In what was likely conceived as an NBA Finals rematch game the Heat beat the Lakers without the main culprits of their Finals demise on the court. No AD and no LeBron James coupled with the late scratches of Kyle Kuzma (calf) and Talen Horton-Tucker (suspension) meant the Lakers had even steeper climb. They should have hired a Sherpa or gotten a helicopter ride because the Heat were just a touch too much for the remaining players clad in purple and gold.
- Don’t diss the Heat. Laker fans seem to want to denigrate the Heat’s accomplishment in making it to the NBA Finals. I, personally, find that notion absurd. There’s a reason things aren’t awarded on hype or expectations. The teams have to play, one team has to win so many games and that team moves on. Seems simple, one team ends up being better than the other. So, for those fans who crow they don’t fear Miami this one was for you. The basketball Gods always listen…always. Also, wishing Victor Oladipo all the best and a speedy recovery. Guess it’s a good thing we didn’t trade Kuzma and KCP and ahhhh why not, throw in Alex Caruso for Vic, eh?
- Free throw parade. Was I the only one who thought it was ludicrous how often Miami got sent to the line for simply crashing into some Laker or another in the first quarter? I didn’t think I was…
- That contract for Dennis is getting smaller every game. Mark my words, that man is going to fire his agent after this summer when he does not get his $20+ million dollar deal from anyone at all. A player that’s worth that sum of money can lead a team in more than the turnover department, doesn’t fall to the ground and leave his team one man down on the break, and does more than just play defense. Schroder is showing that last season was essentially a fluke, that playing alongside superstar talent like CP3 or LeBron is the only way he can shine. Sorry Dennis, I love your moxie, the cut of your jib and your peskiness on defense but you cannot be relied upon to score consistently. We got plenty of guys who make far less than $20 mil who can do just that.
- Hey it’s KCP. Par for the course this season KCP breached for a game and looked like he wanted to play basketball. I don’t really expect it to carry over as it really hasn’t for most of the season. One good game followed by 3 or 4 terrible ones. Not much more useful than Dennis Schroder these days. You need to do this a lot more consistently to make me believe again, Kentavious. I want to but just can’t find it in me to look past the landslide of my new label DP-BDNSU (Dis Play-But Did Not Show Up).
- Hey Andre’ Drummond finished the game! Which is about all we can say about that. Drummond was never going to save this season, he’s a good to above-average player on bad teams because…they’re bad, they don’t have a lot of good guys. He can do simple NBA center things well enough although the free throw shooting is certainly a concern for a team that often goes through major free throw line funks. I love his energy on the glass and his active hands on defense. I have hope he’ll be better at not holding the ball and looking around while the team tries to get a break going. There were more than a few times where it cost him precious seconds to find an open Laker but he’s getting acclimated. Those issues are correctable. I expect to see Gasol play in the 2nd night of back-to-backs in the regular season, maybe get some time of Drummond is in foul trouble. But he was in foul trouble last night and no Marc so…we’ll see how the three-headed center monster we’ve Frankensteined pans out.
Also, bonus point, welcome to the Lakers Ben McLemore. We’ll see how he grows into a role on this team in the handful of games left but this very much reminds me of the Dion Waiters signing. Might have a regular season impact but he may struggle to find a playoff role if he can’t defend at a decent level. The Lakers don’t cover for bad defenders just because they can shoot, that’s Frank Vogel 101 people.
Lastly, bonus BONUS point: a banner hanging ceremony agaaaaaaaaainst…the Houston Rockets (wah, wah, wah). Fishing for a win on banner night is fine but I think the real reason they chose that game is that there is a high likelihood that LBJ and AD could both be on the floor by then. Not certain, of course (tweets or what have you aside) but I feel like that’s very reasonable. That may not be the timeline Laker fans get excited about but it feels like Jeannie et al wouldn’t want to risk a blow out on banner night and that, if at all possible, have James and Davis play in the game.
Last thing: just a friendly reminder that this team is not, repeat, not designed to win without LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Not a player on the roster replicates the skills, talent or gravity both of those men create on a basketball court. So don’t overly-fret these losses save for the fact we’re freefalling through the standings. Might end up rocking a play-in game, might s well start getting used to the idea.
I had pegged this game as a loss when it was confirmed Kuzma and THT would be out. That’s way too short-handed of a team already without LeBron and AD. But the reason why the Lakers lost this game is simple. The Lakers cooked a large pot of jambalaya full of questionable foul calls by the officials to go with their mind-boggling turnovers. You just can’t win that many games with such foul disparity and turnovers working against you. Half of the Heat’s first-quarter points total came at the foul line. Couple that with bunch of turnovers then you know you’re in for a long night. Despite all that the team fought hard all the way to the end. Surprisingly, the Heat were not as threatening as I thought they would be.
Schroeder’s situation is becoming concerning as he is looking more and more tentative nowadays. As for Drummond, I am not going to gauge him at this time. He has not played in more than a month and he is on a new team. So it will be too early to make anything out of his game. However, I have watched him play this season out of curiosity and I do know he is going to give the Lakers a new dimension and options at the center position. He is a very good addition to the team and I am very pleased.
Overall, I have a heart for how hard the team played, and as always, thanks for the fiver, Jamie.
You’re welcome Buba! I feel like I’ve done 5,822 Fivers on our turnovers this season but it was a huge reason for the loss. You’re right, and in all honesty this was probably an overly harsh Five Things, but Miami had it’s key guys healthy and we had a skeleton crew so this was as close to a guaranteed loss as one could cook up. The guys did fight hard, KCP had one of his better games in a good long while, and Drummond did have a positive impact.
I can also understand where some fans don’t see Miami as a “threat” but that reality is that, when we’re healthy, few teams are a true threat to the Lakers…in a seven game series. Any team can get hot, or we can show up with a dud of a game, in a one game affair which is why the notion of falling as far as the pla-in seedings is a concern. But in 7 games I like our chances against 90% of the League. Where I disagree is that Miami was a pushover NBA Finals opponent because that denigrates our accomplishment of winning it. The two best teams that season met in the NBA Finals and I’ll leave it right there.
Also, in regards to Drummond, this will be one of the few teams he’s not expected to be the best player so I hope it helps him relax. While he’s a terrible career free throw shooter he shot them well enough the other night. My hope is he can settle into a solid support role and give us the power down low that drove the team to the NBA Finals and beyond last season.
Schroder. Man what a mystery that dude is these days. Can’t fault his intensity, can’t fault his trying to make an impact but he just…can’t do it. It shows the step one needs to take to make the leap from good to great. He wants to be paid like a great but, in my opinion, is only really good. His defense alone isn’t enough to justify the payday he’s looking for and his offense is too streaky. Needs to learn how to consistently get to the line when he drives and gets Mac trucked to the floor, which is often. We’ll see how that situation resolves but it’s something to watch this summer.
At any rate, this frustrating stretch has to come with the caveat of reminding ourselves that this team was not designed to absorb this many games without James and Davis. I remind myself every game, every day but still get frustrated with the on court play. Especially the turnovers. AT any rate, hoping we can trap the Nets and win this one but feeling like a big blowout is just over the hill in the form of a healthy Kevin Durant.
You made excellent points on Dennis and Drummond, Jamie. I completely agree with you. That was a great analysis of the game in general. Great job, man.
Thanks, I do what I can. All of us here just opionating and supporting our favorite team!
Good Fiver, Jamie. And no, you weren’t too harse.
1. Don’t pimp the Heat either. They’re a .500 team who won’t sniff the NBA Finals this year. 6th place just 2 games over .500 is about where they belong. The fact they had to struggle to beat the undermanned Lakers just confirms that. As does the fact they have Ariza, Iguodala, and Oladipo playing key roles.
2. Fouls. I agree the zebras were out of control and heavily favored the Heat, especially in the first quarter. But Lakers did adjust and didn’t foul in the second quarter. I’m reminded of how KD was laughing at all the pointers on drawing fouls that he’s already gotten from James Harden. Are you listening, Dennnis?
3. Dennis’ shrinking contract. Much as I love some of what Dennis brings, he’s seriously flawed as the primary point guard on the team. In truth, OKC had him in the right role coming off the bench rather than starting. Lakers should have traded him. Now there’s a chance they let him walk, which is better than overpaying him and then not being able to trade him.
4. KCP had a great game. Like Dennis was why we lost, Kenny was why we were in the game. Like I’ve been harping, against teams without superstars (Sorry, Jimmy), this team is confident and plays like it. Against teams with superstars, they come out intimidated and beaten. I keep hoping they’ll prove me wrong but so far it’s been like their forumla. We’ll see how today goes.
5. I thought there were positive signs with Dre. Problem is he clogs up the paint on offense and makes it easier for teams to shut down our drivers. Part of why Dennis could not finish. Always two of three guys in the paint makes less lanes to the rim and more bodies to navigate around. Would have liked to see Gasol out there shooting threes to open things up but we know the Lakers don’t play that way…until the playoffs with AD.
Finally, one of the defects in building this team was not having enough playmakers and shot creators for when LeBron or AD or both were not in the game. And it’s not like we just surrounded LeBron and AD with volume 3-point shooters. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Dennis and Trezz looked like golden finds when we started the season. Now not so much.
I’m still high on Trezz but we may not be the best fit for him. We saw what he’s capable of when fully unleashed and it’s a fairly consistent line. 18+ ppg 8+ rpg and 110% effort. Ask him to do less and he fades into the background a little too much. Great player, just maybe not on this current version of the Lakers.
Agree 1,645% on Dennis Schroder. OKC knew EXACTLY where he needed to be. however I am also a big believer in guys upping their games. Up until now I haven’t watched a ton of Dennis on the court. Like we both agree, solid defender and decent enough ball handler. When he’s on the floor with James he is essentially the off guard. It’s when he has to shoulder the load of managing the team, getting his own offense and playing solid D that one of the three of those falls to the wayside. Great players don’t let any aspect of their game slip. OK, the defensive end is where most slippage occurs (see Harden, James) but thy don’t shrink from the moment when it comes to scoring. We have like five players that do that. Are we re-signing J.R. Smith for the playoff run or what?
Lastly, as we’ve discussed on multiple podcasts, not only is Jimmy Butler a legit two-way superstar who creates for his team in the same mold as Harden, James, etc. but his team has been ravaged by injuries and COVID far more than the Lakers have. So you can keep right on sleeping on Jimmy B and the Heat but that is one train that will be departing the station without me on it. They would play the Bucks as of today. I would worry about Giannis at this point, the Heat are for real.
#thebestteamsmoveon
#nohypeawards
#currenteasternconferencechamps
#JIMMYB!!!!!!!
#stillgotPhillycomingoutoftheeastthough
LOL. We’ll have to A2D on Heat and not taking anything away from the Lakers championship. Didn’t have to play anybody other than the Heat more than 5 games. Had the Clippers and Bucks been in the way, they might have taken us to a 7th game. Heat are what they were: a very good but not great team.
As for Dennis, I agree part of his problem is he’s not a lead guard who can run the offense. He’s too 1-dimensional and predictable offensively. Even with his quickness and speed, teams can put up walls to stop him or funnel him down a fixed path. Like with Giannis.
With LeBron, Dennis has a much different role. Were we to trade for a true lead guard like Lowry, who can take care of the ball, playmake, and shoot the three, Dennis could be valuable as the shooting guard. Of course, it comes down to money at the end. The talk from Woj about the Lakers wanting to clear up future cap space is probably valid. I doubt the Lakers are willing to pay $100 million in taxes. The approach is they can find a way to win without having to do that as the money itself is no guarantee. That’s Pelinka’s job. So they might just let Dennis walk and use the money on cheaper options and THT and Caruso.
As for Trezz, the big problem is his game is old school on a team that needs floor spacers. Look at what’s happened with Dwight in Philly. The Sixers cannot play him with Ben Simmons because then they have no spacing as teams just clog the paint. Frank’s a great defensive coach but he’s slow to adapt to the value of spacing in the modern game. The answer is not for LeBron and AD to shoot more threes. It’s to surround them with players who are high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters.
You can’t refuse a gift horse like Trezz for the MLE but there’s a point where rent-a-center and rent-a-point-guard strategies need to end. The Lakers hoped Dennis was a shot at solving the longterm point guard problem but it’s becoming more and more obvious that he’s not the right player. We’re on thin ice overrelying on LeBron to play the point. That’s why I thought it was a big mistake not to trade for Lowry.
By the way, some great comments and conversations today, Jamie. Thank you.
We’ll see if the banner they hang has an asterisk on it with the caveat *ONLY beat the Miami Heat, sorry everyone*
I doubt it will. Sleep on the Heat if you choose.
There will be no asterisk next to the Lakers championship. While it was an unprecedented and weird playoffs, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t count or should be devalued. Lakers followed the rules and won fair and square. Period.