JAZZ -at- LAKERS - 11-21-23 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Wire to Wire Win... The Lakers won all four quarters against the visiting Jazz on their way to a 131-99 blowout.

They took a 20-point lead with about a minute left in the first half after rattling off an 11-2 run. They’d hold the Jazz to just 41 points in the first half, the lowest amount they have allowed this season.

Then the Lakers would drop 40 points themselves in the third quarter.

Easy win on the first night of the back-to-back, and the Lakers got to rest their stars. They move to 4-0 in the in-season tournament.


LeBron -- -- A triple-double pace with 10-6-6 in the first half. A couple of those assists were to Hayes for dunks. He also hit AD on a couple of lobs, as well. First play of the second half was another lob dunk to AD. Three three shot was looking smooth, as well, for LeBron. On his first three of the game he hit the 39,000-point mark. Big lead for the Lakers allowed them to rest Bron. 17-7-9 in just 24 minutes. The Stats: He scored 17 points on 6-10 shooting (3-5 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 7 boards, 9 assists and 2 turnovers in 24 minutes. He was a +14.

Davis -- -- Strong first quarter for AD with 11 and 9. He’d finish with 17 and 10 at the half. Several dunks in the mix, one on a lob from Bron, another off his own miss and another when the seas parted for him and he took it in for an easy slam. He also had an athletic lob layup, spinning while in air to finish. He slammed a lob to start the second half. Had another couple of putbacks, as well. I liked seeing the Lakers work on the double teams the Jazz were sending on AD. Guys had some good reads on cuts that would either lead directly to a score or pull a defender with them to open up another teammate. Dominant game with 26 and +34 in just 29 minutes. The Stats: He scored 26 points on 11-14 shooting (4-5 from the line) to go with 16 boards (5 offensive), 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 29 minutes. He was a +34.

Russell -- -- He had 12 points on 4-6 shooting in the first half. He was able to get into the midrange for some jumpers, he hit a three on pitch back from Reaves and drew some FTs. He’d swish a three in the second half on the break. Back in for the fourth, he swished another three on a catch and shoot. He’d probe for a layup on a change of pace drive. Super efficient game after the poor one the previous night. The Stats: He scored 20 points on 7-9 shooting (3-4 from three, 3-5 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 8 assists, 1 block and 2 fouls in 26 minutes. He was a +30.

Reddish -- -- He went to the locker room in the first quarter with groin soreness. A couple of nice defensive plays early on, forcing JC into an airball and then deflecting another pass on the two-man game to get a stop. I was looking forward to that battle, but Cam’s night was cut short with the injury. Hopefully, it’s minor and that Vando also returns so Reddish can get whatever rest is needed. The Stats: He didn’t score or shoot and had 1 foul in 5 minutes. He was a +4.

Prince -- -- The struggles continue. They even had him take a tech later in the game to see if that would help open the lid. He missed that. He’s getting great looks, just in one of those funks. His one score started on a strong-side double that Reaves cut into the middle of the lane to take Prince’s man with him. The pass came to the corner and Prince attacked off that to get to the rim. Defensively, I’ll be curious to see what the Lakers do with him if Reddish is out for any time. It didn’t work well when we tried to make him the stopper before. Vando may be returning, so that might take care of that. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 1-8 shooting (0-4 from three, 2-3 from the line) to go with 1 assist, 1 block and 2 turnovers in 31 minutes. He was a +26.

Reaves -- -- Some good reads on the pass in this game. He worked the sideline pick and roll to find his bigs multiple times. He seems most comfortable there. He even turned that into a banked jumper early on. A lot cleaner lately. The more reps he can get, the better that second unit will become. They struggle a bit when he’s the only playmaker out there. His one turnover, he hustled back on D and forced a turnover by the Jazz to get it back. (Really nice hustle work by Reaves in this game to help the Lakers gain multiple possessions). He gave THT a little taste of his own medicine with a bully drive for a layup in transition. AR has gotten a lot stronger since those two teamed up. Late in the game, he froze the D badly on a ball fake for a layup on a drive. He also had another sequence where he dribble through three defenders for another layup. Defensively, a couple of Reddish-like steals for him (one in the backcourt, another jumping the passing lane for a dunk). He’d lead the team in steals. The Stats: He scored 19 points on 7-13 shooting (1-4 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 3 steals, 2 turnovers and no fouls in 26 minutes. He was a +10.

Hachimura -- -- Some nice bully ball possessions in this one. On one he attacked on a kickout and made like LeBron on his way to the rim for the easy one. On another, he worked past his man on the baseline for a slam. In the second half, his back-to-back threes took any hope from the Jazz of doing anything in this one. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 4-13 shooting (2-5 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 1 assist, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 28 minutes. He was a +21.

Wood -- -- He finally hit a three in this game and you could see him looking to the bench and gesturing that it was about time. I thought his footwork and balance looked good on that one. It just felt good leaving his hands. Good work in the flow of the offense. He cut baseline for a dunk when AD was doubled and found him. He scored a layup on the two-man with AR. He had a putback slam and another slam trailing RUssell on the break. He’d also get and And-1 floater in the middle of the paint and setup Hayes for And-1 on a big-to-big drive and dish. I just want a few more of these games so he can join Rui and Reaves as being a consistent bench scorer. The Stats: He scored 16 points on 6-7 shooting (1-2 from three, 3-3 from the line) to go with 8 boards, 2 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 5 fouls in 27 minutes. He was a +13.

Hayes -- -- The Lakers had 7 players in double digits, including Jaxson. Lots of dunks for the Lakers and for Hayes. Dunk cutting off Bron (move off ball for Bron and he will find you). Another dunk filling the lane for Bron. He’d finish a lob dunk off a flip up from Russell in the fourth. He’d score And-1 layup on a Wood drive and dish. Then get another dunk. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 4-4 shooting (2-3 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 19 minutes. He was a -2.

Christie -- -- In with 2:40 left in the first quarter at the SG as Reddish went out for the game with groin soreness and Max immediately hit AD for a dunk. He started the second half as we kept Austin on the bench. I don’t know if Vando will be ready, but Max could go from outside the rotation to starting in the next one if Reddish/Vando aren’t playing. He made one of his threes, hit a turnaround in the paint and had a nice drive from the left side, turning up the speed and hitting a one-hander. Very smooth fitting in this game. That’s what we want to see. Hopefully, the three ball gets a little more comfortable. Ham wants him to work on his defense navigating screens while on the ball (said he was good off ball), but wants him to get into the ball and dictate where the ball handler goes more. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 3-8 shooting (1-5 from three) to go with 5 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 2 fouls in 25 minutes. He was a +10.

Ham -- -- Key Moment: Winning the first quarter 32-17, particularly when we got into our rotations and the team kept the offensive flow going. That got the Lakers the lead, then they built on it in the second half so we could sit our stars.

Key Substitution: Four bench players with double-digit scoring. Wish we could have gotten our youths a little bit of time. We had to run Reaves and Russell during our garbage time as Vincent isn’t ready and neither is JHS.

Key Stats: The Lakers had a season-high 35 assists with just 13 turnovers. The Lakers won all four quarters.

[mhan00]

Lovely game. Good for my heart.

[A Mad Chinaman]

They are in the Championship Round

Still searching for consistency

Good Win

[Robblake]

I love your post game write ups. Could be a lakers reporter! Thanks yo

[Inspector Gadget]

[Hanging from Rafters]

Thanks DB, these write ups from you really cap off a win! Appreciate it!
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“When it looks as if it is a realistic possibility, I want to focus on winning a ship like it’s a goal that can’t be denied. I didn’t see that this off season.”

[LA1969]

Thank you DB. It’s always a treat to see your wrap up after a nice win!
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"Time wounds all heels". -John Lennon

[slavavov]

Thanks DB. Finally the Lakers have some momentum. Six wins in seven games with two separate three-game winning streaks. We need many more blowouts like this one.
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Lakers 49ers Chargers Dodgers

[Dr. Laker]

Thanks, DB!
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On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".

[tox]

Thanks DB

[Nobody]

[governator]

Yes, YES!!!

Cam ok tho?
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“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.“

[pio2u]

The Lakers were clicking on all cylinders, we needed a game like that. Thanks DB!

[Laker7]

Thanks DB. Great game to watch!
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Darvin Ham is an idiot!

[LakerSD]

38% from 3.

Keep the (bleep) IST court for every home game moving forward!

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks DB! Great to see a string of wins for the Lakers.

Hope Cam's OK.

[markjay]

[markjay]

[PenG_]

Thanks DB, love a good stress-free win.

[DancingBarry]

This morning I'm like, did they even play last night? Oh yeah.

[LakerSD]

[A Mad Chinaman]

Good Win that allows Laker management to not rush the return of Vaderbilt, Hood-Schifino, Vincent and Reddish

-

Vanderbilt was reevaluated by team doctors and has been cleared to “begin a return to play progression
https://www.ocregister.com/2023/11/14/lakers-jarred-vanderbilt-cleared-for-return-to-play-progression/#

Hood-Schifino is cleared for a “return to play” progression. The bad news, though, is that Vincent will be re-evaluated again in two weeks.
https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2023/11/16/23964695/lakers-injury-report-gabe-vincent-jalen-hood-schifino-update-timeline-return-date

Cam Reddish is still experiencing soreness in his groin and will miss tonight’s game against the Mavericks, sources tell ESPN.
https://twitter.com/mcten/status/1727405892763849073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1727405892763849073%7Ctwgr%5Ea08c91bcc497c1bdc054433f83350add3991bccd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnbaanalysis.net%2F2023%2F11%2F22%2Flakers-face-brutal-cam-reddish-injury-update-vs-mavericks-nba-news-rumors%2F