Aloha,
While it was clear that this team still has a lot of work to do, with AD back we caught a glimpse of what this team can be going forward. Having AD back changes everything. Yes he was naturally rusty. He needs to get his wind, legs and timing back but just having him in the middle was a game changer. Besides the 4 blocks and multiple altered shots, he turned a lot of guys away from me he rim and seamlessly was able to switch everything. He challenged several 3 point attempts that helped hold the Nets to only 27% from 3. A few other thoughts.
LeBron continues to amaze on offense but he is still impacting the game on defense. He demonstrated again why I’m against adding another center like Turner. His days of being able to defend wings and 3’s on a consistent level are past him. But when he plays the 4 or 5 he sits back and plays free safety with steals and off ball help. With AD back this is Lebrons best role.
Positive effort and energy was on display most of the game. We need this every game.
Our switching defense does allow for more offensive rebounds. But 18 offensive is ridiculous. This has to be cleaned up. Those rebounds along with Westbrooks turnovers that led to 10 points is the only reason that the Nets were able to hang around. It’s frustrating when you play blow out basketball only to give up all those 2nd chances.
Lunch pail basketball. Austin and Stanley both put on their hard hats and went to work. Austin’s assists, rebounds and defense was a game changer. And Stanley played his usual hard nosed defense with seamless switching 1 through 5. Today is Stanley’s last day of his 10 day. They better sign this kid. Ariza didn’t see the floor because of his effort. You are not going to get that out Trevor.
Isn’t it amazing how good things happen when you actually look for your 3 point shooters? Malik was 6 for 12, that was with 2 percentage busters that he had to take. And Melo was 3 for 7. We don’t have to trade for a 3 point shooter, we just have to utilize the ones we have.
Malik was a +14, Austin +13 and Stanley + 10. The only old guys with pluses was Melo +15 and LeBron +10. This actually been trending this easy for awhile with our younger players having the stronger +/- If you don’t count Bazemore 3 minutes of garbage time 5 of our 9 guys were 28 and younger. That mix of of young and old is what this team needs to employ going forward.
Great post. I think Austin’s shot has hit the rookie wall but his overall game has not. I wouldn’t trade Austin or Monk for anyone but a game-changer whom the team intends to keep. The mix of young and old in all our line ups is the key going forward, though.
Aloha and Mahalo, Michael.
Spot on post. This Lakers team is like lethal memory that’s faded so much you can only see the outlines. Last night, there were solid periods where the vision could actually be seen. LeBron’s offense, AD’s defense, Malik’s stroke, Reaves intangibles. Like a ghost ship floating invisibly in the harbor slowly taking potential championship form and dimension.
I agree with you about LeBron at the 4/5 being LeBron’s best defensive role. He is so engaged when he plays the five. Frankly, his best position as well as AD’s best position is probably the five. LeBron is like a middle linebacker or free safety viewing the play and deciding where best to blow it up. Those back-to-back steals yesterday were killers. I love LeBron at the five.
But that doesn’t deter me from wanting to trade for Myles Turner. While trading for Turner could result in LeBron playing fewer minutes at the five, I think that can be adjusted by having LeBron play the five in certain matchups with AD staying at the four. Who plays the five should be matchup oriented.
Tomorrow night we go up against the 76ers and Joel Embiid. Who do you think would be a better starting matchup for Embiid? I might even see Frank start Dwight rather than AD because of the size and weight issue. But Turner would be the best option. With AD and LeBron helping when needed. They’re both better shot blockers as help defenders anyway. And we can still play 5-out as Myles can stretch fhe floor.
What Turner brings is a true stretch five who wants to shoot more from outside. He is the player that would enable the Lakers to matchup with any team. He’s the answer to teams that have Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid at center. Yes, we can probably scramble and find ways to make up for our lack of size. Why not just address the issue. Lakers won in the past because they had great size at every position and played small. Small ball on steroids. With Turner, we will never lose the rebounds or points in the paint battles and can play five-out centerless basketball 48 mpg.
In the end, I believe in being able to play any styles or matchup against any opponent is a huge edge. The Lakers have too few assets to add a bigger 3&D wing and stretch five rim-protecting center. Myles Turner would solve the Lakers philosophic dysfunction over the center position and force the Lakers into the modern NBA. Lakers would have an elite shot blocker putting a lid on the basket 48 minutes of each game.