Aloha,
This year the Lakers have lost a few games I thought they would win. This is the first game they won that I thought they would lose. This was our best game we have played in a couple of years. And it is the best game that’s been played in the NBA all year.
AD had everything going last night including his jump shot and 3 ball. I think his shooting is all about confidence and he had it last night. If this continues he will be unstoppable and the MVP. Like Kobe he may not win it because of the standings but because of his play on both sides of the ball he will be the best. Early on he was guarding Giannis and doing a good job. Perhaps Coach Ham switch off of that to keep him out of foul trouble. But his over all game was amazing. This was better then bubble AD!
LeBron score 28 but on 27 shots so that wasn’t that impressive, although they began to fall later in the game when it counted most. Two things did impress me. His 11 assists, playing his devastating two man game with AD. The other was his defense. Sure it was mediocre but it’s been plain bad most of the year. With what he brings in other areas, if he can stay mediocre on D it will be a huge deal.
Lonnie was 0 for 4 in 3 quarters of basketball. So how could he have a huge impact? His 4 for 6 and 14 points in the 3rd is how. Lonnie is the reason we didn’t lose our lead in the 3rd. And he continues to play solid defense. It’s hard to get a lot of shots when AD and LeBron get 52 shots combined but it would be a good strategy to try and get Lonnie a few more then 10.
Austin failed to get get double figures in this one. Still he continues to do do everything right on both sides of the ball. His game high plus 17 shows us that. Going into the game he was 3rd in the league charges taken. He got two more last night. If we do a trade we should make sure we can retain him and Lonnie as well.
Let’s not sleep on Gabriel either. The guy is pure energy. Plus 14 in 14 minutes. If he could just do a little better job of holding onto the ball in traffic he is keeper as well.
Then there is Russ. His dive for the ball may have been a turning point in the game. 11 assists and no turnovers were huge. Vegas has him as the leading candidate for 6th man of the year and he’s been playing like it. He was so well that he closed the game.
I never thought the Lakers were as bad as their record. I knew it would take some time with a new team. If it wasn’t for some unusually bad shooting at the start of the season we actually might have had a winning record. It’s no surprise that now that guys are shooting closer to their capabilities that we are winning a few.
We have the makings of a playoff team. Not saying a contender but with the right trade, our stars staying healthy and productive and continued growth from the young guys we could have a decent rotation. For me the missing piece is a wing with some size that can shoot. I like what Troy has been doing but for a playoff team, he’s best suited for a bench role. Perhaps Nunn, PatBev and a protected pick could land that guy. I’m truly happy that Robb didn’t panic, which is totally out of character for him. He hasn’t made a panic trade. After the 15th more guys will be available. Also teams that begin to fade may want to dump contracts. Hopefully we can land that wing then.
I was hoping for a 3 and 3 road trip which would require an upset. Now that have that upset, I’m hoping for more. I had looked at the 76ers as my upset target. It’s important not to have an emotional letdown against the Wizards. If we can get by them we could go 4-2 maybe 5-1. But we really need to lock into everyone, even the Pistons. This could be the turning point of the season if we do that.
Great post, Michael. I agree on these major points you made:
1. “This was better then bubble AD!” Anthony has finally taken the torch from LeBron and is clearly now the team’s #1 option. Davis’ elevated play has been like a desperately needed miracle that’s unstuck two years of Lakers’ frustration.
2. “we could go 4-2 maybe 5-1.” I had a hunch when this road trip started that it could be the turning point for the team similar to the weekend when we took down the Clippers and Bucks right before the Covid lockout. And that is exactly what we saw. We just need to complete the road trip. 6-0 is still possible.
3. We need bigger a 3&D wing to guard wing scorers, a 3&D point guard with better size and defense to replace Schroder, and a stretch center who can also protect the rim better than Bryant. Like to see us fill those three needs with the two trade packages we will have.
Center: Myles Turner, Kelly Olynyk
Wing: Lauri Markkanen, Bojan Bogdanovic
Point: ????????????
I would accept Turner, but I think LM or BB would be the best!
Utah isn’t shopping LM, and frankly all of those players are ones any contending team would want. We will not have the best offer on the table in most scenarios. Especially early before anyone else makes a move.
So very many of these fantasybtrade scenarios are vacuum situations: do they work in the trade machine? Yes but any GM who takes a call from us will also take any number of calls after we pitch the exact same pitch we’ve been offering all summer. I do think we’ll be able to move Nunn and PatBev but the return won’t be anything close to an All Star.
Thanks Tom, but I really don’t understand some of your logic. We have had PatBev guarding Jamari Grant, KD, PG and Middleton last night. I don’t understand why a wing defender with size isn’t your top priority. Especially with AD crushing it at center and Austin at 6’ 5” able to play the point. By the way, Lauri is not a wing he is a true PF/small ball center. He has never played the wing in pro’s. Don’t you remember how easily AD went around him? Can you imagine trying to guard some of these smaller athletic wings? It would be brutal.
Lol, there is no way you are plugging all those trades in with what we got to offer dude. I mean…you can post about them, sure, but that’s like 2 summer’s worth of moves. Honestly, just using PatBev to try and land Crowder might be enough, same boxes checked but bigger player.
That would be a good trade for us, especially if we decide to keep Russ. Still not enough even if Russ continued to play well. Only way we get enough shooting is also to trade Russ. That’s what this all comes down to in the end. Russ goes so AD and LeBron can get the shooters they need. The better they play, the more that becomes reality.
They need defenders more, shooters less. Won’t get players that do both with what we’re peddling. Lakers will choose talent over for in paper every time.
Therein lies our difference in opinion. I believe the Lakers unprotected picks are extremely valuable and tradeable. In fact, the most valuable picks in the last decade because they’re post LeBron. A great GM could get great value from them. The only question is can Rob?
Yes. They are OUR most valuable trade bait. Other teams have better picks and/or players that can be moved in smaller deals or are actually wanted. Russ, in most scenarios, is just a buy out candidate. That’s the NBA equivalent of throwing in the towel. That won’t happen until February, if then.
We’ve gone over this time and time again, Michael.
I don’t disagree that our lack of a 6′ 7″ to 6′ 10″ 3&D wing is a major need to upgrade our roster. Watching Rob Pelinka’s idea of a wing defender is as painful to me as you. I mean how many years do we just watch our 6′ 5″ shooting guards trying to stop 6′ 8″ elite midrange jump shooters. Yet we keep adding 6′ 1 to 6′ 3″point guards who are blow by turnstiles. So yes, it’s a top priority and if the right player comes up, we need to act.
But I also am a big believer in positional size and think the smarter play long term for the Lakers is to trade for Myles Turner to start at center. He’s a proven stretch five who is also an elite rim protector. He also has top-10 stats for being a good defender after switches so it’s not a question of him getting played off the court like Gobert. Turner would give us the ability to have rim protection for al 48 minutes. That and taking pressure off Davis against elite centers is why I think starting center is more important than a starting small forward. I understand where you’re coming from but I just disagree. There’s no problem with that.
If we don’t trade for Turner and decide to leave AD at the five, then I think our top trade target should be Kelly Olynyk so that we have a
I think acquiring a stretch five who can protect the rim to start at center so AD and LeBron can gain positional size advantage.
I believe in positional size as well and we are lacking it on the wing. Turner won’t sniff the same stats he is putting up now. If you want AD dominating inside like he has then Turner will be floating around the perimeter wit no handle or ability to drive with the ball. His 3 point shooting is a mirage. Take out the two games he shot 11-16 from 3, he is shooting 28% in all other games. We add him, who guards the wing? LeBron? Good luck with that.