That felt like two games. It was, of course, only one. Pretty sure there hasn’t been a same-team double-header since…maybe ever? Barn-storming era? At any rate, two very different halves of basketball. Not going to get into the superlative performances of individual Lakers, just some in-game and out-of-game thoughts this evening.
- This is Laker defense, and they ain’t foolin’ around. Now with more audibles from Rondo!!! Truth be told it’s a cliche’ because it’s true: defense wins championships. The Rockets talk about it (they kind of have to, it’s a huge question mark for them) but the Lakers walk-the-walk. I’ve been pretty hard on Rondo this season but with good reason: he’s been pretty underwhelming in totality as a Laker. The caveat being that there have been stretches in all of the season’s he’s been wearing purple and gold where he played like how I remember in the NBA Finals versus Boston…all those years ago… Hard, with focus, with guys like Kevin Garnett, Tony Allen, and you add stars Ray Allen and Paul Pierce buying in, covering for one another with ferocity. That’s how the Lakers played defense in the second half tonight when they slow-pulled away for the win.
- By the way, how the hell are the Lakers winning games?! Houston is shooting threes at a ridiculously efficient rate (although it could, somehow, be argued they ought to maybe shoot a couple, three more), they’re making a ton of free throws (and will probably gripe that they should be shooting more), and they’re forcing us into a ton of mid-range jump shots. It’s not like we’ve shot more free throws (65 to 64) or we’re dominating the FGA battle (244-237). We’re scoring more efficiently (thank you Anthony Davis mid-range jump shot), making more plays off the pass and dominating in the paint.
- Vogel adapting like a lazy Borg. But he is adapting. Benching Howard for two straight, starting Markieff Morris in the second half (although one wonders if that was as much. The defensive adjustments to what the Rockets are trying to do are solid, especially the traps. The help defense from the weak-side has been especially devastating. A lot of that is on the players making great reads, but the traps, zones, and man-to-man switches are all things the coaching staff has worked with the guys on all season and it’s showing in the clutch.
- The Laker bench showing up huge in this series. If you’ve been listening to the podcasts Gerald has been producing for Lakers Fast Break and sharing here then you know Mike D’Antoni likes a short bench, especially in the playoffs. Our bench, much maligned and often the source of trade proposals, has been walloping Houston. Losing Danuel House for undisclosed reasons was a blow for the Rockets and here’s hoping Robert Covington isn’t seriously hurt after colliding (with an unintentional little push from Kyle). but still the Laker bench has been solid on both ends and it’s one of the keys to us being up 2-1 in the series. Caruso and Kuzma, both in their first NBA playoffs ever, are distinguishing themselves well. It’s not like they’re playing like All Stars, they’re not. But they’re holding their respective roles down like true pros and it gives Vogel more time to rest guys during the game so they’re a little fresher for the 4th.
- Speaking of fresh, the lack of any kind meaningful home court takes it’s toll. It must be like trying to solo insanely while shooting a video in a room full of people doing other things. Really odd stuff for a professional basketball player. It feels like not only did the long layoff throw some wrenches in the cogs for teams like Milwaukee and Philadelphia, of whom we all expected more, but for a team like Houston that has a short bench, was just in an unexpectedly long series, got little guys having to bang with bigger guys a lot more, the lack of crowd energy is just one thing too many to overcome. Not sure how one would go about discovering the truth of that notion. At any rate, I can;t recall a playoffs where the game that a “home” team has lost or an “away” team has won has meant less. Tonight the Lakers took back their home court advantage. Whee.
Soooooo if you’re into prediction I’m calling game 2 for Houston, they tie the series up and we win the next two to move on. I wouldn’t mind being wrong, but I’d love to see the Lakers have a liiiiittle less of a layoff for the next round. It’s likely to be a tough Clippers squad that honestly feels like it’s never approached it’s ceiling as team. Honestly, it might never this season as it’s been such a jambalaya of a rotation. At any rate, feels like we don’t have too many rust games to burn. But we’re not there, yet, game 4 is Thursday.
Great game. It was such a fun game.
Well, no rest for the restless. The 7 game series the Rockets had to go through is finally starting to show in their legs. Adding to the Lakers menacing defense, the Rockets probably have a lot going on in their minds right now after all the confidence they had in their game 1 win. Their frustration will only grow exponentially if the Lakers keep clamping down on defense. That speedy, small ball game they like to play will be hard to sustain against the Lakers defense.
And speaking of defense, what a beauty to see the Lakers always maintaining their poise and composure in tight situations. Their ability to maintain discipline and intensity always allows them to pull away in close games and they have shown that in the last game also. That’s championship DNA.
The more the Lakers figure out how to handle small ball lineups, the more it’s going to help them in later series, especially if they make it to the finals against Boston or Miami. But right now, let’s finish the business at hand with the Rockets. Good game.
I agree Buba, Rockets started to look gassed by the end of that game. Some of it is likely tired/Bubble legs, some our on-ball pressure and trapping and some is just that they’re playing small guys against bigger guys and getting knocked around a lot. That wears a feller down. Going to be interesting to see how MDA and the Rockets adapt to those quick doubles on the sideline. Harden will adapt, too, I felt like he gave up the ball real easily on a lot of those on my second watch of the game. We’d double and he wouldn’t wait or try to split while he had his dribble alive, just dumped it out. Not so sure we can count on that reaction from him. Thanks dude!
Good fiver, Jamie.
I agree that defense wins championships, which is why I have been adamant that Vogel plays more small ball instead of tall ball. Keep hanging onto the illusion that Frank is going to go back to playing McGee or replacing him with Howard. Not in this series against this Rockets team. Frank may be slow but he’s not dumb.
The Lakers are winning these games despite the Rockets shooting lights out because we’re starting to play more like the Rockets at both ends of the court, meaning spreading the court on offense and relying more on limiting 3-point shots and, like the Rockets, relying on speed, quickness, and athleticism to protect the rim than size.
I am impressed with the adjustments Frank has made and hope he will continue playing this way against the Rockets. I’m still 100% in on the Lakers in five. Rockets can’t keep shooting this well and now that we’re playing them on there terms, what’s become obvious is that we should continue to play this way throughout the playoffs.
The bench has played well, especially Kuzma and Morris. Both were excellent on defense. And I agree 100% Rondo has unleashed LeBron on offense. It will be interesting whether Frank will continue to start McGee. There’s a strong case to be made that starting Morris or Rondo or Kuzma would be better but honestly, McGee’s minutes have been so minimized that he is no longer relevant to the conversation. Let him start as long as Frank limits him to less thn than 7 minutes.
Finally, the bubble is the equalizer. It may have already been a huge factor in the Heat beating the Buck. Give the Lakers credit. The Blazers and Rockets both stole wins they likely would not have gotten playing at Staples. Otherwise, Lakers would likely be undefeated in the playoffs so far. Gold star instead of asterisk if Lakers win the bubble championship.
I mean, it’s not my choice: it’s Frank’s and it’s not an illusion. JaVale’s been jumping center every game in the playoffs and all but 2 the whole season. I think you mistake my speaking about how Frank coaches and adjusts with what I myself am advocating. I have always refrained from putting myself in the GM or coaches shoes but rather try to see what works with what they’re doing, what doesn’t and how that jives with my NBA world view. It’s less me and more them, at least that’s what I try to do.
Against the Rockets I advocate adapting to what works. Game 2 & 3 are what’s worked, so far. It’s on the Rockets to adjust something on their end. They might not, they might just stick by every gun they have and fire away and see where they fell when the dust settles.
The Rockets are all-in on a style of basketball but that’s not to say that they can’t change coverage’s (we do that in-game) or try letting Eric Gordon bring the ball up to free Harden and Westbrook to move off-ball, and if Covington and House can go they’ll have more players to use than they did by the end of last game. Nobody talking about how Covington going down took a lot of the wind out of their sails, he’s one of their better defenders, clutch three baller, etc.
So while I don’t expect MDA to trot out Tyson Chandler to jump center I do expect to see some wrinkles we haven’t seen. Geez…look at me, giving MDA props for coaching changes he hasn’t made yet, lol.
LOL. My apologies if I misunderstood the reasons for your comments. I appreciate the explanation. Thanks.
The hardest things for any fan to stomach are when the coach makes moves that defy both the stats and eye test, like playing JaVale and Dwight against the Rockets.
In fairness, they’re inside the situation while we’re just here in the peanut gallery. Of course, there are lots of times when the experts prove their fallibility, which is why so many coaches get fired every year.
On the other hands, there are those situations like Playoff Rondo where coach Vogel was more right than I was and I have to say good move playing him. He’s been a difference maker. But hell, that’s why we’re here blogging.
No worries LT, I know you’re passionate about small ball. Exactly, 100% in regards to blogging and gallery-ing. Having said that, there is certainly more than a little variance between what we endorse in terms of our favored styles of hoops. I am not all in on analytics, I see it as a useful tool that one uses to inform their choices. I know you love the 5 outs, spread the floor, hunt out the highest percentage 3 point shot. I look at the Rockets and see all the reasons it doesn’t work (and more than a few why it does work). I prefer the big man’s game, I miss the skill set a good center brings to the low post and I find the way bigs are reffed in the modern era borderline offensive. Flopping like a soccer player is all but endorsed, and rewarded by trips to the line. I also like seeing a guy catch fire from three and carry an offense for a quarter or so. There’s so much to appreciate and admire in the variety of ways a basketball can be scored.
One of my off-season notions is to talk about some rule changes I’d love to see the NBA endorse but likely won’t. Thoughts for another day. Game 4 is almost here.
“I agree that defense wins championships, which is why I have been adamant that Vogel plays more small ball instead of tall ball.”
If you’re five best defenders are wee players than I’m all in. I think JaVale isn’t bad at covering the paint, rotating out to shooters and defending without fouling. Kuzma still can get happy feet out there and fall for ball fakes, JVMG is more disciplined. His biggest liability is honestly in transition.
End of the day, we’ll see. Like I said, haven’t heard that the ankle is sound and wasn’t the reason JVMG didn’t play in the second half, if not than there’s a small chance he doesn’t start the game on Thursday but I wouldn’t bet on it.