Hey man it takes a village. Frank Vogel, reportedly on the hot seat once again, trotted out a very Frank Vogel starting five. If he’s going down he’s going his way. Turns out it was the guys who didn’t start that ended up having the larger impact but I expect this look to solidify over the course of the rest of the season with a couple key differences. Regardless it worked out, against a top team at that, for at least one night.
- LeBron’s apology. While he didn’t get 40 like he predicted on social media The King was still the force we needed him to. While not his best showing in terms of efficiency there is rarely a time where I question LeBron’s effort or shot selection. Like all the greats they’ve earned a dud game here or there. SO, while not a standout game where he scored 40 or even a continuation of his 30+ point tear this was a solid game from James. Which was all we needed.
- Russell’s dunk. Honestly, and I’m not trying to be a downer or anything, I though Russ could have been called for an offensive foul when he used Golbert’s shoulder to get that extra lift that allowed him to throw it down. Same way i though Blake Griffin’s “iconic” dunk over Pau Gasol should have been an offensive foul. I guess there’s a question of did Rudy foul Russ first and everything was game after that or whatever but the point is that was something I think the whole team needed. Especially Russ. He puts up a stern façade and his demeanor rarely shifts on the court except to seemingly get gloomier, but this was a long time coming.
- Stanley’s big game off the bench. This is the role he needs to carve out on this team. While a case can be made for putting together a starting line up that has all our best, fastest horses in it I think we’ll see more of what we got last night going forward. Ariza stunk, Howard was OK, Bradley was fine. But they’re all old and it makes sense that, if they are to be used, that we use them when they’re warmed up and not ask them to get going midway through the first half or what have you. Get warm, go play. That leaves journeyman Johnson to come off the bench and find his groove. I think this better suits his talents. Let’s him get going against other guys off the bench and if he rolls hard there maybe be an impact player when the game matters.
- What can we take away from this? As we have all learned and espoused there seems to be no corner this team will be turning. One potentially statement or season-altering game on a Monday can be wiped away by a dud against Indy tomorrow night. If we put together a nice string of 10-15 or so games I’ll look back to the game that started it all and, with the benefit of hindsight, and say “Hey look! It was THAT game that started it all!”. Because to do otherwise is fruitless at this point.
- The trade scenario. Reaves, Monk and THT all had great games off the bench. All three are likely trade sweeteners since we don’t have a ton of picks in this decade to add. I don’t think the minimum deals of the likes of DeAndre Jordan or Kent Bazemore are moving anyone’s needles. So, with that in mind and with the news that annual Laker trade target Myles Turner is out for an extended time with a stress reaction in his foot, is this the time to trade for him? We also had some good and bad news on the injury front with AD cleared to ramp up and Nunn set back again with pain in his knee. At this point I’ll be surprised if Nunn plays this season, I think he’s likely to get surgery to see what’s going on, clean up the knee, whatever he needs to do to get back on the floor. It’s not a guarantee he’ll ever wear his Laker uni. Could we do a deal for Turner with THT, Nunn and one of Reaves or Monk as the sweetener and actually keep our pick? Is it worth it to our theoretical title hopes this season? I have been pretty dour for all the trade enthusiast’s as I continue to be more of the opinion that we won’t do any in-season deals and not less. But the injury to Turner opens an odd kind of door. One that makes getting a player that can actually play back in a deal for him look a little differently. Also that teams looking for help now will start to look elsewhere leaving us in a position of possibly being able to swoop in and get Myles on the team. I think that all parties involved will wait for more definitive reporting but it is a curious case.
We need wins. Doesn’t matter how they come. If we need to play the octopus that predicts world cup victories at 2 guard or the mule that kicks field goals from the Disney movie so be it. Can’t lose the winnable games anymore and need to eke out some tough ones, too. Otherwise this is done.
Buba says
Very good post, as usual, Jamie. The one thing that caught my attention is #5, the trade scenario. I am not a fan of in-season trades even though I will welcome a home run scenario. I am of the opinion that our success this season will be to develop from within. As Michael pointed out to me some days back, our lack of assets has greatly reduced our standing in the trade market. At this point, you never know what can transpire. As for Nunn, his situation is very depressing to me. No fault of his own. But having the thought of not having him for the whole season seems unbearable to me.
Jamie Sweet says
Totally agree, man. Nunn was one of our “big” moves this offseason but now it would appear we would have been better off not signing him at all, giving that cap resource to either Malik Monk (and making it easier to retain him this summer) or keeping Caruso. Hindsight is 20/20 on that one, though. No way anyone could have predicted a bone bruise would take over half of the season to heal. All in all, I just don’t what we have moving many needles and I’m not too high on 33+ players at this time. We got a lot of those in spades.