Most teams are past the 1/4 pole mark, including the Lakers, so instead of a 5 Things about the awful game between the Lilliputians, er, Lakers and Cavs I thought I’d go into what’s worked and what hasn’t as we head towards the halfway point of the NBA season. Let’s dig right in.
- The defense…for the most part. Given the guys on the team, the offense it needs to protect and the way we played last season (giving up late leads, unable to stop penetration and sieving paint points, etc.) this is a total turnaround. We’re 14th in defensive efficiency, 25th in steals (not the be-all-end-all of defensive stats), 10th in blocked shots (neither is this of the utmost importance but nice), and 26th in opponent points in the paint. All of that shows improvement if not a level of elite that we would hope to see with guys like AD and Patrick Beverley playing big minutes. This has as much to do with who is committed to defense and who isn’t at this point in the season. I would list the following players as highly committed: AD, PatBev, Reaves, and Wenyan Gabriel. Committed: Russ, Bryant, Lonnie Walker 4, Schroder, and Troy Brown Jr. Indifferent: Nunn, James, D-Jones. The last one of those (Jones) has been a disappointment in pretty much every facet of the game. While I can understand why LeBron is playing defense the way he is on this team it really isn’t going to work. He needs to be more present and at least do things like close out on the only wide open shooter on his side of the floor. Nunn…just gotta go, no hope for him on this team. Don’t know what the deal is there but Kendrick might have earned the distinction of worst MLE signing ever, at least for the Lakers.
- Anthony Davis at the center position. Took some time, several hints dropped via the media he’d really, really, really like to play at the 4 but AD has decided to be the best center he can be. Turns out he’s pretty good at it. Fewer jumpers, more offensive rebounds and points at the rim and you have a recipe for the kind of success that is both sustainable and something the team can build on. We don’t need to get into the specific numbers of how much AD is dominating because the true measure is that he’s being discussed for the loftiest NBA awards: MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. If he wins either/both of those it would mean we won a lot more games than predicted, that he elevated the team around him and not just putting up gaudy stats in a vacuum, and that we actually made the playoffs and not the playin.
- Russell Westbrook off the bench. Despite everything the Lakers and Russ have found a way to coexist and be productive together. While the trade market is the dominant topic in all things Westbrookian I am of the opinion that the Lakers will not be trading Russ unless it’s for a player that is a true upgrade over Russ and not just some nice role-players. The FRPs required to move a contract of his size for a player you may or may not retain just does not make sense. The fact that you likely won’t win the talent side of the trade, either should make one question why the trade be made in the first place. AD playing more in the paint has opened up Westbrook’s game more than anything else. He, once again, has an elite roll man to find for open dunks with crafty wrap-around passes or kicks out to shooters…that last one often coming with mixed results not of his creation. I think that, in the end, Russell ends the season with LA. They need his expiring cap space if they want to retain Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV and possibly make a run at other free agents who could come on the market. So, unless the trade is for expiring deals, brings back a different FRP, or is for a knock-me-down-and-call-me-surprised caliber player I just don’t see it happening. They’ve said as much, done as much and there it is.
- Not working #1: Patrick Beverley. Just for kicks I took a peek at THT’s stats since that’s who we gave up to acquire PatBev. Hate to say it but Talen is balling harder than his counterpart in the surprise trade of the summer, at least for the Lakers. Here’s a rough comparison:
-MPG: PatBev 26.8, THT 16.8
-PPG: PB 4.2, THT 7.2
-FGA: PB 4.7, THT 6.9
-FG%: PB 27.1%, THT 39%
-3P%: PB 22%, THT 25%
-2P%: PB 38.5%, THT 48.5%
-TRB: PB 3.8, THT 2.6
-AST: PB 2.5, THT 2.5 (not a typo)
Neither is averaging over 1 for blocks or steals, PatBev turns the ball over a little less but fouls a lot more. None of that is to say that THT is the better player, the Lakers didn’t need another youthful player to develop that they would have to choose not to sign because of cheapness reasons. What that does illustrate that in 10 more MPG PatBev isn’t bringing much buy brave words and some nice looking hair on a nightly basis. For the money we need more. Only Nunn produces less/dollar from the role-player pool (Russell is the worst Laker guard sharing the cellar with the likes of Klay Thompson, Paul George and Ben Simmons (link here: https://www.spotrac.com/nba/valuation/guard/ ). Not sure what level of player we can expect in a Beverley trade, hopefully one that would include Nunn, but it has to be better than this. - Not working #2: Reaves off the bench. This needs to change ASAP. Reaves with the starting five brings it all together. He brings the right amount of shooting, defense and energy that nobody else on the team has. His Hoops IQ is really high which means he sees the game happening and where he needs to be to help a play develop on both ends. Moving Reaves to the starting five would push PatBev or Schroder to the bench, so no issues on that one. There are fewer and fewer justifications to playing Beverley at all, Schroder should get the backup point guard minutes, and Max Christie should fill in the gaps. That’s just how it is, man. No offense to PB or DS but they just don’t bring the same level of skill, talent, and smarts Reaves does. My starting five would look like this: AD, LBJ, LW4, Reaves, and Schroder. Second unit would be Bryant, Wenyan Gabriel, TB Jr., Nunn and Russ. Max Christie and Jones are “break glass in case of foul trouble” players and PatBev can sit. That’s just me though.
Anyhow, since the Lakers have chosen to beat teams they can beat and not roll over and die in advance of playing marquee teams we’ve reversed course on our 2-10 start. Recent rough outings aside (no AD and a disengaged LBJ in Cleveland) this team should still make the playin. While I’m sure Jeannie would like to see a better showing from her investment this mess is on her and Rob as anyone else. Your last coach took the fall for your overall organizational ineptitude and cheapness, that won’t be an excuse this time around. The Lakers need to make some kind of move before the trade deadline if they want to truly have a shot at competing in the playoffs. Since I don’t see a deal out there that will improve the team enough to come down off their “only 1 FRP…maybe” stance I long ago shifted sights to PatBev and Nunn who, if packaged together, could net a really decent player.
Great fiver, Jamie.
1. Defense. The stats say we’re terrible but there were stretches when AD was showing just why he should be a leading candidate for DPOY and MVP once the Lakers’ record becomes respectable. That’s great for the regular season but we aren’t going to win in the playoffs unless we can plug a couple of big defensive holes.
The first big hole is a legitimate 3&D wing like O. G. Anunoby or at least Bojan Bogdanovic or Kelly Oubre. No more guards trying to defend small forwards. We need two 6′ 6″ to 6′ 9″ small forwards. That should be our top priority in the trade market.
The second big hole is a backup center who can protect the rim when AD is on the bench and at times play next to him when we play against teams with two bigs. Thomas Bryant can be our backup stretch but we need somebody like Nerlens Noel, who is now healthy and could be acquired along with Bogdanovic and Burks, which is a trade Michael pushed that I like a lot.
2. Diesel AD. I’m using that from one of your fivers. Gotta give Darvin Ham big flowers for solving the AD at the five dilemma, which is huge in terms of building the right roster around him and LeBron. Suddenly, the goal is what can we do to make AD better, not what can we do to make LeBron better, although we want that too. That this is now AD’s team changes everything.
3. Russ off the bench. Another Darvin Ham miracle. Like with AD, it ultimately comes down to a player doing something special and unexpected that is great for him. For a coach to do this twice in the first quarter of his first season is remarkable. Credit to Russ and AD but props to coach Ham.
4. PatBev is on his way out. He’s Darvin’s Avery Bradley.
5. Austin Reaves. The glue guy who should start tonight.
Go, Lakers!
Re-PB as Ham’s AB: I honestly think Bradley is better, he at least hits more shots and neither was the defender they were in the past. I would take Bradley over Beverley.
Also I don’t think coach Ham reads the site, he didn’t start Reaves…