LAKERS -at- BULLS - 3-29-23 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Payback... In the last game, the Lakers had to watch Pat Bev hold his nose or clown around, telling the fans LeBron was too small after one score in their win over L.A.. The Lakers flipped the tables tonight in Chicago, even closing this game with Reaves scoring over Pat Bev and letting everyone know Beverley was too small as L.A. went on to finish the 121-110 road win.

The Lakers have a string of road games where they need to show out. Thankfully, they got Russell back in the mix and found their flow again tonight.

With the Bulls going small, L.A. put Bron in the post early on to run offense through him. As the doubles came, the ball moved and the Lakers scored with ease. They built an early 17-point lead in the first quarter.

But some ill-advised bench combinations ended up giving that all back as the Lakers sat 4 or 5 of their starters instead of mixing it up.

Late in the first half, L.A. found their rhythm again. With the starters and Rui in to space the floor, they ran off a 10-0 run over the final 2 minutes.

They built on that 59-51 halftime lead to open the third and took control. (The Bulls tried to throw single coverage on Bron early in that third, then eventually gave up and sat AC to get a bigger defender on the floor.)

Anthony Davis led the way with 22 points in the second half as the Lakers continued to impose their size on the Bulls all night. The Laker starters had 107 of their 121 points as they kept the Bulls at distance all fourth quarter.


LeBron -- -- The Bulls went with a guard heavy lineup, so that meant Bron had AC or LaVine on him with regularity. So he went to the post, drew doubles and sliced apart the defense. When they didn’t double he was highly efficient. Even if guarded by someone his size, he’s still going to be a beast in the post. Smaller guys? Forget it. Despite all of those doubles, Bron just had 4 assists (I think even a couple of those were on the break, not the halfcourt). But the reason for the low assists was that there was a lot of swing-swing action coming off of those doubles. So there were multiple plays where we scored but Bron was the guy who initiated the passes that led to the passes for the score. To make that work, you need multiple things going on. Obviously, having shooters hit threes, but even cutters who will occupy another defender while LBJ reads his options. Much better reads from LeBron tonight versus the last one. It felt like he’s got his timing back. Scoring-wise, he knocked down a three, had those turnarounds in the post working and some excellent bounce in his step around the rim. He looked like himself getting downhill and to the rim. He even had a change of speeds that isn’t easy if you have a bad wheel. Hopefully, the team can build up some momentum. The Stats: He scored 25 points on 10-19 shooting (1-3 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 7 boards (3 offensive), 4 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers and 2 fouls in 31 minutes. He was a +23.

Davis -- -- He stuffed that stat sheet tonight. He had 16 points in the first half and 22 in the second. Down the stretch, we went to him for multiple scores. When he’s able to get anything in the paint off (even out to the elbow area) with a little bit of space, it just seems automatic. We found him for a couple of lobs, one on a high-low, the other off a SLOB with DLo getting middle and drawing the help. Vucevic was scoring at a high clip, but largely because of a lot of AD help. There was a sequence in the first half where Vucevic scored on AD in the post and AD went right back at him on the other end for a two-handed dunk. (Lakers were up 27-13 early as Vucevic had all those points for the Bulls…so they were taking away the guard play quite a bit early). Multiple score from AD to close this game. That made sure the Bulls got nowhere late. The Stats: He scored 38 points on 13-29 shooting (1-1 from three, 11-14 from the line) to go with 10 boards (5 offensive), 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks and 1 foul in 39 minutes. He was a +16.

Russell -- -- Great having DLo back in the mix with Bron. This is only the second game we’ve had both of them I think. Regardless, this was finally the lineup that everyone has wanted to see -- AD, Vando, Bron, Reaves, Russell. They did not disappoint. Russell led the team with a +35. Getting Russell as more of a third option (even a fourth sometimes as he defers to Reaves), just makes the team so much better. Russell also alway seems more comfortable in this role. In the last game, we had to lean too much on Schröder as a playmaker and it’s just not the same when guys can go under screens or sag off and clog the paint. When the Lakers floundered in this game, we had no Russell, Reaves or Bron on the floor. Ham remedied that a little in the second half. The Stats: He scored 17 points on 7-12 shooting (2-4 from three, 1-3 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers and 1 foul in 36 minutes. He was a +35.

Reaves -- -- He capped off this win by scoring a floater of Pat Bev, then giving him the “too small” treatment that Bev gave LeBron in the previous game. So good. “AR always got my back,” Bron said, pausing for a moment. “Even though he loved Kobe back in the day more than me.” Good laugh from everyone on that. Our starting guards tonight combined for 36 points on 14-20 shooting and 10 assists. Super efficient. I love having multiple ballhandlers and playmakers on the floor with those two. Bron mentioned that as the first thing when they asked about that lineup. The team is just so much more dynamic. Reaves was setting the table early on making some excellent reads. He had one kickout to Bron that was his third read on the action. Scoring-wise, Reaves’s efficiency night in and night out makes him excellent next to the stars. We just want to make sure he stays aggressive. His usage was low tonight, but he still killed it. He had 12 points on 4-5 shooting and 3 assists at the half. Good job getting out in transition quickly for a couple of scores. He knocked down a three in transition as well on a dump off pass from AD as he gathered an outlet at high speed. In the fourth, Reave had a nice And-1 getting into the paint, stopping on a dime, then going into the pivots like McHale for a step-through (I know Worthy was thinking that after the game when he mentioned Reaves’s footwork was like a bigman). The Stats: He scored 19 points on 7-8 shooting (1-2 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and no fouls in 29 minutes. He was a +27.

Vanderbilt -- -- We got a couple of those wide open corner threes to drop in this game. Even though he made them, you still don’t have functional gravity while he’s out there. That’s an issue they will keep working on. But, hopefully, Vando improves his game enough where we see this with more regularity in future seasons. His other score came off a Bron double when he found Vando in the dunker spot. Defensively, again we threw him on a smaller player. This is what I hope we see versus having him on a big. With Bron back in the mix that should be the case going forward. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-5 shooting (2-3 from three) to go with 7 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 fouls in 25 minutes. He was a +11.

Schröder -- -- I want to know what Dennis was saying to AD when he got knocked in the groin in the backcourt in the fourth quarter as they were rolling the ball up the court. He had a little bit of a smirk, so I think he was busting his chops after the Bulls just busted his balls. Good job getting to the line (he should have been there more). One of those no calls on a drive, led to points the other way, an And-1 for the Bulls, then a tech on Dennis. So not only did the Lakers lose 2 points on Dennis’ drive, they gave up a 4-point possession. This was a 6-point switch and one of the key moments for the Bulls as they were chipping their way back into the game in the first half. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 2-7 shooting (0-2 from three, 4-5 from the line) to go with 3 boards (2 offensive), 1 assist, 1 block and 2 turnovers in 21 minutes. He was a -14.

Beasley -- -- I was surprised when we brought him back in the second half. His first half was atrocious. Just so many mental mistakes. He wasn’t ready for this game and never looked like he knew what he wanted to do. But we brought him back again in the third. I guess you want to keep shooters confident, but this wasn’t about poor shooting. “He had a couple of rough moments,” Ham said of him, also mentioning it wasn’t a confidence issue. His minutes in that third were a disaster and Ham finally pulled the plug on him. It was just multiple bad decisions, lazy plays, ill-advised dribbles, and even an unforced error losing the handle out of bounds without pressure as he had 4 turnovers in 10 minutes. We won by 11 and he was a -20. If you didn’t want to play Reaves another 3 minutes or so in the second half, go with Lonnie. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-3 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 1 board, 1 assist, 2 steals and 4 turnovers in 10 minutes. He was a -20.

Brown -- -- Quiet game as he went scoreless. Mixed results on defense. He was foul-prone, including a poor And-1 foul in transition when a player was going in for an easy dunk. On the good side, he had a nice dig down for a steal to ignite the break. He also had a good challenge on LaVine on a drive. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-3 shooting (0-2 from three) to go with 4 boards, 1 steal and 5 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a -6.

Hachimura -- -- It was a bit silly to pull him out of the rotation last game. The Lakers size advantage in this one was on display all night. The Lakers had Rui close the first half and they rattled off a 10-0 run. That was largely LeBron, but having a shooter in Rui on the floor versus Vando who they will leave helps space the floor or get a smaller player defensive on one of Rui or LeBron, who are both tremendous post players. So even though the ball didn’t go through him in that run, the roster construction helped. Offensively, a couple of those midrange jumpers for Rui. He also scored on a reverse layup when AD found him. Rui would return the favor later on a sweet high-low pass to AD for the lob dunk. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 3-6 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 4 boards, 1 assist, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 16 minutes. He was a -7.

Gabriel -- -- Short minutes, just 9, but with Bron looking more like himself and now Russell back in the mix, the team’s depth was better. We also didn’t have to deal with Drummond in this one as he was out. No scores for Gabriel. He missed a layup which Bron putback in (after feeding him to begin with). Defensively, he had a nice stop going vertical on one play, but that’s about it. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-1 shooting to go with 3 boards and no fouls in 9 minutes. He was a -1.

Walker IV -- -- He came in with a little over a minute left. We should have brought him in for Beasley earlier in the second half. Beasley was just awful and continued to play awful. Lonnie missed a couple of garbage time chucks. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-2 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 1 foul in 1 minute. He was a -4.

Reed -- -- Garbage time run for the final minute of action. The Stats: He was a -4 in 1 minute.

Ham -- -- Key Moment: The Lakers finished the first half on a 10-0 run to regain momentum. That was the starters and Rui instead of Vando. Bron went to work. The Lakers were able to continue momentum to start the second half, so that stretch to close and open the halves was some strong ball by L.A. It was a 21-4 run over the course of 7 minutes.

Key Substitution: Maybe don’t have stretches where Russell, Reaves and Bron are all sitting. Sheesh. To close that first quarter, the team flatlined and we then ended up having none of the starters out there. It just didn’t make sense. In the second half, he went with a wholesale lineup change with 4 players out and 4 players in. So get warm fast or we give up another rally. We’ve had 38 (I think that’s what they said) new starting lineups this season, so here we are late in the season trying to find our way.

Key Stats: The Lakers had 10 turnovers in the first half (Bulls 4). They flipped the tables in the second half with just 5 while the Bulls had 10. Lakers did a great job at the line hitting 24-30, despite having a slow start there.

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks DB!

FIRST!!

[pio2u]

Thx DB!

[tox]

Thanks DB!

[Nonamehero]

[Vancouver Fan]

DB been putting in that work for years.
_________________
Music is my medicine

[A Mad Chinaman]

Just saw the last part of the game

Team seems to be playing in rhythm, especially when they have high IQ 2-way players.

If Beasley can somehow get his rhythm, by getting his life in order can make this Lakers even harder and versatile. Seems like he is the "next version of an irresponsible DLo" from years ago. Having an affair resulting in marital woes with his past history miscues that has followed him from his youth to now, along with living the life of being a Laker LaLaLand might be too much for him - hopefully not

Let's hope that this roster is discovering its ability to be consistent in its play tht display energy, effort and URGENCY. if so, being 6th in the playoffs is realistic that possibly have them play the Kings (subject to many changes - lol)

[Startrout]

It’s nice having the whole team together (almost). It really makes a difference.

[slavavov]

The Lakers showed a glimpse of how good they can be when healthy. Of course, staying healthy has seemingly been the hardest part over the last two years.

But replace Beasley with a 3-and-D wing who can play the 2 and 3 and we could be talking world championship next spring and summer.

[TDRock]

[TDRock]

Yay Winning!

Thanks DB

[Nonamehero]

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

[DrDent]

Thanks DB

Nice payback win. Let's see if this team can keep climbing peaks and avoid valleys for awhile.

I also agree with this DB: "Getting Russell as more of a third option (even a fourth sometimes as he defers to Reaves), just makes the team so much better. Russell also alway seems more comfortable in this role."

Offensively, he really helps open the floor and options this way. If...and it is a big if...the Lakers can stay healthy, and AD/Bron play well (again, all big Ifs) on any consistent basis, then D'lo is likely an x factor as to how well the team does overall.
_________________
"One thing I admire about Kuzma is his unwavering confidence. He truly has no idea that he’s not as good as he thinks." - Killer_Z

[Dr. Laker]

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".

[A Mad Chinaman]

[ribeye]

As I woke up this morning, I'm thinking pleasant thoughts of a Laks win; AD-38; LeBron-25; DLo-17; Too Small-19. Aaahhhhh.

And then I get to see another great write-up by our one and only DB. Again, aaahhhhh.
_________________
"A metronome keeps time by using a Ringo"

[governator]

So how to get AD in the post and produce out of the double ala Bron? U kno, Incase that’s the opponents plan

[TDRock]

[DancingBarry]

Stu last night was about as subtle as he could be without saying "WTH are these rotations?"

First time was when all the starters were on the bench late in the first and we were in the midst of taking some blows.

Second one was that wholesale change later in the game.

[TDRock]

[sonic the laker]

[A Mad Chinaman]

[jodeke]

[A Mad Chinaman]