For a game at least the slide slowed. Frank got the absolute most one can expect out of journeyman Wenyan Gabriel who hit all three of his 3 pointers, 7-8 shots overall, and brought some desperately needed size. Also returning to the starting five was one Dwight Howard who played 24 minutes and brought support in the form of defending the paint and boxing out. The game ball would have to go to the beleaguered Russell Westbrook who sent the game into OT with a clutch steal and three pointer.
- Westbrook staying the course. It’s easy to give up, especially for fans who have little to no impact on the outcome of things. For a pro athlete there can’t be any quit, though. If there is that means you have entered the “toast” phase of your career as a player. Russ has withered a lot of criticism from inside and outside the NBA. From professional chump Patrick Beverley to ex-champ Kendrick Perkins to 88,265 media heads and most of the Laker fanbase Russ has heard it all season long. He got a little of that back last night with a needed (for all parties involved) triple-double and a solid game overall.
- 20 points away. LeBron is about to become the second greatest point scorer in NBA history. That from a guy with a ‘pass-first’ mentality. It’s astounding to me the numbers this man has accumulated, creating the one-man statistical category of the triple 10,000, and he’s brought home the hardware to validate all of it in the form of ring;s trophies and other accolades. James has another solid game and we won without him scoring 50 breaking therealhtj’s prophecy of “we’ll win if LeBron scores 50 (although it did last for far too many games, lol). Had LeBron gotten to 50 he would be on the cusp of passing Karl Malone and occupy the #2 all time scoring leader spot.
- Wenyan’s big game. I’m not going to lie, I consider this game of Wenyan’s to be an anomaly. The big man from Sudan tied his career high with 17 points and 9 rebounds. We needed every single stat he brought, though, and if…somehow-some way…he can keep up this level of production up to some degree or another it’ll help the Lakers a lot. 6 teams in 3 seasons can be seen two ways” a prospect who needs time and/or a defined role to develop or a player tossed in because the $$$ works and who knows maybe something can come of it. Well kid, here’s your chance to make the most of a rough start to your career.
- Avery Bradley re-asserting himself. These games a re coming fewer and farther between, at least on offense. AB is one of our better by percentage three point shooters but he’s been in and out of the lineup since just before the ASB. If he’s back and healthy it means Frank has a good teo-way option that I think should come off the bench. Along with Reaves it gives us some defense and shooting in the second unit which we desperately need. Russ usually plays longer into the 1st quarter so having a secondary ball handler who can run an offense and hit shots helps give Russ a tool to use. Nice to see AB make some great plays on defense and he should have gotten that charging call that was a block.
- Stick with Dwight. I thought from the beginning that Dwight should have been our starting center. That going to LeBron at the five is a weapon to be deployed strategically and not to be overly-relied upon. We get killed on the glass every game LeBron spends the majority of his minutes at the 5. Yes, LeBron had 2 game-saving blocks last night but overall for the majority of the game we are a team that is vulnerable in the paint. We need somebody with size, defensive and rebounding acumen to help LeBron out and man the paint. That isn’t Carmelo Anthony, either, who has done well this season on defense given his rep. Well is not what Dwight brings, especially when healthy and motivated. We may have helped him lose focus by not being clear and honest about his role, for sitting him for games on end. The man has pride and plays best when he’s playing for it. It’s another reason I think Frank won’t have a job after the season in that I am of the opinion we mismanaged Howard all season long.
Need to keep it rolling tonight. We simply can’t afford to win one game and then lose 3 or more after that because…who knows why. If you’re not ready to play hard, do everyone a favor and don’t play. LeBron is leaving it all out there, every night, do him the courtesy of putting forth the same effort and focus.
Great fiver, Jamie. Nice to have a win to talk about.
1. Man, I’m happy for Russ, to make that steal and then hit that three. Wow, Russ probably got the best night of sleep since he was traded to the Lakers. I’m hoping it will be a huge relief that will trigger a streak of these games to finish the year and give the Lakers a glimmer of hope heading into the play-in tourney.
2. LeBron’s not 100%. At times, his frustration shows. But he keeps on chugging and the Lakers can only go as far as he carries them. We don’t win this game without LeBron’s great play off the ball and protecting the rim.
3. Wenyen for real or not? He may not be the solution to the Lakers starting small forward but what a pleasure seeing a 6′ 8″ player with hops and athleticism playing the three for the Lakers. What Gabriel shows is how good we could be if he had size a the three. If anything to me, it reinforces the idea that we should throw our two picks and pieces to Detroit to get Jerami Grant. Not that I wouldn’t sign Wenyen for the same deal as Stanley, who also had a great game with 5 assists.
4. Apologies to Avery, whom I’ve demoted, cut, and sliced into a million pieces during his Lakers tenure. Game ball for closing the game when we needed it. I’ve never been a huge fan of Avery’s ‘active’ defense as I think he just gets fouls and beaten off the dribble but I’ve always respected his willingness to shoot the three when passed the ball. He was lethal last night and hit the game winners.
5. Dwight must start until AD returns. Part of our battle to win games has been the uphill battle on the boards and scoring in the paint because our micro lineups are tooooooooo smaaaalll. There’s no bigger small ball fan on this site than me but it’s small balll on steroids that I like, it’s offense based on spreading the floor, shooting threes, and attacking the rim to get dunks and fouls. Putting LeBron at the 5 with 4 guards is micro ball and can only work in certain situations. Lakers need size. Gabriel’s performance is a plus for him but just proof of how the lack of a legitimate starting small forward bigger than 6′ 5″ has killed the Lakers.
The Westbrook Curse was broken last night. We’re going to see a Lakers team that used tdo be snake-bitten and expecting the worse to happen transform back into a confident, hungry unit that will start winning 3 out of 4 the rest of the way. At least, that’s whatI’m hoping and what logic tells us we should ezpect.
Yeah I’m not saying anything other than one decent game happened last night. It’s not the Westbrook Curse but rather the Folly of the Front Office in constructing an old, slow, small team. It’s all uphill from here on out and has been since before the All Star break. Quality of opponents is high, skill and talent level of our team is low. One win changes nothing at this point just means we were able to come together better than most nights.
Great post, Jamie. Your take on Dwight Howard is all I have been missing from this blog. Never understood why he hasn’t been used more often to help us with size. I know he is no longer his once-dominant self but his presence alone can help detour opponents’ traffic around the rim. Great points.
Thanks Buba, I think we have under-used and mishandled Dwight all season long. While not the be-all-end-all of our issues you need to dial his number when there’s anyone bigger then 6’9″ at the 5. Small on small, fine, then we can get by w/o Howard. Let the big man loose.