5 Things: Lakers Get It Done

The Lakers will be the road team no matter what path they take in these playoffs, not even if we meet fellow playin team the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Thus it behooves them to get really comfortable winning a road playoff game and doing so early in the series to keep the pressure on the other team. This was, once again, accomplished last night as the Lakers found the defensive grit and overall tenacity to beat the Warriors in game 1 at Chase Center and take home court advantage for themselves. The work, however, is only beginning.

1. The James Gang is apt because this ain’t no one-man show. LeBron James will not be putting the Lakers on his back like he’s done with so many other squads in his lengthy career. In what can only be described as a mediocre (for him) showing from LeBron we still won the game. In the playoffs. On the road. LeBron still had a tremendous impact on the game but was neither efficient nor the best player on the floor. I’m sure there are a few incredible games left in LeBron, and hopefully they come in wins, but these NBA playoffs (and frankly since he passed Kareem) have shown a LeBron who is starting to decline in small ways. Luckily he now has a James Gang to support him and help him on his journey.
2. Anthony Davis and all the torch talk. Personally I still see this as a partnership between two superstars whose bodies aren’t their best friends. Still, if there is a torch being passed from LeBron to AD this season it’s also changing the appearance of the torch. The new torch is a defensive monster who outplayed Golden State’s front line almost single-handedly. The new torch is a shot blocking beast who altered even more than the stats will reveal. The new torch doesn’t rely on threes or fadeaways (although they are technically in the bag) but on abusing opponents in the paint and at the rim. Last night AD made history by joining the likes of Shaq, Kareem, Wilt and Elgin Baylor as the only Lakers to have scored 30+ points and grabbed 20+ rebounds while dishing out 5+ assists. Legendary stuff. I’m sure he appreciated the win more, though.
3. Jarred Vanderbilt’s defense. Still pumped we managed to get him as a throw in in the trade for Russell Westbrook. He makes everything work better, like the Lamar Odom’s and Rick Fox’s before him. The fact that he asked to guard Curry shows you how much belief he has in himself, how much humility and respect for the game he has (because you don’t ask for that assignment thinking “I’m shutting down Steph!” you ask for it knowing that your job is to make him work) and what an astounding work ethic he has. There will be adjustments made to neutralize The Vandolorian’s impact on Curry but that in and of itself is the sign of ultimate respect. Amazing game by JV.
4. Winning the rebounding game. Looney pulled down 23 rebounds (7 offensive which helped contribute to one of my Scary Stats regarding the Warriors) but no other player for Golden State pulled down more than 6 (Wiggins and Curry w/6 apiece). After that the drop off is even more precipitous with no Warrior grabbing more than 3. The Lakers did just well enough in the rebounding game with solid gang rebounding from the team, LeBron pulling down 11 of his own and AD matching Looney with 23 boards himself (only 4 offensive). This is the stat, along with turnovers, I’m watching the most. Lakers need to do their level-best to limit the number of extra possessions they give up.
5. Dennis Schroder’s huge impact. We’d been (OK, maybe just I…) waiting for a breakout performance from Dennis who was largely marginal in the Grizzlies series. Check that box. Pouring in a crucial 19 points Schroder filled the “Who is gonna step it up?” role in this win using efficient scoring, near-perfection from the free throw line, and z-e-r-o turnovers which helped keep the Lakers under 10 in that department (you know how I feel about those) and played the scrappy defense we’ve come to appreciate.

One last thing, don’t let the free throw discrepancy fool you. That’s a by-product of some bad defense by the Warriors (Looney smacking AD in the face, Poole choosing not to play defense on Schroder for much of the game and just slapping at the ball) and our overall style of play. We pound it inside and we don’t relent. We may not see that wide of a gulf again but I also doubt the Warriors will make so many threes.