We’ll take ’em any way we can get ’em. W’s. The NBA’s favored mode of currency. Without AD these have been hard to come by nd the one’s we do come up with have been quite the struggle indeed. The Lakers are down multiple players, more after last night. But they still managed to kick off the season’s second half on the good foot.
- Kyle’s big game. The Lakers looked stuck in second gear throughout most of the game, Down by as many as 12 well into the 3rd the Lakers turned to the last of the much-hyped but generally underwhelming (at least as Lakers) Young Laker Core. Kyle poured in 15 game-saving points in the 4th quarter helping the Lakers pull ahead and hold onto the lead down the stretch. Per usual he did that while grabbing a team-high 13 rebounds. Kyle could be in some serious 6th man of the year consideration if he keeps this up through the end of the season. Averaging double-digit rebounds is likely out of reach but he’s among the best rebounders and scorers off the bench in the league.
- The injury bug. With the news that AD is out at least 2 more weeks without him seeing the court in 5-on-5 scenarios or full practices, Gasol out for H&SP (along with two-way player Kostas Antetokounmpo) losing Alex Caruso to a head injury 7 minutes into his playing time was another serious blow to the roster. The Lakers are struggling with the injury bug a lot more this season than in last and it’s showing in the record and in the standings. Where it’s showing the most is the constant flux of coach Vogel’s line up. Unlike last season where there was a groove to the team as a whole this season has seen multiple bench players moved in and out of the starting five. Hopefully that sort of flux won’t give us issues in the playoffs.
- Wes Matthews where have you gone? I had high hopes that the break was going to allow some guys to reset and come back looking…well…better than before. The much maligned trio of Morris, Matthews and Kentavious combined for a total of 18 points on 12 FGA (not bad), 12 rebounds (not bad), 3 assists, 2 steals and a block to 3 turnovers and 4 fouls. Between three guys that’s OK. With AD out we need more. One of those three, if outside help is not riding over the hill, needs to step up every night and hit the double-digit mark, at least. Some of it is hesitation (each of those guys passed up open shots as they have been doing all season long which is the biggest issue, IMO) and had brain dead turnovers. This was highlighted by Wes Matthews literally passing the ball between LeBron’s legs without much pressure being applied to either player. That has to stop and it has to stop now.
- If you had hoped that the break would allow the coaches to put together some practices and help the players lower their absurdly high turnover rate (for the type of team we have now, only one young player who isn’t the issue when it comes to the turnovers) you came away last night shaking your head like me. 15 turnovers allowed the Pacers 12 more FGA attempts which was mitigated by the gift the refs gave us in the absurd free throw differential we compiled. A lot of that was driving the rock into the extreme on-ball pressure Indy brings, an adjustment the Pacer coaches would be wise to make once the refs establish what is going to send someone to the line or not. Also Indy went cool from three or this game could have been a route nobody in purple and gold would have wanted to see.
- If you listened to the post-gamer LakerTom, Gerald and myself dropped you will have heard Tom proclaim, multiple times, that this was a great win because it shows that the problems are still problems. We still give up a ton of paint points, we turn the ball over too often, and we can’t rely on anyone to hit from three. WHile it would be nice to say the solution lies solely in getting KCP going (we’ve seen several games where they force-feed him shots with nary to show for it), get Kuzma more involved (my favorite idea but I’m not sure it’s enough) or running more offense through player X (anyone of Schroder, Gasol or Kuzma) the truth is the Lakers need help in the paint. As such, in my opinion, we need to make a move for a center and the center that fits our style and could have instant impact would be the same one we just faced: Myles Turner. The Lakers should aggressively and annoyingly pursue Turner. The Pacers are clinging to the final play-in spot and trending in the wrong direction. They have a decent prospect at the 5 in Bitadze and with Caris LaVert coming over the hill in the next week or so we could see the minutes for guys like McConnel or McDermott vanish, as well. AN equitable trade (one Gerald has proposed awhile back) for some solid rotation-ready players feels like it could be made. While the Pacers hold Bird, or early Bird, rights on both Doug and TJ they’ll be hard-pressed to keep both, especially McDermott. The Lakers and Pacers could both use players on the opposite team. A deal of KCP, THT, Trezz and Jared Dudley gets it done for Turner and McDermott. Losing Trezz would hurt but you slide Kuzma into his minutes and maybe give Cacock or Kostas some spot minutes at the 4 (or in Kostas’ case the 3 or 4). Whether a trade like that one happens or not it’s hard to see the Lakers being content to stand pat with the team as is currently constructed. The help we need might have been the players we just saw.
At least we got the win, although this one won’t make many scrap books or highlight reels. As currently constructed the Lakers won’t go too far in the playoffs, especially if we don’t get something resembling a 100% ready to contribute Anthony Davis who, even prior to the leg injuries, was not producing to expectation on either end. While I am not the proponent of the three ball some are I also realize it is an essential part of the modern game. We have to close the three point gap and giv up fewer points in the paint. However that happens is cool with me.
Again, you hit the nail on the head, Jamie. Wins are wins and I will take a win and run like a gazelle. It’s just that the way we have been playing sometimes doesn’t lend credence to our status as champions looking to repeat.
Kuzma’s hustle and work ethic are very refreshing and a thing to behold. Wes Mathews? I really don’t know what is holding him back. He does a lot of hounding of other team’s scorers defensively but not moving the needle offensively. Morris is definitely fitting in fine. Needs to be a little bit more aggressive. So far, I am happy with his performance.
Injury has been one of our biggest issues this season and the injury bug knows no boundaries. In addition to that, the three biggest culprits ailing this team are turnovers, center position and, of course, three point shooting. Unfortunately, our turnover problem is getting as old as the universe. Lack of enough practice time will not do any good on that front.
Finally, in order to improve the proportion, appeal and symmetry of the team as presently constructed, the goal should be to perform a minor cosmetic surgery by adding a good center and some good three point shooting. That should give the team the strenght it needs to repeat. That’s why I am anxious to see what awaits us at the trade deadline and the buyout market.
Thanks for the post, Jamie.
Thank you Buba! Cosmetic tweaks seem the most likely although some fans would like to see a big name come riding over the hill. Not sure the Lakers have the partable assets to land the big fish. At least w/o gutting much of the best parts of the roster. If we can shake the injury bug with 6 or so weeks to go that should be enough time to gel. More time would obviously be better.
Good stuff, Jamie. Thanks for the consistent effort and great content.
1. Kyle Kuzma’s 11.8 ppg is the fewest points in his career to date but he’s also playing his best basketball as a pro. But his 3-point attempts, makes, and percentage, rebounds, blocks, and defense are the best in his career. And he’s making the fewest fouls per game in his career. Bottom line, he’s redefined what he needed to do be a key contributor to LeBron and AD. Other than in extreme opportunities, I’ve now moved Kuzma off my trade list. I love his game and we need to keep him, especially since he is taking 5.0 threes per game at 37%.
2. Well said about the injuries. The silver lining is better now than late in the season or the playoffs. One significant change in the Covid-19 picture is Biden’s statement that we should be able to offer every American the vaccine starting May 1st, which could mean NBA players could all be vaccinated against Covid before the playoffs start. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that will happen.
3. Wes has worked his way not only off the rotation but also, because of his poor play, off the list of viable trading chips and onto the salary ballast list. Big disappointment although he still appears to play good defense and like any shooter, could get hot. I know some of the trades I’m looking at end up with Wes as our backup shooting guard so I’m still hoping he’s start hitting his threes.
4. Yeah, the hoped-for impact of the break quickly disappeared as the players still look tired and apparently, we only had a single practice as Frank wanted everybody to get time off to get re-energized. Instead, we ended up with more players injured or out for Covid protocol. Maybe we’ll see some impact once everybody is back and available.
5. Great to see you double down on the Myles Turner bandwagon. I’ve also adjusted my Turner trade in the article I will publish later today to reflect Gerald’s ideas. Myles is not a superstar per se but could have ‘superstar’ impact for the Lakers and the Pacers would be better with Sabonis at the five to make room for LeVert and Warren in the starting lineup. No better match up to play the five with AD than Myles Turner. All you need to know to see his potential value is the on ball pressure the Pacers were able to apply with him protecting the rim.
Thanks LT. It would take Kuz to get Turner I think, hard to see Indy settling for less but I would be thrilled to get him and keep Kyle.
I agree. Jamie. In the 10 trades I’m proposing today, I think the Turner trade is the only one where Kuzma is included. Kuz, THT, and Harrell are worth it to get Myles. Add those three to Warren and LeVert and the Pacers rise way up in the East standings in my opinion. Great trade for both teams.