Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Lakers End 4-Game Road Trip with Loss in Detroit

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Final Score: @ Detroit 106-112 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180326/LALDET#/recap

Next Game: vs. Dallas (03/28)

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*


I'm going to jump straight to the commentary here. This loss ensures a fifth consecutive non-playoff season for the Lakers. Not a lot of us expected the Lakers to jump right into the playoff picture, but we expected an improving team and they showed that this season. Now onto this game, there was a lot of positives here in this loss rather than negatives. The negative on this game was that the Lakers were really shorthanded. It showed on the bench. Ennis didn't have a good game. Wear failed to follow up a solid performance last game at Memphis. Zubac was the leading scorer off the 2nd unit with just 7 points. We also saw a Channing Frye sighting. I.T. and B.I.'s absence continue to take a toll on the team's depth chart. That equates to even more minutes from the starters who all finished in double figures. Lonzo's 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists on a near-perfect 6-7 shooting from the field definitely grabs the attention of many. I know two games is a small sample size, but Zo is starting to get the hang of the midrange jumper. He had three of those in the highlights: one of them called bank and the two other were nothing but net. It's a start, but no question he has to fine tune that in the offseason. KCP and Kuzma returned home. Caldwell-Pope didn't shoot the ball well against his former team, but still put up 13 points and a couple of big buckets to pull the Lakers within striking distance. Kuzma, a Flint, Michigan native, racked up 20 points and 11 rebounds. It was definitely a feel good moment for Kuz to put on a show close to home. Brook Lopez had a nice all-around game with 14 points, 9 assists, and 5 blocks. He provided some really nice balance scoring and facilitating and playing on both ends of the floor. Julius Randle also racked up a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. The 5 turnovers he made definitely stick out. I'm hearing that he's playing a little too selfish on the floor. Randle is a straight bully in the paint, no question about it. But, we definitely don't want to see a out-of-control Randle like we did in years past. He's done an exceptional job all season long at limiting those turnovers. On the negative side, Randle and Lopez were in foul trouble, but there was not much Luke can do with the depth lacking behind that solid frontcourt. Detroit's bench putting up 31 points and Reggie Jackson putting up 20 points were the biggest difference this game and the reason why they pulled away in the fourth quarter. 

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