I don’t see another move the Lakers can make that would have as positive benefits as trading for Turner, moving AD back to the four and LeBron to the three, and playing Russ and THT in the backcourt.
Lakers can’t continue to play Too-Small-Ball instead of Small-Ball-on-Steroids. Best way to fix that is to trade for Myles Turner. He would enable us to continue to play the same small ball five-out style but with monster size like last season.
A Russ, THT, LeBron, AD, and Turner starting lineup would be the biggest small ball team in the league. Thast’s exactly the physically dominating type of team Frank wants with two bigs. AD gets to play his preferred four and LeBron his preferred three.
Considering THT’s jump, he and Nunn and DJ should be enough and we can throw in a pick or Monk to close the deal. It’s the single biggest move the Lakers can make at this time and much better than trading for a bigger 3&D wing or power forward.
Aloha Jamie, nice post although I agree with a couple of points. First THT had 12 boards, that’s a little more then a couple😂 The 2nd, the Bucks aren’t really injury riddled. They were earlier but they had their big 3 back. The only starter out is Lopez and honestly even with him the Lakers beat the Bucks with LeBron. We went 0 for 16 from 3 down the stretch and it killed us. However that really is an anomaly. We are better then that. 25% down that stretch wins the game. And you are right, fouls are ridiculous. AD didn’t even a get an out in the open flagrant foul call on Giannis. One of our biggest problems was the Bucks were getting small on Giannis, almost at will. And we weren’t sending help. While AD didn’t do a good job against him, he got a lot of his points against small players in switching situations. I don’t know how LeBron will effect THT but I think we now have 4 guys that can really attack. I think we will see rotations that have maybe Russ and AD and LeBron and THT or other combinations with those four.
Good to see some welcome positivity in this fiver, Jamie. Sometimes, things do look differently after you let some time pass. I still contend this was a QUALITY loss. And I agree with all of your ‘five things.’
1) I agree 100% with you on THT’s great game, especially the 3-point shooting. Talen has put together three straight games that scream third year breakout. Can he continue if LeBron returns? That’s the big question. I think he’ll get a chance. I’ll be rooting for THT to have another big game.
2) Lakers could have won the Bucks game had they shot up to their normal level and had Giannis not had his usual 3 of 4 threes against the Lakers while shooting under 30% vs. rest of league. You’re right that the game often swings on whether we make or miss our threes. I feel more confident that as the season progresses, our improved 3-point shooting will show up.
3) AD did get owned on defense by Giannis and it also affected his confidence on the offensive end. There’s an up-and-down to AD’s game that needs to end. Aggressive for two games followed then by a passive game. For sure, LeBron has the low center of gravity that Giannis has and AD doesn’t. Giannis can overpower AD in the post but not LeBron but AD still cannot get outscored 44 to 18. We need a huge bounce back finish to this road trip by AD. He got schooled. Now he needs some payback.
4) Glad the Lakers complained to the league about the free throw issues. All three Lakers superstars are getting jobbed by the zebra. All three receiving the fewest free throws in their
career. The flagrant foul by Giannis hitting AD in the back and on the head was just the poster boy for the zebras bias against LA.
5) Russ working hard to diminish the turnovers is a sign he’s been listening to LeBron, AD, and Frank. The Lakers clearly can benefit from not wasting possessions. Of course, not having LeBron helped too. It will be a key to tonight’s game because the Lakers need LeBron and Russ to take care of the ball. But good find, Jamie, as better ball security is one of the keys to more wins.
Great Fiver, Jamie. Let’s hope LeBron plays, AD dominates, Russ plays under control, THT continues to shine, and our shooters remember how to shoot. I’m hoping for a happy, kumbaya podcast tonight. 😃✌