Rui should be backup power forward, which he cannot do well defensively as a starter because he has to play three so LeBron can defend four.
DFS on other hand has ability to defend three as well as four so is better fit as a starter. He also has more consistent toughness and…
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 4, 2025
Lakers have been formidable since Redick transitioned the Defense to a drop-heavy approach on 12/8/24
8-3 Overall Record
3-2 vs Above .500 Teams
3-1 Road RecordLeague Ranks Since 12/8:
#6 DRtg
#9 NET
#8 Opponent FT Rate
#5 Opponent Wide Open 3 FGAs
#12 Opponent Rim FGAs— LAbound (@LAbound2) January 4, 2025
NEXT 9 GAMES WILL SHOW LAKERS ARE FOR REAL
If the Lakers can continue to play with the defense-first mentality they showed their last 11 games, they can lock up 4th seed at halfway point of the season.
The the game becomes racking up wins, climbing up the standings, and jumping… https://t.co/R4XKDj8qmI pic.twitter.com/CfzenP9ngf
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 4, 2025
LAKERS HAVE CHANCE TO LOCK UP #4 SEED
If we can split the Texas roadie 2-step and the San Antonio home 2-step, Lakers could end up with at least a 6-3 and maybe a 7-2 record for next 9 games.
That would leave Lakers at 27-16 or 62.8% win% after 43 games and lock for #4 seed at… https://t.co/EUuWDY3rbB
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 4, 2025
SMART FOR RUI TRADE COULD FIX HARD FEELINGS
Lakers get:
-SmartGrizzlies get:
-Hachimura
-Hood-Schifino
-2030 1st Swap
-2025 2nd Lakers
-2025 2nd Clippers
https://t.co/E7U9jl1i6u https://t.co/iqBtmTwX3F pic.twitter.com/sqXdRMV6nD— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 4, 2025
Epic Lakers Trade Idea Lands Them Star LaMelo Ball From Hornets https://t.co/HCi3F20LyG
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 4, 2025
Lakers Receive:
-LaMelo Ball
Hornets Receive:
-Rui Hachimura
-Jarred Vanderbilt
-Gabe Vincent
-Dalton Knecht
-2029 first-round draft pick
-2030 first-round draft pick swap
-2031 first-round draft pick
Rui Hachimura Confirms Major Team Meeting 2 Weeks Before Big Update on HisLakers Future https://t.co/E2vCXCGvHh via @es_sportsnews
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 4, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers have climbed their way back to the Top 5 in the West. Standing as the fourth seed, the team has shown nothing but determination to bounce back. Undoubtedly, Anthony Davis and LeBron James have been the pillars in the most difficult games. But wait—Rui Hachimura‘s been stepping up big-time this season too! After a rough December, the team needed a shake-up. Something clicked and Hachimura’s got the inside scoop on what changed!
Fresh off a win against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Hachimura hinted at a newfound composure fueling their turnaround, proving the Lakers are heating up at just the right time. So, what have the Lakers been doing well in the last couple of weeks? Rui Hachimura responded: “Just focusing on us you know. Especially in December, after the Miami game, we had a meeting. And then we talked about, we got to focus on us and that’s why we’ve been doing it. That’s why I think we’ve been all right.”
Averaging 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists with an impressive 48% shooting, the Japanese forward has been a solid piece in JJ Redick’s Lakers squad this season. Surely his numbers will improve, but what’s important is that despite ups and downs, the team has found its groove since a crushing 134-93 loss to the Miami Heat in December. And Hachimura has been a contributing factor here.
Lakers after 34 games last season: 17-17
Lakers after 34 games this season: 20-14That’s 6 games over .500 compared to a .500 record last season. You’re more than welcome to RT @Underdog__NBA 🤝 https://t.co/rnLGXR5IAQ pic.twitter.com/L24wPyDA0v
— GoldenKnight (@GoldenKnightGFX) January 4, 2025
Lakers-Hawks Postgame Reaction:
— LA moves up to No. 4 in the West
— They're forging a true defensive identity
— LeBron passes MJ for most 30-point games all-time
— First look at the post-trade rotation
— AR improves in the second half
— Q&AWatch: https://t.co/JVYGnp9q3U pic.twitter.com/kBBUkOGYzh
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 4, 2025
LAKERS (20-14) BEAT THE HAWKS 119-102!
LeBron James: 30 pts, 3 reb, 8 ast
Austin Reaves: 20 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast
Anthony Davis: 18 pts, 19 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk pic.twitter.com/ZvHuFRA8UE— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) January 4, 2025
Trade Idea to Land Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick a Much-Needed Center https://t.co/OJLTRjoVmO
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 3, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers get:
-Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz get:
-Christian Wood
-Removal of top-4 protection on the Lakers’ 2027 first-rounder
-2029 first-rounder
Note: The Lakers previously sent the 2027 first-rounder to Utah in the Russell Westbrook trade. It will only be conveyed if L.A. is in the 5-30 range; otherwise, it will send its 2027 second-rounder. If the Lakers win the lottery (Nos. 1-4), their second-rounder will go to the Nets. After the Kessler trade, the 2027 second-rounder would still go to the Nets or Jazz, with the adjustment removing protection in the first round.
LAKERS NEED TO TRADE FOR KESSLER
Kessler is starting center Lakers must trade for because his 2-year deal @ $2.9M/year enables Lakers to keep key bench players like Vincent, Vanderbilt, & Christie. Key to surrounding LBJ & AD is finding great players on inexpensive contracts. https://t.co/fbSoitC9BB
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 3, 2025
JJ Redick on Christian Koloko: "That was probably his best game of the season. Not just because he scored, his offensive rebounds were huge." #Lakeshow
— LoJo Media (@LoJoMedia) January 3, 2025
LAL is 2-1 in games without LeBron this season. Davis in those games:
29.7/12.3/3.3/3.4 on 63.7%
They're 3-1 in games Davis has missed/left early and been unable to return. LeBron in those games:
31.8/6.0/10.0/1.3 on 68.3% pic.twitter.com/zl2C2nqPxK
— ɴᴏᴛ (@georgemikan) January 3, 2025
Charles Barkley rips J.J. Reddick, calls Laker coach ‘dead man walking’ https://t.co/wSuiJzN63j
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 3, 2025
During Thursday’s edition of “Inside the NBA,” Barkley referenced recent comments Reddick made about national media criticizing the game and how that’s affected rankings.
Barkley pointed the finger back at Reddick. The Hall of Famer said that the media aren’t the ones with an underachieving team that’s shooting too many 3-pointers.
“He said something about, ‘We’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got.’ Yeah, us, like we’re up there jacking up 100 3’s a night,” Barkley said.
“J.J., you come for the king, you best not miss,” he continued. “I can get you brother. I got your Lakers games. You can’t hide them flaws they got. You’re just a dead man walking.”
The Lakers currently sit sixth in the Western Conference standings with a record of 19-14. However — perhaps due to the presence of LeBron James and perpetually high expectations in L.A. — Reddick has been criticized for his performance in his first season as a head coach.
Last month, Reddick called out the media for not doing a good job of “storytelling” or celebrating that game, suggesting that it drives fans away from watching.
“If I’m a casual fan and you tell me every time I turn on the television that the product sucks. Well, I’m not gonna watch the product,” Reddick said. “That’s really what has happened over the last 10-15 years. I don’t know why.”
The Lakers coach said that analysts and media shouldn’t hold back from critiquing the game. However, he argued that the only people who are celebrating it as well “have a small niche following on Twitter.”
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