can't be much worse.
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ZOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PenG_]

Kings and the 4Q Nuggets own us

[Laker7]

Thanks DB. Very disappointing game. Had a chance to move up in the standings but stunk the joint up tonight. 5 turnovers in the first quarter. 14 for the game with 5 by Lebron.

You want to beat the Lakers? Be physical with AD and DLo. Get right up on them on defense and go into their body on offense. They can't handle it.

It was stated over and over again during the off season.....Lakers need a physical big man to match up with big, physical centers. Pelinka did not get someone and now the Lakers are paying the price.

Statistically the bench shot 4 for 7 from the floor but that is not enough volume to help them team win. Are they shy or is the coaching staff telling them to feed the starters?

Last game against the them the Lakers allowed layup after layup while trying to defend the three point line. This game they slowed the layup drill but allowed 44% from three. SHM
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Darvin Ham is an idiot!

[JerryWest_44]

[ribeye]

[A Mad Chinaman]

[DancingBarry]

[slavavov]

[A Mad Chinaman]

[ingle]

I'm so over this team I haven't really posted in years, however I have to say DancingBarry is an absolute national treasure (or at least LA treasure) for pumping these game reports out without fail. I salute you sir.

[Inspector Gadget]

Dinwiddie is getting WAYYY to many minutes, if not for that block on Lillard his ass would be warming the bench right now, he looks cooked and Brooklyn got rid of him at the right time, and ironically Toronto didn’t waste there time and they waived him at first sight

[Hammett]