This is a late fiver, apologies on that front. Had a work week chock full of…work and didn’t get’ round to watching the Denver game until late last night. That was an incredibly fun game and rather than go into the in-game minutiae I’m rather going to highlight what certain plays mean to me in terms of this team’s overall growth. But that was an incredible 45-17 lock down run to basically end the game.
- The Double Dive. Dennis ended up on the floor a few times last night but the double dive was emblematic of how coach Vogel wants the team to play. I know this because Frank dashed onto the court to help his 27 year old point guard up off the deck. Schroder had his typical sneaky good game. He canned multiple threes for the first time in almost 20 games, dished and dove with aplomb and was a general force on defense all night long.
- The LeBron triple-double effect. I’m not sure that, outside of Magic Johnson, I’ve seen a player accumulate triple doubles with the ease that The King does. The most ot ever looks like he’s going for it is if he’s a pass or two away near the end of the game. Other than that he just grabs his rebounds, makes the right play and doesn’t overtly force the issue. James is having one heckuva season and has a good chance of being the MVP of the Association if he keeps this up. I actually expect his stiffest competition to come from the 5 spot this season in the form of both Jokic and Embiid with Jokic edging Joel in my book simply because he runs the Nugget offense as much as any guard does for their respective team. For my part the fact that LeBron is doing this at a point in an NBA life when most dudes his age would be getting their spot minutes in addition to any towel waving or team hyping they cared to engage in. A truly historic season among many for James.
- Talen’s big game. This was really great to see. Prior to his 4 game DNP-CD stint on the bench THT was having some issues on defense. Not so much in terms of his effort or energy but his being in the right place as dictated by the staff. That is, in my opinion, the biggest reason why he got the 4 game bench vacation. The other was likely to see if either Wes or ‘Kieff could be jump started with more minutes or a larger role and we saw how that turned out. If he minds his on court P’s and Q’s, does what the staff asks and doesn’t push his attack on offense when there are plays that can be made in front of him I don’t see another stretch on the bench of Talen. That’s why you stay ready and don’t pout all you kids reading this, this life we’re living is one big old lesson that starts at zero and ends when you’re dead. THT kept his head, kept learning, kept grinding and was rewarded by being a part of what looks to be an elite 9 man rotation.
- Robert Horry and I had the same reaction when we looked at the stat sheet: “Alex Caruso was -2?!” That is the Caruso effect for you, in a nutshell. He missed all of his shots (only took 3 all from distance) and only played 17 minutes. But his third quarter defense on Murray, Morris or whomever he got switched onto was a big reason for our epic 45-17 run where we pulled away and turned the 4th quarter into garbage time. If I had to pick a player to compare Alex to it would be Tony Allen because I can’t think of another guard/wing who could effect a game to the degree they do without scoring the ball once.
- The trade deadline. Unless we trade someone outside the 9 I don’t see one happening. It’s not that we don’t have needs to address, we do, especially at the center position, but I don’t see us moving any of our key figures. Here’s why: with almost no time for practice based on COVID scheduling, the defense finding it’s groove and the synergy our two superstars have with their supporting cast a trade kind of doesn’t make sense. Whomever comes in might not even start, or even crack the 9. From my perspective you’re going to give up too much to get a role player when our role players already fit like gloves into our team identity. The best thing I could imagine would be trading Gasol for Howard straight up. Since Philly is leading the East with the team it has I don’t see that happening. So I expect the Laker moves to be relegated to scanning the waiver wire and rolling the dice with the squad we have rather than make a move for a player that barely moves the needle, if at all. That being said, it’s the NBA and I expect Rob and the front office to explore every available avenue for improvement.
Sorry Nuggets fans, Denver must feel like they’re still in the Bubble (heck, they played us tougher in the Bubble) but take heart that Jokic, Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are going to be a force to be reckoned with for a good long time. Nikola will probably win an MVP at some point when he starts pushing his scoring average into the 20s, Murray is a lights out/knockdown shooter and MPJ has a huge ceiling of untapped potential. Wasn’t enough last night.
Great job, Jamie.
1. The double dive just earned Dennis Schroder an extension and the love of most Lakers fans. His speed and effort at both ends is exactly what this team needed.
2. LeBron’s Triple Double may have separated him from every other MVP contender. That he’s doing this with little time off and after his 36th birthday is unbelievable.
3. THT moving up in grade like a straight ‘A’ student on a roll. Like Duds says, this kid is going to be a starter on next year’s threepeat Lakers team.
4. This was actally a disappointing game for Alex Caruso, not that he’s entitled to one once in a while. He not only missed all three shots but trned the ball over 4 times and was a distant 6th in the team in defensive rating. Probably Alex’s worst game of the season and why he only played 17 minutes.
5. Trade Deadline. I pretty much agree we’re unlikely to make a major trade although your sggestion of the Lakers trading for Howard was the biggest joke of the day. Dream on. That train left the station and is way out of sight. Howard is the last thing this team needs on defense. Noel or Cauley-Stein, yes. Howard, LMAO.
The WCS and NN trains are derailed, spilling cargo and have created an environmental disaster wherever they land. Double no to both. At best those are lateral moves, at worst you trade away a piece that fits for a headcase that over values whatever contributions they imagine they bring to an NBA team. Howard has the size and strength to help against the stockier centers and opens the lob game up, again. WCS over NN if you’re putting a gun to my head but then I’d just as soon not make the trade. But you know me, I wanted to run it back as is in the off season so…
I guess AC had a bad game on offense but, as you missed, I was pointing to the other end of the court (aka the other half of the game). Officially he had three turnovers, not sure where you got 4 from, and also 3 dimes. His scoring has been and always will be, gravy to the myriad of other things he does well. The defense is his turkey and his complimentary skill set the mashed potatoes.
Schroder in purple and gold for another 3-5 years would suit me just fine. He has the right mentality for our team, is a defense first kinda guy and is sneaky good on offense. One of my big qualms for the theory folks toss around is pairing one ball-dominant player with a Kobe or LeBron. Schroder is quite possibly the perfect PG to play with leBron into his (eventual?) twilight.
THT going to put KCP to the bench? Maybe but I doubt it. Could happen, though. I like the pairing of he and Caruso off the bench a lot. They both can make plays, they both can effect the game with their defense and THT is still learning. I think he’s 2-3 seasons away from being a very consistent NBA player. Still has some growing pains yet to, in my opinion. But I like what I’ve seen and his trajectory is pointed in the right direction. Unlike Nerlens Noel or Willie Cauley-Stein. We only need two hyphenated names on the roster.
1. Howard was left hanging and McGee traded because they can’t defend in space, which is something WCS and NN can do.
2. Six Lakers had defensive ratings under 100 vs. Nuggets. Alex was 7th with a rating that was 5.8 points higher than the 6th best player. Why so hard to admit he had a poor game defensively. That’s what the stats and eye test say. Even the bench GOAT can have an off day. At both ends.
3. I love Dennis too although he’s not a great passer and can be hunted on defense but I love his dog and his speed is killer. Agree we should extend him too.
4. THT starting. I think that could happen although its not a sure thing . More minutes and a bigger role for sure. It’s really amazing what Talen can do now at 20. And the Lakers have the ability to keep him no matter what. No way they’re going to let him go.
As to whom he would replace? Like this offseason, there will be changes next offseason too. Kuzma’s poison pill will be gone. Lakers will be looking for a third superstar and will have the contracts to possibly land one. We still need a real playmaking point guard. I agree with Duds. Talen may even start before this year is over. Good chance he will next season.
I think it’s important for the Lakers to extend Schroder as he could be a valuable trading chip this summer for a superstar, which I have mixed feelings about, or a center, which I think s/b our priority.
I would like to see Harrell get re-signed although we don’t have even Early Bird rights on him. He would be a big trading chip. Hate to see us lose him for nothing this offseason.