The Lakers look more and more like themselves with each passing game. After halftime last night the one thing Laker fans had been yearning to see showed itself: LeBron James was driving to the run, again. Between an aggressive LeBron, a dominant Anthony Davis, and a slew of timely contributions from the team the Lakers over-powered the Suns in the second half for a solid win. Not to be overlooked, the Suns didn’t seem to respond well to the intensity of playoff basketball. The funny thing about that is neither one was Chris Paul.
- LeBron James flipping the switch. Up until halftime last night James had undertaken a total of 2 drives to the hoop. He changed that in a big way in the second half and it completely altered the tenor of the series. The Suns didn’t have a defender that could contain LeBron although they spotted Jae Crowder into him. It always cracks me up when a player tries to out-intense LeBron. Crowder’s goofball defense with his hyper aggressive bodying up on dead balls and constant yapping at the officials reminded me of other clown defenders like Matt Barnes and Ruben Patterson. Guys who try to play more defense with their mouths and antics than their brains or feet. For talents like LeBron it doesn’t matter. He’s too good and too skilled for antic D, you need to suck it up and stop whining. James is back and the league should be worried.
- Anthony Davis dominating. The Suns have no answer for Davis when he chooses to play with power and ferocity. He made that choice last night and Phoenix looked futile in their efforts to slow him down. Fewer fadeaway, improved focus on defense and one highlight block showcased everything we know AD can bring. He had his way with anyone they slotted onto him scoring efficiently, getting to the line and grabbing 11 boards. That’s the AD we’ve been waiting fir all year.
- Schroeder showcasing his feistiness. Schroeder has an odd role in our team, even as the starting PG he’s our secondary ball handler and playmaker and our third option on offense. Despite all the time missed and this being his first playoffs with James and Davis Dennis is starting to impress. He scored inside, took his open three pointers and got under the Suns’ skin to the point he generates a flagrant 2 foul on a Devin Booker sharp shot. Not much more you ask if the guy as he also played stellar defense. After Book’s uncalled for fF2 Schroeder showed he was good to go by getting his mod-game workout in with Caruso spotting him on 15 or so push ups. The man has a motor that’s much is certain.
- Chirpy basketball will never get it done. You can tell when a team has begun to realize the scope and breadth of the issues they have in their hands when they look to the refs, chirp and quack all game, and roll out the cheap shots and tough-guy antics. When have you ever seen Caruso, a solid defender and unheralded player, get so into with the refs he gets a tech? Once, twice maybe? Or deliver a shot so cheap it earned him a F2? I don’t think ever. Booker’s mid-air shove of Dennis a Schroeder is one of those plays that has no place in the sport. That’s not competing that’s weak as %#@&. Booker is, or should be, better than that. While nobody likes losing you have to remember that, like it or not, you are a role model for kids as a pro athlete. Crowder getting tossed was inconsequential, nobody ever misses the court jester when he goes to take a nap, but I was really disappointed in Booker’s actions to end the game as I am a big fan and admire the work put in and journey he’s on.
- Kuzma’s vanishing jump shot. Kyle starting off these playoffs rough, man. Another brick fest from Kyle was east to overlook as we won handily but, at some point, we’re going to need more from Kuz. The bench in general hasn’t scored well in the series but has done a solid job on defense and rebounding, which is great. Hope Kuzma isn’t dealing with some kind of injury since I assume we may be without KCP on Sunday and he could be pressed into starting.
Honorable mention go to Wes, Dre’ and all the guys who saw the court because our second half D was top-notch which is a team effort. We’ll need more of that going forward.
The team is finally looking like the one with huge arsenal of veteran players that won it all last season.
AD and LeBron’s one two punches in the third quarter were very devastating. Almost felt like a B-52 bomber carpet bombing the hell out of the enemy. Add in a steady dose of Dennis the menace with good contributions from the role players defensively then you have an enemy that is overpowered.
The only negative from the game is those silly turnovers committed in the fourth quarter. I thought I would have a heart attack when they were turning the ball over at that rate.
I am pleading with the Lakers to please leave those turnovers at practice and not in real playoff games. It hurts to see them giving away those precious possessions to the opponent for free. Most of these turnovers were unforced.
They were trending in the right direction recently in terms of turnovers, but it seems they are resorting back to that same old habit. Anyway, that was a good game and thanks for the post, Jamie.
20 turnovers including 7 from LeBron, many totally unforced. The good news is we shot horrible from deep, turned the ball over 20 times, missed two dunks from LeBron and AD, and yet, still won the game by 14 points. Like last year, Lakers expose teams as being inferior the more the series progresses. Lakers in 5.
Good points, Tom. There was some solace in getting the win despite those miscues. Man, those two missed dunks by AD and LeBron could paralyze an opponent waist down if they went in.
Good fiver as usual, Jamie. And yes, Lakers are starting to look like the Lakers.
1. Aways great to see LeBron still has a switch and knows exactly when to flip it. No settle threes in the third quarter. Instead, it was LeBron going downhill and attacking the rim relentlessly. Answered any questions about whether he can still do it. That ankle is obviously not 100% but that’s not going to stop LBJ.
2. AD dominating. Yes, this is going to be the year when he takes the baton from LeBron and wins his first NBA Finals MVP award. AD to average a 30+ point double double for these playoffs. If Lakers win it all, AD will cement his place as the Lakers next great and heir to LeBron James in purple and gold.
3. Dennis has his warts but he is no shrinking violet and if we can create enough space to empower him to attack the rim, he’s a championship weapon. My guess is he goes for more money and a bigger role than what the Lakers can provide. Lakers more likely to add a player like DRose for less at the point next year. Give Dennis credit for not being afraid to be a player.
4. League needs to change the rules to eliminate plays that are not basketball plays, like the cheap shot by Booker. Looks like CP3 IS mentoring him. League needs to eliminte those intentional fouls to prevent fast breaks. Intentional fouls should always be 2 shots and the ball. Good call by the refs on Booker as he could have caused a major injury to Dennis. Still don’t understand how Draymond’s two hands to the face was not a flagrant. League needs to clean that rule up.
5. Kuzma had best plus/minus on team, scored 8 points and made two of the teams seven threes. He and West played great defense, hit timely threes, and weren’t afraid to shoot. Kuz had third most shot attempts on Lakers. Glad he had the courage to continue to shoot. He and Wes were unsung heroes.