That was a hard game to watch. That might have been the worst energy/pride effort of the season. Even without AD and Schroder you need to put the work in, you need to compete and you need to leave your ‘quit’ in the locker room. You need to bring the energy.
- The biggest difference between this season and last? Health. We had great luck with health last season, I think AD and James missed fewer than 15 games in total, granted the season was 11 game shorter. This season we’ve had key players out (AD, Schroder, and AC) for extended periods, KCP has been banged up and the compressed nature of the schedule doesn’t do our team any favors with the short turnaround. We can point to a lot of isolated issues on the basketball court but, in my opinion, health hasn’t been on our side as much as last season. SO, to that point, the health of AD is paramour. If he’s limited, or worse can’t go, in the playoffs the odds of repeating dim considerably.
- How do we open up the floor with out our best shooter? It’s become plain to see that this offense doesn’t function for extended stretches without Davis as a release valve. He’s our best perimeter shooter, our best finisher and his impact on the defense is sorely missed, as well, which helps trigger our fast break. Without Davis the Lakers are finding the easy points that were a large part of success last season and earlier in this one very hard to come by indeed. The obvious answer is “someone has to hit some outside shots and it can’t all be on ‘Bron”. But, once again, we struggled to hit from deep. KCP continued his up and down season by going 0-4 from deep, the bench was 3-13 (but the regulars off the pine were 2-10) and Morris went 0-1 but had a decent game in other areas. If the answer doesn’t lie within we’re going to have to make a move, which feels more likely by the day.
- Talen is a bright spot, or at least as bright a spot as could be found in this game. I loved seeing THT in the starting line up. KCP and Wes don’t work, one would imagine it would be better than it’s shown itself to be but we end up starting slow because teams key in on LeBron. When his shooters aren’t knocking down their shots nothing works for the Lakers on offense, doesn’t really matter who is on the floor. But THT was both decent from three (2-5) and had a solid all-around game. Might have pressed a bit in committing those 3 turnovers and could have shot better (I want him to learn to turn that step back 21 footer into a step back three and live with it and Rudy forces everyone to miss shots, that’s what an elite defensive center with athleticism can do for a defense) but those are the things that happen against elite defenses like Utah. There really isn’t much more that could be asked of from THT in what is, for all intents and purposes, his rookie season as an every game NBA player. If Schroder can’t go in any games going forward I hope it’s THT who gets the call to replace him, it’s the smart move.
- One of Kuzma and Morris needs to be better off the bench. When Kyle starts, he has a good game. Frank has him come off the bench, not so good. Morris got benched for a spell when we were rolling and his return has coincided with some of our worst basketball of the season. However, ‘Kieff had a pretty solid game last night, especially on the offensive glass. The Lakers can’t have only one of those guys show up every night, we need them both. Trezz plays great off the bench, we need that energy boost off the bench and I don’t think we’d get much more out of him if he started so I liked the notion of getting Morris going by starting him. I just would have rather seen KCP go to the pine and not Kuzma who is, in every measurable way, having a better season than Caldwell-Pope is. So if KCP is entrenched in the starting unit, like it feels like he is, than one of Morris and Kuzma needs to figure out how to better contribute off the bench.
- The dudes on the Lakers Fast Break podcast gave Quinn Cook a shout out and I wanted to echo that. Cook did all we asked of him, mainly cheer teammates and play spot minutes off the bench. I don’t expect he’ll find his way back to us this time but I also won’t be surprised if he ends up on a contender. Guys like him, solid locker room dudes who know how to be a pro when your number doesn’t get called most nights, are invaluable. But his NGC made him expendable and J-Dud fills that role on our team, as well. SO best of luck Quinn, see you on down the line.
The Jazz look a lot like we did last season. Guys making the smart extra pass, finding the open man, movement on offense. A defensive anchor in the post who sets hard screens, finishes well and defends at an elite level around the rim and in the paint. Reminds me of someone… Someone who was on our team last season… Someone who wasn’t stretch five… Anyhow, we’re not that team this season and nor are we likely to be. The Jazz beat us in every category last night but the way they play off one another is why I consider them to be the biggest threat to us in the west. Seeding might not matter in terms of home court but it certainly matters in terms of whom you play and when. We’re setting ourselves up for a tougher playoff run than need be. Here’s hoping we can right the ship and get this turned back in the correct direction: up the standings.
One thing I know for sure, when healthy, the Lakers will prevail in a 7 game series against any team. That’s how much I like our chances. Health has been the biggest culprit thus far this year. Your take on THT was money. I really like this kid. The surprise new starting lineup was intriguing even though they were unable to stop the bleeding after the first quarter. Good to see the coach try something new. Great fiver, Jamie. Thanks for the great work.
Thanks Buba! Health and the schedule have not done the Lake Show any favors. The break might be just what this team needs to get locked in and loaded for bear.
THT has some growing pains but honestly the Hest place to learn is in games. There’s no time to practice and even if there was I would hope we spare James as much extra work as we can. When Schroeder returns I’d like to see THT start for a slew of games, see how he responds.
Actually the new starting lineup did pretty well and held their own in the first quarter. It was those three straight threes to open up the second quarter that killed us. And the same thing to start the second half, corner three and Gobert dunk.
Good fiver as usual, Jamie. Thanks.
1. Every NBA champion has to have luck, especially about injuries. Fortunately, AD’s injury so far has not been serious. So knock on wood and keep hoping. Hopefully, we start the path to return to greatness tonight.
2. You’re right that AD’s outside shooting, both long 2’s and 3’s, were a key to winning the championship last year. It’s why Frank always prioritized his putting up at least 5 3’s per game. No doubt we miss that. It’s a game changer that defines Davis’ modern game and makes him the modern offensive center.
3. The lack of shooting by the rest of the team has undermined THT’s ability to get to the rim just as it has LeBron’s. I like that Talen hit 2 of 5 from deep. He needs to focus on fining ways to get wide open shots and taking them with confidence. Considering the Lakers’ weakness from three, it’s the one improvement that could keep him in purple and gold.
4. While I like the move by Frank to start Morris and THT, which matched my article on the Lakers going small against the Jazz, I didn’t like not starting Kuzma. I understand that Frank still likes what he gets from Gasol but benching Kuzma was a mistake. He needs to start to get the minutes and rhythm to contribute at the level he has been doing. We need his energy, rebounding, defense, and shooting.
5. Have to love Quinn’s time as a Laker and root for him to get a break to play elsewhere. He was the heart of the Lakers emotions for Kobe during the aftermath of the tragedy. Some guys will always be Lakers. Quinn’s one of those guys.