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Those free throws would have given AD 4 straight 30-point games.
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Read MoreA lot went right in the loss but just enough went wrong that the Lakers were unable to hold two solid leads built up over the course of the game down the stretch. Credit to Phoenix for making shots and staying aggressive for all 48. I’m chalking this one up to “learning how to win on the road” in the schemes and with younger guys and rookies taking a more prominent role but we’re digging in on this one all the same.
- Lakers bench got thoroughly outplayed. The bench of the Lakers mustered 8 points and the whole group was outplayed by Royce O’Neal all on his own. Plumlee owned Hayes, too as Jaxson barely got 4 boards in his 13 minutes. Some of that was some good rotational choices made by Coach Bud who dropped Nurkic down to bench minutes territory with just 15 minutes (down from 18 the last time we played) in favor of 23 minutes for Plumlee (up from 19) but it was Royce O’Neal whom the Lakers really didn’t seem to ever adapt to his energy and activity. He hit big shots when our defense seemed designed to stop the “name” players. That’s a learnable lesson because, at this level, anyone can beat you on any given night. In the end we need more than 3 points from Gabe and 5 from Max. DK registered his first donut, along with Hayes, so lot’s for that group to take away mand grow from.
- Not enough points in the paint. 42 points (same as Phoenix scored and a lot of their came in transition) won’t get it done, especially on the road. We shot the 3 ball well (43.8%), and a lot…for us… (32), but it didn’t matter as it wasn’t enough to overcome Phoenix’s overall efficiency (46% for the game). On the road you need to lean in even more to your strengths and, for this Laker team, that’s AD in the paint. AD only got 5 FGA’s in the 4th quarter compared to 10 in the first. That doesn’t work for us. That’s another adjustment the staff can look to implement in the next film session: keep AD involved through 4 quarters and have him continue to set the tone in the paint.
- LeBron sick game. Bummer, but it happens and he played but he didn’t play well. So it goes.
- The question of Max Christie playing over either Knecht or Reddish. Max Christie, whether it’s deserved or not, is going to be one of the season-defining storylines this season. Can he play up to his new deal? The 4 year $32 million ($8 mil/season with a player option in 2027-28….VERY player friendly, overall) was offered relatively quickly when free agency hit. That money could have been used in other ways, we could have let the market dictate his value and matched another offer (or not) or we could have offered him less and see what came back. Maybe shades of Caruso vastly outplaying THT was dancing through Rob’s head and maybe the Lakers really see something in the guy that simply hasn’t manifested in an NBA game, yet. Regardless with players like Knecht in the waiting now, not to mention bigger/faster options in Reddish and eventually Jarred Vanderbilt, it’s a worthy debate to have. I like that they’re giving the kid a shot and this is certainly the best time to do that. The length of the experiment is all that I’m questioning right now and also whether or not Knecht has already earned a bigger role. I’m still undecided but leaning towards more DK.
- Christian Koloko is NOW cleared to play. Not last weekend, like Tom insisted was true repeatedly and vehemently on our podcast (and was also flat wrong about it), but today. Now, well, now we wait some more. Dude hasn’t played hoops in over a year so he’ll have plenty of ramping up ahead of him. He’s on an NBA two-way deal and so, as of this moment, can only play in 50 total games and not in the playoffs at all. Everything about this looks like he’s a project player to me but we’ll see what he manages to accomplish this season. One way or the other the Lakers are smart to swap a guy like Koloko who has the potential of NBA bonafide’s over Colin Castleton who never really looked like an NBA player. Expected impact this season: negligible.
Roady continues tomorrow night against in Cleveland. I expect Bronny to get a 5 minute burn or so for the sake of playing in Cleveland but maybe not. Hope LBJ starts to feel better because we need his impact.
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LakerTom wrote a new post
https://x.com/LakersLead/status/1851298006722544124
https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1851306327819137491
https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/18512982984073343992 Comments-
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HERE ARE SOME GREAT VIDEO OF WHAT LAKERS CAN EXPECT FROM KOLOKO:
If the Lakers can get Christian Koloko back on the floor, he has real potential to be the secondary shot blocking big they’ve been looking for since the Dwight & JaVale days.
Obviously small sample size, but he’s shown flashes of being a potentially elite rim protector &… pic.twitter.com/BVrKwwRgUZ
— 𝙉𝘼𝙅 (@najeeadams_) October 29, 2024
11 POINTS
7 REBOUNDS
6 BLOCKSChristian Koloko #Lakeshow
— GoldenKnight (@GoldenKnightGFX) October 29, 2024
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It will be interesting to see if Koloko will be available before either Vanderbilt or Wood are ready to play. Overall, Koloko looks like the shot blocker and rim protector the Lakers desperately need when Anthony Davis goes to the bench to rest.
Finally getting league approval to return to action, Christian looks like the perfect candidate to fill the Lakers backup center role behind Anthony Davis. I would expect the Lakers to be eager to find out if Christian could be the answer to second big to play alongside AD.
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May not need Kessler if Koloko can become their second big to play alongside Anthony Davis.
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Bron definitely did not have it last night. Relieved to hear that he has been sick since Friday. Good to see the team almost winning despite a poor game from LeBron. Need to take down the Cavs tomorrow night to get back on the winning track.
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With Bron playing maybe the worst game in decade, the fact that the Lakers barely lost on the road vs Suns, playing their 3rd game in 4 days….says A LOT.
Get Wood/Vando back. And you know who you have to trade.
Get it done.
— Letting Go (@ProvideContext) October 29, 2024
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LeBron James tonight 🕊️🕊️🕊️
🧱 11 PTS
🧱 3-14 FG
🧱-17 (worst among starters)He had a good run 🙏 pic.twitter.com/FlOLXK5xsP
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) October 29, 2024
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Lakers only lose game by 4 on road despite LeBron’s poor game and Durant and Booker having great games. Lakers need to get Vando, Wood, and Koloko back and move JHS, Lewis, and Reddish for open roster spots. One great trade can make the Lakers a championship caliber team.
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This man is physically sick after this loss and took all the accountability for his part in the loss. I’m so happy he is the coach. pic.twitter.com/xN5rox53M2
— The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 (@ThePettiestLA) October 29, 2024
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Anthony Davis: "We don't expect to lose. That'll be a challenge for us all year: never lose two in a row" pic.twitter.com/Yy2E2ceXDJ
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) October 29, 2024
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The 2019-20 Lakers came into the season with a stated goal of never losing two in a row. It only happened three times that campaign en route to the championship. These Lakers have adopted the same goal pic.twitter.com/AW9Pnt6QWy
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 29, 2024
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LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura all spoke to how pissed off JJ Redick was in the locker room postgame after the loss.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 29, 2024
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Max played 23 minutes
Dalton player 11
I said JJ is going to give Max every chance to prove his worth. If his production don't get decent JJ will eventually move to Dalton.
— CL Owens 🏀 🇺🇸 (@CSmoove_Sports) October 29, 2024
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I know it's only been 4 games but it's time for JJ to start giving Max's minutes to Dalton. It's obvious Max is just not ready at this point to be a major rotation player. Too many examples of a bad play by him turning into 5 point swing. Dalton should be backup shooting guard. https://t.co/rbDeaKjSue
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 29, 2024
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This was a great play the Lakers ran but Reaves missed the three.
JJ draws up Winner perfectly!! 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/N7cvwrpzNo
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) October 29, 2024
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JJ Redick on LeBron's intentional miss:
"We communicated that. … Everybody that was on the floor, knew what was happening. … It was an insane miss. I don't think I've ever seen an intentional miss hit the bottom of the rim and go straight down."
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) October 29, 2024
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“That just shows what a great leader looks like.”
Austin Reaves on JJ Redick taking accountability for not switching coverage on KD.
Says JJ let out a loud F bomb leaving the locker room.
“Just shows how much he cares”
— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) October 29, 2024
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Btw, even with LeBron James’ awful performance last night, the Lakers still win the game if they had a legitimate backup center like, oh I don’t know, Walker Kessler.
Hayes was a -18 in a FOUR POINT LOSS!
When Davis leaves the game, it’s a layup line for 29 other NBA teams. pic.twitter.com/qgOrPUUq1D
— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) October 29, 2024
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The Lakers had 1.1 left on the shot clock with an inbound on the baseline.
JJ calls a timeout, draws up a play, and Gabe Vincent DRILLS a corner 3.
The JJ Redick experience continues to be night & day from last season 💯
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) October 29, 2024
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Coach Redick is a mad man when it comes to basketball!
(Buha) #LakeShow
“Redick dropped the microphone on the podium and looked away for a couple of seconds.
He needed a moment. He was seething.
With the next question, a follow-up to a schematic term Redick had used in his… pic.twitter.com/VfOBwH7DmI— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) October 29, 2024
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3-0 Lakers are tied for #1 seed in the West and ranked #3 in the latest NBA Power Standings. Lakers have 5th best offense in the league at this point.
Next two games are against #10 Suns and #4 Cavs. Win these games and Lakers will be 5-0 with a shot at starting season 10-0. https://t.co/1WRRE1wJEA
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 28, 2024
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https://x.com/LakersReporter/status/1850996011881415132
The Lakers (3-0) are in Phoenix to face the Suns (2-1) for their first road game of the regular season. Below are three things to know in advance of the matchup:
1. RUN IT BACK
For whatever reason, the NBA Schedule Gods saw to it that the Lakers and Suns would get sick of one another early this season, as this Oct. 28 matchup will already be the fourth time the two Pacific Division squads will see one another (including two preseason contests), with a fifth game coming right up on Nov. 26. The most recent meeting was just three days ago, LA emerging from Crypto.com Arena with a 123-116 victory despite falling behind 38-23 in the first quarter.
2. EARLY STANDOUT GROUP
To start the 2nd and 4th quarters of the three games thus far, JJ Redick has played a group of D’Angelo Russell, Dalton Knecht, LeBron, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes, and they’ve been killing it. In 19 minutes, they have a net rating of 73.9, with an offensive rating of 163.4 and defensive rating of 89.5. It’s a small sample size, sure, but they’re running opposing groups off the floor.
3. HEALTH AND AVAILABILITY
For the fourth straight game, the Lakers expect to have their starting lineup and primary bench rotation all available for coach JJ Redick. On top of the nine players that have played rotation minutes thus far, and Bronny James (three minutes in the opener), Cam Reddish is also available after missing the previous two games for personal reasons.
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If Lakers continue to roll, Redick’s chances of COY will only increase.
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NBA released its first Power Rankings and the Lakers jumped up 16 (!!!) spots 😳
1) Celtics
2) Thunder
3) Lakers pic.twitter.com/yboWQOidDt— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) October 28, 2024
Power Rankings, Week 2: Surging Lakers, Cavs climb into Top 5 https://t.co/9v9lfkl04j
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 28, 2024
Lakers at number 3 is unbelievable but also right. JJ Redick really got Lakers winning again. It’s beautiful to see 🥹 pic.twitter.com/NcTWbCN0Ux
— JBond (@jbondwagon) October 28, 2024
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Nothing like winning right away to change how the landscape around you looks. Lakers clearly will finish in top-6 and avoid having to play in the Play-In Tourney.
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Aloha,
Buha reported that the Lakers are interested in Walter Kessler of the Jazz. 24 hours later there are no less than 7 sites reporting this, quoting Buha. First that’s not news. There were reports in July of the same thing. I like Kessler and wouldn’t mind landing him. He’s averaging 11 boards and 3 blocks so far. But here is the rub. Is the Jazz looking to trade him? Not a peep on a rather important detail. You can want a player all you want but doesn’t mean a guys going to be trade. It doesn’t become real until we hear that.
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