JAMIE SWEET’S ‘5 THINGS
Lakers’ Post Game Reports & Analysis
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Jamie Sweet wrote a new post
50,000 points and counting. An astounding feat given that LeBron came into the league without much of a jump shot. As the years have gone by, James has added and added and arsenal of moves and redefined our preconceived notions of what age in sport means. It’s been a lot of fun to watch, too. The crazy thing is, Lebron wasn’t the only Laker to make history last night. Let’s get into it.
- Lebron and 50,000 points. this isn’t the only Club of One LeBron has created, he’s also the exclusive member of the 40K/10K/10K Club for total points, assists and rebounds in the regular season. Coach Reddick had an astute observation that we would have celebrated this a little earlier had the NBA Cup tournament game counted as playoff points last season. All in all, I’ve run out of hyperbolic things to say about LeBron James. So I’ll leave it at this: I’ve watched Kareem, Magic, Kobe, Shaq and Gasol all excel as Lakers and make one kind of history or another. I watched Jordan in the 90s, all 3 versions. I’ve never seen anything like what LeBron is doing. MVP almost doesn’t stack up as enough of an award, the NBA needs to consider some kind of lifetime achievement award to properly recognize what we’re all watching.
- Luka joined Lakers history last night, too. He joined the exclusive 30/15 club (points and assists) which has 3 other members: Jerry West, Magic Johnson and LeBron James. I suspect that we’ll se Luka making a lot of purple and gold history himself. FWIW Magic posted that line 19 total times. Amazing.
- Positive Vibes. The trio of Luka (+37), Shake Milton (+30) and Jarred Vanderbilt (+27) managed to post an absurd +94 combined plus/minus rating. That group scored and defended at an extremely high level and helped put the game out of reach. Shake is an interesting dude, his jump shot is ugly as sin, he doesn’t have a great handle but he’s tough and plays hard. Vando seems like he defends two guys at once sometimes, it’s awesome to watch, There a issues with his game in terms of scoring but you can’t deny that watching him play defense is an absolute blast. Also, he’s been taking and making multiple threes from the corner in the last few games. That’s all we need from him, he’ll score plenty on back cuts, put-backs and breakaways.
- Jaxson Hayes coulda/woulda/should had a new career high. His career high in points is 23 (as a Pelican), he matched his Laker high last night. He did all his scoring in the first half. I kinda felt for the dude because he plays so hard and so unselfishly every night, I wanted him to get to at least 20. Next time, Jax.
- Lakers Analytical Dominance. AKA L.A.D. The L.A.D. is what’s separating them from the pack, we’re still dominating in paint points most nights but we’ve added the three ball and maintained a solid differential at the free throw line. This is what’s known as a recipe for success. Toss in an NBA leading defense and you can start to see why the mass media is starting to come around on our ability to win it all this season. not sure anyone could have predicted such a quick, seamless transition between 2 generational talents or that the defense would somehow find another level with AD on the Mavs…but there it is. impossible to ignore. Now if we could just cut down on the turnovers…
Great seeing Zion play, dude looks lean and mean which is bad news for the NBA…next season. He looks like he’s in the best shape of his life, good for him.
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LeBron must still be using a fake ID he got as a teenager. No way is he 40 🙂
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Jamie Sweet wrote a new post
The Lakers look nothing like the team LeBron is quoted as saying needs to “play near-perfect” in order to win. It’s hard to imagine the team we started with weathering a rash of injuries and tough schedule so smoothly. Reaves and Hachimura out? No problem, next man up and let’s keep the good times rolling baby.
- The man who I am quickly running out of superlatives for. Luka is rounding back into game shape and it’s going to be a problem for the Association. His line of 29 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists won’t be hung on the wall, and was offset by his 6 turnovers, but seeing Luka casually play this way when he clearly still doesn’t have his legs or wind is exciting. By the time the playoffs roll around we should see the best, current version of Luka. Like any great playmaker it’s exciting to watch him maneuver and orchestrate. Toying with defenders, probing effortlessly, and having a blast doing it. It looks like he’s settling in now and once he gets up to full speed physically watch out.
- Lebron just missing history. 49999 combined regular season and playoff points. An astounding number and he came up 1 point shy of history. LeBron had a rough game, wasn’t hitting his threes and had a whopping 8 turnovers. The thing is, if you told me that Rui and Austin would be out and LeBron and Luka would combine for 14 turnovers themselves I’d tell you we likely lost the game. That’s the beauty of what’s happening in LA right now, it’s as much a team success thing as individual greatness colliding.
- Dalton Knecht’s return to form. DK4 had himself a ball game. Crashing the glass, hitting threes, and generally making a positive impact. A lot of bench guys had an overall minus rating but I’m putting that on LeBron and Luka giving the ball away like a fruit cake in a white elephant gift exchange. Dalton got hot early and the Clippers adjusted their defense but that left other guys free to rebound or drive. Solid game for Dalton and here’s hoping he’s putting all the BS behind him and letting all of it help him grow and improve.
- Vando’s best game this season. You can see The Vandolorian returning to form, his legs are springier and he’s recovering quicker. 5 of his rebounds were on the offensive glass which we desperately needed in the midst of so very many turnovers. He passed up a three or two I wish he would let fly but in general you can see what kind of look we can feature him in with Luka, LeBron, Vando, DFS and either Vincent or Reaves for a defensive, analytics juggernaut on both ends. He was the only bench player with a positive rating, mostly due to that fact that he played down the stretch in the 4th when we closed out the win.
- Jordan Goodwin info. I had feared we missed our window to retain Jordan Goodwin on an NBA deal but, after doing some research, I believe I was wrong. We can waive one of Morris, Reddish or Len at any time prior to the playoffs (they no longer would be able to sign with another team being the issue there). We have until April 13th to decide if we want Goodwin available for the playoff roster and convert him from a two-way to a standard deal. Given his recent injury it’s good that we have more time, and I haven’t given up on Reddish being a bigger part of this, but I don’t see much of a role for either Len or Morris other than rah-rah, positive voice in the locker room. Stay tuned.
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GREAT FIVER, JAMIE.
LAKERS NOT JUST ROLLING. WE’RE ROCKING AND ROLLING! -
Hey Jamie,
You nailed it! This Lakers squad is something special, a true testament to depth and resilience. LeBron’s call for near-perfection has become our new norm, and it’s been nothing short of extraordinary. Injuries? Tough schedules? We laugh in the face of adversity. Watching the team seamlessly adapt and thrive—Reaves and Hachimura out? Next man up indeed! The energy and determination are palpable; every game is another chapter in this inspiring story. The synergy on the court and the “never-say-die” spirit are turning doubters into believers. Go Lakers! Let’s keep the good times rolling, baby! -
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You’re spot on about DK—such a shame about the failed trade. I truly hope he’s overcome the mental stress from that ordeal. It’s incredible to see the Lakers dominating the offensive board, and we have Vando to thank for that. I’m all in for Jordan Goodwin; he deserves a permanent spot on the roster. And we can’t let Cam Reddish go—his defense is invaluable. Morris, our lucky charm and part of our last championship, should stay too. If we have to make cuts, let it be Len. It’s not that I dislike him, but the other players have been with us from the start and have proven their worth. Let’s keep our core intact and continue this winning streak!
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Jamie Sweet wrote a new post
In what became a close, physical battle the Lakers prevailed by staying within themselves and trusting one another on defense. This one won’t go in the record books under “pretty” or “efficient” but it will still be in the win column and that’s all that really matters. Luka checked the “play against the Mavs” box and now just needs to check the “play the Mavs in Dallas” box later in the season. All in all, the Lakers held serve at home against a tough team.
- LeBron dominant off the ball. In all his years, whatever team he was on, LeBron ended up dominating the ball. Whether it was D-Wade, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving or Anthony Davis the burden of executing and creating for the entire team generally fell on LeBron’s sizable shoulders. Those days seem numbered now, not because of age but because of Luka. The Luka/LeBron connection is real and it will only get better. I can’t recall the last time I saw LBJ score so easily off a missed shot. When he gets behind the defense or can seal the lone defender who gets back (Sorry max Christie) it’s over. With his hoops IQ and still relevant athleticism The King is scoring with more ease than I’ve ever seen him do in all my years of watching this sport. Now, some of that will eventually get scouted out, but in the here and now let’s enjoy these easy buckets.
- Speaking of off-ball, that was honestly how the lakers closed the game. With a nifty five-out spread that saw Rui, Hayes and LeBron get behind the D or wait for a defender to focus on Luka and slip in for a quick hit layup or dunk. Great stuff that bodes well for any matchup on down the line. If the opening didn’t present itself Austin, Luka or LeBron was able to get a quality shot off. For me it’s always quality over quantity (unless it’s a high quantity of high-quality shots, who doesn’t dig that?).
- Speaking of Jaxson Hayes, the dude continues to impress. In only 17 minutes he turned in a triple 8: 8 points, 8 rebounds for a +8 +/- rating. Add in 2 blocks and a steal and it’s easier and easier to see why the Lakers are fine with Hayes manning the 5, at least for the remainder of this season. He’s always been great at finishing the lob plays and we’re seeing him get better at using his speed and size to offset his lack of bulk. If you’re in good position, you generally create good things for the team and we’re seeing that from Hayes more and more.
- Speaking of creating good things, Vando is rounding into form. Seeing him shoot that corner 3 without thinking is exactly what we need from him. Making 2-3 will get it done and he was the only Laker bench player to make multiple 3s with DFS, Dalton and Gabe all having subpar shooting nights. I see his minutes per game topping out around 20 and I think they’re still letting him ramp up in-game because his legs aren’t there when he jumps, yet, but the corner three has to be in his bag for his impact to translate into the playoffs.
- Speaking of the playoffs, that’s where the Lakers defense will truly be an asset. not that it’s nothing now, but in a tight game to know we have this many solid defensive options that can also hit a three or get to the rim is going to pay off double once we get into the real season. The lakers have ironed out the transition issues that plagued them early on, have found a nice blend of switching and man while mixing in doubles, traps and a zone every so often and it’s really fun to watch. We’re currently 4th in the west which would mean at least one round of honest-to-goodness home court advantage and a couple extra rest days. Those days could be invaluable to our 2 superstars and overall team health so we need to keep defending intensely and scoring smartly. We have a chance to put some true distance between us and the mid-tier teams as we approach true contender status.
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Excellent analysis, Jamie! I’m glad you mentioned Jaxon Hayes. I have had a positive feeling about him since last year. This team reminds me of the Bubble team that ended up winning the title.
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Nice post Jamie, it really is about the defense. Lebron has been impressive. In the post game JJ said that LeBron has been playing at an all NBA defensive level. It’s hard to argue with that. With DFS, Vando and Rui more than holding his own on the defensive end, it’s been impressive. It will be imperative that they continue to play with that kind of energy, because I don’t worry the offense.
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Thanks, Michael! You’re spot on, it’s all about the defense. LeBron has been nothing short of spectacular, and JJ nailed it with his post-game analysis. LeBron’s been locking it down at an All-NBA defensive level and it’s truly inspiring to watch. Vando and Rui have been equally impressive, holding their ground and then some on the defensive end.
What excites me the most is this team’s energy. They’re hustling and making those key stops that can turn games around. It’s clear that if they keep playing with this kind of tenacity, the sky’s the limit for us. And with the offense being as potent as it is, we’re in for an electrifying ride.
Let’s keep this momentum going—defense wins championships, and this squad has what it takes!
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The defense really is a thing of beauty. Nico is right, it wins championships. The rub is the system is strong enough to sacrifice AD and Max without noticing. Now we’ll see how the league adjusts. BTW, Jamie, I have Stand Up on vinyl, bought it new in the mid 70s. Great stuff!
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Vinyl? There should be a way to preserve those icons, including cassette tapes for the future generations.
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Jamie Sweet wrote a new post
Luka Dončić had his best game as a Laker at just the right moment. In Denver against a healthy, streaking (had won 9 in a row) Denver Nuggets Luka had, for him, a really solid game. This opened up the game on offense for the rest of the team and the Lakers did something that has been elusive against the Nuggets since 2021: cruise to an easy victory. Let’s dig in.
- The Laker defense. In a word, stellar. They ran The Joker through a gauntlet of bumps, shoves, grabs and double-teams all game long. As a result he finished with a pedestrian stat line, albeit still getting the triple-double: 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists but it was the 6 turnovers that stood out. Along with the 5 turnovers Murray had the Lakers dictated the pace and physicality in a game they led wire to wire. I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff for the game plan and the players for executing it at a high level.
- The Laker bench dominated. This might seem odd to say given that the Nuggets bench scored 22 points to our 18 in addition to Russell Westbrook scoring 17 and no Laker bench player scoring more than 5. Because this dominance did not take the shape of buckets scored but in defensive possessions and glue plays. The Laker bench had 8 steals, 2 apiece by DFS, Goodwin and Vando (in 6 minutes of total game action). They were aggressive, even if they got called for fouling (5 by Vando, hey the man is aggressive and it sets a tone). Big shout out to Jordan Goodwin who should stick with the mask. He played great defense and, after passing up a wide open shot that led to a turnover, had the confidence and wherewithal to take and make his next 2 shots down the stretch in the 4th to help put the game on ice.
- 101. That’s the combined points scored between Rui, Reaves, LBJ and Luka. 105 when you look at the starting 5, out of 123 points. Astounding to watch and while it may not be the blueprint for every win against every team this felt personal. Like the 3 Lakers who had been beat by this iteration of had had enough. 38-69 (53%) is gonna get it done most nights.
- The playmaking trio. This is what we need out of the trio of Reaves, James and Dončić. 19 assists to only 4 turnovers will lead to success more often than not. Add in Rui’s 4 dimes to zero TOs and we’re looking at a better than 5-1 assist to turnover ratio by the starting five. Great stuff.
- Luka and LeBron. It’s simply a joy to watch and just having Dončić and Reaves soak up a lot of the orchestrating and playmaking has breathed new life into LeBron’s game. He’s playing hard on both ends because he can see the path to something special already brewing. We’re a faster team, having Hayes at the 5 May have issues with bulky bugs but it presents its own issue in the form of killer speed and athleticism, and having all 3 guys in the floor to close quarters is a huge boon. All 3 of Reaves, Luka and LeBron are getting into the paint and create for themselves and others. They know to mix it up and toss a lob, bait for a foul, or simply score. While I certainly don’t expect it to be this easy every game, this can be the beginnings of a winning blueprint. A purple and gold Hydra of Hoops, many heads attacking as a whole. King Ghidora, if you’re into Godzilla movies.
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Nice post Jamie. When the Nuggets came out in the 2nd half and scored 8 straight I had this here we go again feeling but we turned it around and scored 11 straight. A couple of things. I love the rotation. Earlier in the year we were getting killed because our bench wasn’t scoring but with this rotation we generally have two of our big 3 on the court at the same time which makes 2nd unit scoring not as important. Plus Gabe and Doe will generally score more than they did last night. And then there is our small ball line up. When you have a 6’ 7” point guard, three 6’ 8” guys and a 6’ 9” guy, is that really small ball? And in Doe and Vando you have 2 guys that can defend guards and wings and Rui and Lebron that can bang with bigs, we have perhaps a new definition of small ball.
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Actually are guys with LeBron and Rui’s size actually small? I don’t think so.
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Best Fiver Ever, Jamie. Bravo, Man!
It’s amazing how trading Anthony Davis and Max Christie totally changed how the Lakers play at both ends even before Luka Doncic was ready to bepart of the new Lakers team, whose speed, smarts, length, physicality, and anticipation on offense and defense post-Anthony Davis has been taken to an entirely new level.
Love how the Lakers have totally changed how they defend. No more drop coverage. Hayes is just another fast, quick, long, athletic, player whose playing on string in a beautifully designed trapping and rotating TEAM defense. JJ has turned the table on all the teams who want to hunt switches for Austin or Luka. Suddenly, those teams find their offense attacked with the Lakers new aggressive defense forcing turnovers that fuel the Lakers lethal pass ahead transition offense.
JJ Redick has transformed the Lakers into a modern offensive and defensive juggernaut. Lakers will be rapidly moving up the NBA Power Rankings. LeBron can smell championships #18 and #19 and rings #5 and #6.
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The “it takes a village” mentality on defense of this Lakers team has ignited a fire within me! The incredible camaraderie and teamwork are reminiscent of the legendary Bubble team that clinched the championship. That team showcased stellar defensive prowess, and this year’s squad mirrors that strength while being even more lethal on the offensive end. With such a dynamic combination of skills, we have every reason to believe in a spectacular season ahead. Let’s rally behind this phenomenal team and embrace the exhilarating journey that awaits us! I’m beyond hopeful and incredibly excited about our chances this year. Go Lakers!
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Jamie Sweet wrote a new post
The Lakers were ahead and seemed in control of this one but a dud of a 3rd quarter and lack of three point accuracy turned what was a winnable game into a nail-biting loss. LBJ continued to defy age and sense with another gaudy stat line but cohort Luka continued his purple and gold slump. While rust is certainly s factor the lakers only have so much time for him to get up to speed before these losses start to really matter (protip: they already do as this loss would have vaulted us into 4th place and some much needed home court advantage). Not enough defense, too many threes, lack of late game execution and a dud 3rd quarter.
- For all the good vibes and hype the lakers are just as close to 2nd place as 9th (3.5 games) so every single game has real world playoff implications. Since we know how much effort it takes out of the team, and especially LeBron, to slog through a Playin game and then have zero home court advantage, the Lakers need to really treat every game from here on out as must-win. Onboarding Luka quickly and successfully is obviously a top priority. But, so, too is the rotation questions. Figuring out which combination of players can score and defend well with one another is key and it seems like the rotation is, understandably, unsettled at this time.
- Luka finding his shot. 5-24 from three is a sign that his legs aren’t underneath him, yet. He’ll get there but time is quickly becoming a factor. The rest of his game looks solid and as advertised: elite court vision, solid rebounding, can score from anywhere. The only missing piece is the three ball. here’s hoping he starts knocking them down sooner than later.
- Reaves getting booted. I think Austin had a legit gripe, he was taking some hits on his drives for sure. Needs to stay on the floor, though. We’re at our best when all 3 of AR, LBJ and LD are on the floor. Can’t get ejected just cause one ref sucked last night. For my part, I thought the second tech came too quickly.
- Too many turnovers turning into easy buckets. While Luka lead the team in turnovers this issue has been around long before he arrived. FWIW, the Hornets are a young team that thrives in the open court but that knowledge should lead to better ball management, not worse.
- LeBron still has it man. If we were a little higher in the standings he might be in the MVP convo, as it is it’s just ridiculous to see him playing at this level at this age.
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JAMIE SWEET
Associate Publisher
Jamie Sweet and his eagerly awaited ‘5 Things’ post after every Lakers game have become a staple feature of Lakerholics. Jamie’s the Laker fan who jumpstarts and drives conversations with his informed comments and insightful observations.
Another refugee from the LA Times Lakers Blog, Jamie’s a must read Lakerholics poster and commenter whose reputation as a savvy but objective fan is well deserved
You can always get in touch with Jamie on the Lakerholics blog. You can also check out his work with the Garage Theatre in Long Beach or with his band Gnarwhal.
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Aloha Jamie, great post. There were many wondering if Lebron and Luka could play together. I never had any doubts They are both Basketball geniuses. The only thing that has surprised me is how quickly they have learned. It’s almost like they have played together all season.
Poor Jax, he got that 5th foul that robbed him of the oppurtunity for a careear high. The kid has grown so much since AD left. It’s fun to watch.
I am watching the teams behind us and it is very encouraging. We are now 4 games up in the loss column on the 5th place Rockets. A top 4 finish is really in reach. And we 7 games up in the loss column on the 6th seed warriors, making the play in very unlikely.
It is also great that we are winning without both Rui and Austin. This team is so deep now that we can win games without just about anyone as long as there are not too many at once.
As for Vando, you him play and then look at the box score to find he only played 20 minutes. He does so much that it just feels like he played 30 minutes.