Some guys have it. You certainly can’t teach it but you can, sometimes, inspire it as the great ones have done in the past. That inner fire that doesn’t quit, that doesn’t give up or hang your head. Ever. Last season’s team did not have it in any way shape or form. This season’s team has had it all season and it’s nice to see it didn’t go away with the roster turnover and possibly even got better. Let’s get cooking.
- Dennis Schroder rising to the task at hand. Dennis has had a myriad of assignments tossed his way, was recently demoted to the bench, and was thrust back into the starting line up due to injury. While his shot wasn’t on he didn’t let that deter him, something that is emblematic for the entire Laker team these days, and found a way to get the team going on offense with 8 assists to just one turnover. Schroder didn’t hit a single three pointer but did score inside often enough to keep the pass alive when it was needed and showed a coolness under pressure we needed to pull the victory out.
- AD’s big game. Davis hadn’t looked like himself much lately his uneven play. He found his inner flame last night in the paint where he dominated on the glass and with his scoring along with racking up 4 assists. He was also a force on defense deterring shots at the rim and that’s what we truly need out of him. This team is very beatable when AD doesn’t play defense at an elite level. While he had some help on that end and on the glass last night it starts and basically ends with AD.
- LeBron’s foot injury. Feels like the entire season is riding on one’s guy aged body and we’re all hoping he just gets through every game able to still play. Oh…wait…that’s exactly what’s happening. Hopefully LeBron’s right foot injury isn’t too serious, haven’t really seen any updates, I assume he’ll be listed as questionable on the IL for the Memphis game and I kiiiinda hope he rests it for a week because there will be no rest of the season if he goes down.
- Austin Reaves not backing down. Reaves is a pretty quiet and low-key dude. If you’ve seen him on Backstage Lakers he’s pretty humble and reserved. Last night he showed his inner fire by getting into it with Josh Green and earning the legendary double-tech. Still, it was a defining moment in the game and showed the heart of the Lakers and the Mavs lack of poise, a trait we showed a lot last season as the losses piled up. Reaves was, by a wide margin, the most impactful player off the Laker bench which didn’t really ever get going
- Jarred Vanderbilt. Had to save the best for last. No way we can over look this dude’s versatility and tenacity. Pulling down a game-high 17 rebounds (including a career high 8 offensive boards which were key in keeping us in the game), guarding the other team’s best player, scoring efficiently and adding 4 critical steals Jarred was everywhere last night. Far and away my favorite player we traded for, Vanderbilt continued to endear himself to fans and showcase his talents on the biggest stage basketball has: a Laker game. Moving him into the starting line up has so much impact on the quality of overall play on both ends of the floor. Yes, the offensive spacing Malik Beasley creates is important but that doesn’t stymie the best wing or fuel fast breaks with rebounds or keep possessions alive. Jarred changes the game fir the Lakers on both ends of the floor and I wish we had acquired him a lot sooner but I sure glad we have him now. Definitely a keeper.
This win kept any actual playoff hopes alive as it’s quite likely Dallas will be the team we need to leap frog past in order to get there. Dallas had a lot it wanted to prove: that the Kyrie/Luka pairing will work against the best teams (so far the only win has come against the Spurs who are all but trying to lose), get some standings separation and claim the tiebreaker in the same game. With one more game against Dallas on March 17th and each team having won one that will now be decided at a future time and place. That tie breaker could end up being huge. Anyhow, this was the grittiest win I’ve seen us come up with in a long time and it came when it was truly needed. Good stuff. Hope we get D-Lo back to take some pressure off LeBron.
Good fiver, Jamie. Not what I imagined when were down 27.
Man, we actually beat a team who outscored us by 42 point from three by countering them in the paint by 30 points and the line by 11 points. Amazing grit and defense in that comeback.
Yup. If LeBron goes out for awhile I don’t know how much it’ll matter in the end but hopefully Vanderbilt has played his way into a long career as a Laker.
Nothing buoys a team’s spirit more than a win like this.
This is the signature win of the season and there’s already been a couple I thought held that title.
A really good lifting win for us. This win will give chills to the top seeds. Nobody would want us in the first round. Man, I love this team.