A Season in Review: 2017-18 Lakers

Welcome in to the long-awaited, "A Season in Review" post for the 2017-18 Lakers. A little delay to bring this up since I had to finish up a couple projects. Anyway, I provide a condensed version of how the season went and provide a couple of scenarios the Lakers can do to take the next step in the return to relevancy.

Things are finally looking up for the Lakers as they were able to improve upon last year's 26-56 record, finishing at 35-47. By standards, if we were to expect improvement from the Lakers, it would result in a playoff spot and some Laker fans feel that way. It's our old school mentality of "championship or bust." But if you're a realist like I am, this was a much improved season than in years' past. Recalling from my Season Preview post, I had this team finishing with a 30-35 win record and they matched that threshold.

Three things highlighted the Lakers' improved record this season: 1) the emergence of Brandon Ingram, 2) Julius Randle's breakout year, and 3) the immediate contribution of the Lakers' 1st round picks from the draft class of 2017. For a good chunk of the season, B.I. has proven that he can be the Lakers' 2-way player of the future. This year, he was more relentless in getting to the basket and drawing contact. His length disrupts opposing teams' offensive flow defensively. He was also confident in taking shots he was hesitant to take during his rookie year last season. If he continues to improve his long range and free throw shooting, he'll reach that Kevin Durant ceiling. Julius Randle didn't see the floor to start the season in favor of Larry Nance Jr. starting and it lit a fire under him throughout the year. Since he won back the job, Randle became a bully for defenders. Albeit undersized, Randle's play this season reminded us of the old school post up player who would just punish defenders in the paint with raw strength and power. His speed and quick step also made him tougher for opposing teams to defend him. The 1st round rookies: Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart contributed in some way, shape, or form. Kuzma carried over his impressive Summer League showing, proving to be an all-around scorer. He had some ups and downs, but he looked like a seasoned vet than a rookie. He just needs to work on the defensive stats. Josh Hart had an impressive 2nd half of the season, scoring, rebounding, and defending. I absolutely love the poise he had whenever he stepped on the floor. That's something you don't see every day from a rookie. Winning the national title at Villanova helped him big time. Lonzo Ball obviously has a lot to do to convince most Laker fans, particularly in the scoring department. But aside from the shooting woes, he sets the tempo of the game. The passing and court vision are as advertised. He's an underrated rebounder and team defender. Ball showed some flashes as he got better shooting the ball in the 2nd half of the season. But, a little fine tuning here and there during the off season and he'll be an all-around special player.

Outside of the growth and maturity of the young core, the veterans that Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka added were much better fits than Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng (he's still here) last year. Brook Lopez gave the team a Center who could space the floor and post up defenders inside. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a decent complement to Lonzo Ball in the backcourt, providing scoring and defense. The acquisitions of Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye before the trade deadline were tremendous moves by Magic and Rob. Particularly, I.T. brought a certain swagger back to the team that was lost since Kobe retired. With a good influx of talent and veterans, the Lakers were a lot more competitive this year than in season's past. There were games where they off to slow starts, even terrible starts, but they find ways to get themselves back in the game. The biggest improvement was the team defense. The Lakers defended the ball better. They made opposing players work for their shots. They pressured opposing team's into making mistakes and it helped set up their fast pace style of play on offense. Not to mention, the unselfish nature of this team was infectious and it rubbed off on the players to play team basketball. The Lakers this year notched many signature wins against more of the better teams. You look at the road game against Houston where the Lakers snapped their 14-game winning streak. The one-point victory over Boston at home. The road game against San Antonio to cap off a 4-game sweep on the road. We saw a lot of glimpses in games where the Lakers hung in there in games and find ways to win. They gave us a little bit of a tease by keeping afloat in the playoff picture this late into the season, especially in a really competitive West where it was a "who's who" conference outside of Houston and Golden State this season. Unfortunately, the Lakers went through a pair of long losing skids to ensure another losing season. For every Laker loss, most of the blame goes to high turnovers in games than the opposition and especially poor free throw shooting. The Lakers were one of the worst free throw shooting teams this season. It wasn't until they brought in I.T. where they had a reliable free throw shooter that could close out games. Those are areas that the Lakers need to work on if they want to take the next step.

So, with an improved record and a stabilized young core, is it good enough to lure in a LeBron James or a Paul George? The case for and against landing a star player to go with a young core is that the team would become instant contenders, but the young players would experience delays in their development. Technically, the Lakers' young core is still in a developmental stage, but there's no question that Magic and Rob have to add quality pieces in this years' free agency class to make the team better. They have a lot of options: they can sign, PG, LeBron, or both, they can max out Randle and/or max out PG, they can re-sign Randle to a max deal and re-sign Lopez and I.T. to reasonable contracts and wait until next year when guys like Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard are available in the open market. They also have to add some rim protection and more 3-and-D players. There's a lot of options to decide. If you want my honest opinion, I believe signing LeBron would be a mistake. When you have two players in LeBron and Lonzo, both players a pass-first mentality, it's not gonna work out. Though I won't discredit LeBron's ability to take over games when needed. Not to mention, we don't know how long will LeBron retain his freakish athleticism. Randle obviously deserves a contract after a breakout season and he has a better long-term upside. Paul George is a marquee target because he's a hometown player and I think he would be a huge upgrade over KCP.  Lopez and I.T., are the two players I want the Lakers to resign. The asking price both will demand will be the biggest question. Or if they lose out in the LeBron and PG sweepstakes, 2019 is a good plan B with Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard coming up. Klay, I'd think would be a better fit as he would provide the Lakers a consistent scorer and he could form a nice defensive backcourt with Lonzo. He's also familiar with the system Luke Walton's implementing. Differentiating between 2018 and 2019's most coveted free agents, Paul George for marquee purposes, Klay Thompson for better overall fit with the system. Whichever plan works, Lakers win either way.

This Summer should provide a lot of interesting headlines and scenarios on the Lakers' front. I compare this upcoming offseason to what the Raiders went through in 2015-16. The Raiders improved from a 3-13 record to a 7-9 record. And in the following offseason, free agents looked at the Raiders and saw that they have a stable core of Derek Carr, Khalil Mack, and Amari Cooper. As a result, the Raiders became a hot ticket for free agents and signed guys such as Kelechi Osemele and Bruce Irvin. When I look at what the Lakers accomplished, they're trending in the same waters. Free agents will look at their stable core of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, and Julius Randle (maybe) and their improved record. It will leave free agents interested in playing with such young talent. Also with Luke Walton, Magic Johnson, and Rob Pelinka in charge, there is a robust relationship between the coach and the front office. For once, we can finally look at the offseason and say to ourselves that signing a big time free agent is realistic because of the promising young core, head coaching continuity, and a robust, competent front office. Thank you for following my coverage of the Lakers' 2017-18 season. Hopefully, they continue to shoot for the moon in 2018-19.

Lakers Win Final Game: Josh Hart, Gary Payton II Light Up Clips

Final Score: @ LA Clippers 115-100 [W]

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' final regular season matchup against the Clippers in the Battle for LA where the Lakers end the season on a high note, beating the Clippers 115-100.

Well with that win, the Lakers match the win threshold that I had for them when I posted up my regular season preview post. Like I said, I had them as a 30-35 win team. And I'm not complaining. This game was pretty much a game to give garbage time players extended minutes and the Lakers' bottom rotation players did not disappoint. Well, there's Josh Hart too who lit it up and I'll talk about that right about now.

(+)

Josh Hart, 30 points, 9-15 shooting, 5 rebounds, 5 assists. Dare I say it? "Harts on Fire." Obvious play from the "Hearts on Fire" original song from Rocky IV. Hart originally picked up his scoring in the 2nd quarter. It helped the Lakers ballooned that lead to 11 points at halftime. Then, he just absolutely went bonkers in the 3rd quarter, especially letting it fly from beyond-the-arc. He left the Laker fans inside Staples in awe while the Clipper fans were in stunned silence. There was not much the Clipper defense can do in that sequence, since he was red hot. In the final stats, Hart hit 7 of 9 from 3-point land. He was unbelievable.

Gary Payton II, 25 points, 12 rebounds, 11-19 shooting, 2 steals. He surely reminded me of his dad this game. Gary Payton, looking at his highlights since obviously I was still too young when he played, he was a good finisher in defense to offense transitions. He could also split defenders and lay it in. Glad to see that DNA passed on to his son tonight. I was impressed with this stat line. Double-double off the bench, racked up 25 points and picked up 12 rebounds. With the Lakers so shorthanded, GP II stepped up to the plate and this performance might earn him roster spot in the Summer League and heading into training camp for next season.

Alex Caruso, 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists. This was a pretty good last two games from Caruso, but this game was even better. He showed out his ability to shoot and provided really good balance to score, facilitate, and defend. If I'm the Lakers, I'd definitely want him back as a training camp body and a two-way player since he's played well when given the time all season long.

(-)

Playing with the lead. Like I said, this is something the Lakers need to improve on next season. This is especially evident in road games. Once they build a big lead, they get a little too much relaxed. Luckily with both teams being shorthanded and Josh Hart going off for 30 points, it tilted in the Lakers' favor. This probably the only negative I can pinpoint about this game.

MVP

Josh Hart, 30 points, 9-15 shooting, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

Gary Payton II, 25 points, 12 rebounds, 11-19 shooting, 2 steals


I'm only gonna allow this once or I could change my mind depending I declare some new changes on the blog. But, for the first time ever, we have two co-MVPs of the game. Hart was lights out in the third quarter. GP II showed out and had a good all-around game. Both carried the Lakers for a strong regular season finish.




Conclusion

As Laker fans, we hate losing seasons, but this is something we can hang our heads on. 35-47 after difficult seasons of long losing streaks and tanking, the Lakers are seriously pointing upwards in the West. Give Magic and Rob Pelinka a lot of credit for assembling a good-balanced roster of young players and seasoned veterans. And of course, Luke Walton deserves credit. He gets a lot of flack for questionable coaching decisions, but he did what he can and helped coached a team to improve from last year's 26-56 record. Hey, we could be looking back at the Byron Scott coaching days where the Lakers continually regressed. But, we don't want that. It's going to be an interesting offseason. No matter if they get PG or LeBron next season, the Lakers re-established themselves as a destination for the hottest free agents. They have the core with Zo, B.I., Kuzma, and Randle (if he re-signs). They have the cap space. Now, it's all just about execution. I'll go further into details with my annual "Season in Review" post. Keep in mind, it's going to be a late posting when we're deep into the NBA postseason. Right now, I'm gonna shift focus to a couple of other projects that I have to finish before some deadlines, but stay tuned. Thank you guys for hanging around this season. I'll see you guys later.

04/11: LAKERS @ Clippers 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

*No picture included, sorry*

Welcome in to the second half of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Clippers in the final game of the season season. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

*NOTE: I accidentally erased all of the first half reaction, thinking this was the 2nd half. So I played it out, and just changed this from the 1st half open thread to the 2nd half open thread. Sorry about that.*

Q4

LAL 115 LAC 100

That's a great way to end a much improved season. Josh Hart and Gary Payton II absolutely crushed this game for the Lakers, especially from beyond the arc. They almost let the Clippers back in the game though. Like I said in the comments, playing with the lead is something the Lakers need to improve on for next year. Still, great win to end the season. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

LAL 92 LAC 74

Josh Hart was en fuego this quarter! Three pointer after three pointer, he's helped the Lakers blow this game wide open. They gotta put the clamps on in the 4th quarter as they are setting for a really strong finish.

Lakers Lose to Rockets, but Andre Ingram Wins Hearts of Many

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Houston Rockets in the second-to-last matchup of the NBA season where the Lakers still fall short even when the Rockets pulled their starters out early, losing 105-99.

Wow, did that game end in a hurry. You'd figure with the Rockets clinching the #1 spot, they would sit out their starters to make sure they get healthy for the playoffs. But, they still played for three and a half quarters until Mike D'Antoni pulled them out. The Lakers almost cashed in on an insane scoring run to finish the game and possibly steal one. They just fizzled out as they rode the momentum plus Houston recommitted on the defensive end to seal this game.

(+)

Andre Ingram, 19 points, 6-8 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal. This is the man of the hour right here. When I looked at the news that the Lakers signed him for the final two games, I was surprised he was 32 and bounced around the G-League. Many shed blood and tears on the basketball court to make it to the NBA and not all of them are guaranteed superstar status, let alone a roster spot on the main roster. But, as the old saying goes: good things come to those who wait and kudos to Magic and Rob Pelinka to give this guy his long-awaited shot in the big leagues. And he made the most out of it, going a perfect 4-4 to start. He also hit a clutch three, could've hit another one to cut the deficit to one point in the fourth quarter. They said he was one of the best shooters in the G-League and for a small sample size, that was pretty impressive to live up to that in an NBA game.

Josh Hart, 20 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals. Josh Hart got off to a really slow start, but finished strong to end the game. When the Rockets pulled their starters out, Hart was the catalyst on both ends of the floor to give the Lakers one final push before ultimately losing the game.

(-)

Short-handed. Nothing the Lakers can do when Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball are shut down for the season. They've been fighting it, but they are just overmatched against deeper teams at the end of the day.

Turnovers. The turnovers were ugly for both teams. The Rockets committed 18 turnovers compared to the Lakers' 17 turnovers. Houston was handing those turnovers like they were free candy out there. Just unfortunate that the Lakers, being turnover prone, could not take advantage of that and gave some of that back with those 17 TOs.

No help defense for Ivica Zubac. I believe Zubac's time with the Lakers is done considering he can't be more physical as an inside presence. But, they did him dirty not giving any help defense to him when Chris Paul and James Harden were running circles around him. That's a big mismatch right there and Zubac's lack of lateral agility could not keep up.

MVP

Andre Ingram, 19 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 assist, 1 steal

There's not much more to be said. Andre Ingram finally lives his NBA dream and puts on a show he and his family and friends will never forget. No question, his game tonight is gonna be an inspiration to many to never give up on their dreams.

Conclusion

What I saw from Andre Ingram's story tonight is one of the many reasons I love sports. In a meaningless game, he was the highlight of the night putting on a show in his very first NBA game. He'll remember that for a long time. The Lakers did a good deed tonight, win or lose. That's a good way to end this segment right there as there's not much more to talk about. I'll see you guys tomorrow for the season finale against the Clippers.

04/10: LAKERS vs. Houston Rockets 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

This is the 2nd half of the Rockets-Lakers matchup in the second-to-last game of the 2017-18 NBA season. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

HOU 105 LAL 99

The only time where a win or a loss doesn't matter. Andre Ingram going off for 19 points is a reminder that dreams do come true. The Lakers did have a chance when the Rockets pulled their starters out. But, Houston recommitted on the defensive end to seal up this win. The Lakers may not have gotten the win in Andre Ingram's debut, but he won the hearts of many tonight. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

HOU 82 LAL 75

Andre Ingram does not miss. That was fun while it lasted when he hit the three to give the Lakers a brief one point lead. The Lakers are hanging around even though the Rockets gave themselves some cushion to finish off the quarter. Chris Paul and James Harden may be putting up a Point Guard clinic out there, but they're missing some open shots, which could've blown this lead wide open.

04/10: LAKERS vs. Houston Rockets 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome in to the first half of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Houston Rockets in the penultimate game of the season. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

HOU 56 LAL 48

Well, well, the Lakers find themselves down only by eight, which is a good way to end the half. Houston in that first half, it's like they're on autopilot right now. They light it up offensively and then slow it down a bit. Like I said, it's like they're not trying, which they don't need to do since they locked up home court throughout the West playoffs. The biggest story during this quarter, Andre Ingram, 32-years old, can ball. A couple of three pointers and starting off 11 points, that is a feel good story there. It's never too late to fulfill a dream and Andre Ingram is living it right now, playing in the NBA. Not much to say about adjustments, so on to the 2nd half. 

Q1

HOU 23 LAL 16

It's like the Rockets are not even trying since they have the #1 seed on lock. Slow start for both teams. A very bland first quarter to start the game. Luckily, the Rockets haven't put the clamps on yet. The Lakers just have to hang around as much as possible to compete.

Jazz Dismantle Lakers to Clinch Playoff Berth

*Stats Courtesy of NBA.com*

Final Score: vs. Utah 112-97 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180408/UTALAL#/recap

Next Game: vs. Houston (04/10)

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

The Lakers starting down 16-4 right out of the gate was all I needed to see out of the highlights. They made it entertaining for the most part in the third quarter. But, Utah played like they were on a mission yesterday. They needed this win to ensure a playoff spot in the Western Conference and they accomplished that. And unfortunately for the shorthanded Lakers, they were in their way. Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles shot the lights out for the Jazz. The Laker defense had no answer. Jae Crowder also provided some spark for Utah's 2nd unit. There was not much to say. The only positives was that Josh Hart went off for 25 points. He even met Donovan Mitchell at the rim for a block in the first quarter to give Laker fans something to cheer about. Tyler Ennis scored 22 points to lead the bench. Julius Randle chipped in 17 points and 7 rebounds. Only those three were in double figures for the team in this loss and a wire-to-wire victory for the Utah Jazz. Two more games left for the Lakers to close out a season with an improved record. The Rockets have the number 1 seed on lock. I see no reason why any of their starters should play tomorrow. Then, the Lakers close it out on the "road" Wednesday against the Clippers. At least getting one out of those two games should give the Lakers one more win to hang their heads on after improving from last year's win total. I will see you guys for both games!

Timberwolves' Defense Wears Down Lakers

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Final Score: vs. Minnesota 113-96 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180406/MINLAL#/recap

Next Game: vs. Utah (04/08)

Highlights: *Courtesy of House of Highlights*

The Lakers were good here only for the first half. Brook Lopez, in particular, started hot out of the gate with 15 quick points. The offense early on ran through him since he was the hot hand. Julius Randle and Josh Hart got the Wolves in early foul trouble during that first half. They did a nice job drawing contact on defenders and getting to the free throw line. Randle finished the night making a perfect 10-10 free throws while Hart followed shooting 5-7 from the line. Free throws seemed to be the best friend for the Lakers for once in awhile and it helped build a 7 point lead at the half. Though the second half, it was an entirely different story. Whatever adjustments Tom Thibodeau made at half time defensively, the Timberwolves put the clamps on and played like a team vying for a playoff spot. They forced the Lakers to commit 20 turnovers while they only committed 5 TOs. If I recall from a graphic, the Timberwolves outscored the Lakers in points off turnovers 23-3. We all know, when the Lakers commit so many turnovers, they are guaranteed to lose a game. But where credit it is due, the Timberwolves drained the Lakers with their defense. Not to mention, Jimmy Butler's return provided a big morale boost for Minnesota as he finished with 18 points and lead the team with 4 steals. Final Stats: Julius Randle racked up a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Brook Lopez finished with 18 points. Josh Hart racked up a double-double off the bench with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Ivica Zubac added 14 points and 9 rebounds to the 2nd unit. Kyle Kuzma left the game in early with an ankle sprain and scored a measly 2 points after a 30-point explosion last game against the Spurs. Hopefully, he did not re-aggravate the ankle injury he sustained 3-4 weeks ago in the last regular season matchup against the Denver Nuggets.

Lakers Roundup Commentary: @ Utah; vs. San Antonio

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Going up against playoff-hopeful teams in the West is not always easy if you're shorthanded. The Lakers failed their first try in Utah to play spoiler on the Jazz's hopes on Tuesday. But, they succeeded in dinging San Antonio's playoff hopes just a bit in an OT win last night. This is your Lakers round up commentary on the blog.

04/03: @ Utah 110-117 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180403/LALUTA#/recap

Highlights: *Courtesy of Rapid Highlights*

Last game against the Kings displayed a mundane performance from the Lakers all season long. But fortunately, they bounced back really quickly against the Jazz, despite the losing effort. The Lakers started strong out of the gate. Kuzma started perfect in the first quarter and he along with KCP did most of the damage here. Kuz finished with 26 points while KCP racked 28 points. They played a big part in the Lakers' final desperation run before falling short at the end of the game. Utah's backcourt duo of Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio dominated this game for the Jazz. We all know Mitchell is a stud rookie. But, Rubio is showing he can be a scoring threat to go with his passing prowess. The defense had some fits whenever Rubio would come off screens. The Lakers never knew if he was looking to score or read the defense perfectly to set up a nice pass to roller like a Gobert or a Derrick Favors. Overall, the Jazz's back court was on fire this game. The Jazz have been on an unbeliveable run after a slow start to the season. It was interesting to note that Luke Walton elected to let Randle play point for a majority of the game. His performance was a little of a mixed result with 9 assists to 5 turnovers to go with his 12 pts-12 rebs performance.

04/04: vs. San Antonio 112-122 (OT) [W]

Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180404/SASLAL#/recap

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

Talk about a nightmarish trip to La La Land for the San Antonio Spurs. They lose a heartbreaker the other night against the Clippers and the Lakers broke their hearts again in overtime last night. They haven't clinched a playoff spot yet since the West is very congested outside of the 1-3 seeds. This win was an example of great physical and mental fortitude from the Lakers. They were coming off a tough loss in Utah. They had to travel home while the Spurs are still LA, waiting for them. All signs pointed to the Spurs having the advantage. But clearly, Kyle Kuzma and the Lakers had other plans. Kuzma was in clutch mode when the game went to OT to help the Lakers seal the win. He finished with 30 points. He also accomplished a nice feat becoming the first NBA rookie with 1,200 points, 450 rebounds, and 150 made 3-pointers in a player's rookie season. ROTY (Rookie of the Year) may be out of the picture for Kuzma with Ben Simmons likely running away with it, but he's already won our hearts. KCP made a big three-pointer in that overtime as well that provided the Lakers a good cushion with the lead. He finished with 21 points. Keep in mind, the Lakers didn't have Julius Randle nor Brook Lopez on the floor. Luke didn't elect to put them out there since the lineup rotation with Kuz, KCP, Hart, Frye, Zubac, Ennis, and Caruso was working down the stretch. Lakers got a nice surprise performance from Channing Frye with 19 points off the bench; it goes to show that he's still got it when it comes to scoring and being a spot up 3-point shooter. Ennis also made some big buckets to keep the Lakers within striking distance. Luke also made a nice adjustment defensively doubling on LaMarcus Aldridge. We all know if you leave Aldridge one-on-one, he's gonna spot up and shoot. The Lakers doubled him and forced him to kick it to other Spurs players to step up and make a play. With this win, the Lakers sweep the season series against the Spurs for the first time in a long time. It'd shock the NBA world if the Spurs miss the playoffs because of tough losses like these. They haven't missed the playoffs since Gregg Popovich was first hired by the Spurs back in 96-97!

Lakers Lose to Kings in Ugly Game

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Final Score: vs. Sacramento 84-83 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180401/SACLAL#/recap

Next Game: @ Utah (04/03)

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

You know it's bad when I snooze through the highlights of this game. There isn't much to say about this. Obviously, the Lakers would struggle being a really shorthanded team that they are without Ingram, Ball, and I.T. in the lineup. Sacramento just came off a blowout loss to the Warriors the other night. That's as embarrassing as it gets. The biggest difference is that the Kings' bench outscored the Lakers' 2nd unit 37-19. Buddy Hield for the Kings continues to excel as the leading scorer for the 2nd unit. How shorthanded are the Lakers' 2nd unit? Zubac is the top performer with 7 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Hield went for the steal and the dunk to give the Kings a two-point lead. Then, De'Aaron Fox sealed it to give Sacramento a 84-80 lead. Lakers had a chance at the end with a three-ball from Lopez (if I remember right), but too little too late. Final stats: Randle lead the starting five with 19 points and 5 rebounds, Kuz added 13 points, and KCP racked up 16 points despite not hitting a single three this game. It's gonna get a lot ugly with the Lakers having Utah and San Antonio on their schedule next. Both teams are in desperation mode to ensure a playoff spot in the West. Outside of Houston and Golden State, #1 and #2 respectively, seeds 3-8 are a "who's who" in the Western Conference.

Lakers Fall to Bucks in OT

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Final Score: vs. Milwaukee 124-122 (OT) [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180330/MILLAL#/recap

Next Game: vs. Sacramento (04/01)

Highlights: *Courtesy of Rapid Highlights*

Another tough loss for the Lakers in OT. They've been really unlucky all season long when it comes to forcing OT and ending up losing the game overall. The first two meetings against the Warriors were an example. Here though, it was a great effort by the shorthanded Lakers to come back and rally from a 20-point deficit that the Bucks built up. Alex Caruso and Ivica Zubac helped spark the run off the bench. Caruso showed really good effort during the 4th quarter on both ends of the floor. Zubac, as soft as he is, ran the floor and went hard to the basket to draw contact. That helped energized the Lakers down the stretch. But that momentum was marred by a couple of missed free throws. Ingram missed three free throws down the stretch; both trips gave the Lakers a chance to take the lead over Milwaukee. In overtime, Eric Bledsoe took the game over for the Bucks, setting the tone with 11 points. The Lakers had a hard time keeping him away from behind the three-point line and he burned them at times in transition with his speed. Middleton and Antetokounmpo went off too, but they were facing foul trouble down the stretch. When Giannis missed one of two free throws, the Lakers had a chance to tie it up again, but Kuzma decided to hoist up a desperation three for the win instead of driving for the tie when there was an open lane in front of him. It's one of those decisions that loses games and Bledsoe was able to seal the win for the Bucks with two clutch free throws. Tough loss all-around. The Bucks need all the wins they can get to ensure a playoff spot in the East and they played as a team with desperation. Final stats: Kyle Kuzma finished with 27 points, leading the team in scoring to go with 12 rebounds and and 6 assists. Brook Lopez racked up 20 points. Julius Randle added a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. B.I. finished with 12 points and 6 assists, but committed 5 turnovers. Ingram exited the game during OT. It's a big blow after just coming back the night before. That'll definitely mar his solid sophomore campaign. Zubac added 16 points off the bench, again he and Caruso showed some great chemistry to spark the Lakers' run. Josh Hart returned with a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. It was good to see him back. He saw extra run this game when KCP got tossed out.

Lakers Pull Away in the 4th vs. Mavs

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Final Score: vs. Dallas 93-103 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180328/DALLAL#/recap

Next Game: vs. Milwaukee (03/30)

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

This was just like the Memphis game on Saturday. The Lakers got off to a really ugly start and somehow, they pull a rabbit out of the hat in the 2nd half to snatch this game away from the Mavericks. The first half was absolutely brutal to watch. The Lakers played with no sense of urgency. It's like they said to themselves: "we're not going to the playoffs. We don't need to play as hard as we've done all year long." They looked really lethargic out there after a 4-game road trip with the missed shots, turnovers, and of course, the missed free throws. The free throws in particular were problematic from the start. But, they found a way to overcome that and showed better effort in the middle of the third quarter to set up a strong finish to the game. They put the clamps on the Mavs especially in the 4th quarter, holding them to just 12 points total in that quarter. Moving on to the individual performances: Brandon Ingram returns to the lineup, finishing with 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. It felt really good to see B.I. out there after missing 13 games. He showed no signs of rust scoring as he was able to shoot a midrange jumper and a pair of threes to start. As a facilitator, he showed rusts there as he was trying to force some passes in when the Mavs' defense doubled on him. Other than that, it was an okay return for Ingram. The front court of Randle and Lopez racked up points again as Randle added 20 points and 10 rebounds while Lopez tallied 22 points and 7 rebounds. As I said when the Lakers lost to the Mavs back in February, these guys should feast on the Dallas' weak interior defense and they did just that. Lopez started camping behind the three point line, but I like that he elected to take more inside shots and exploit that favorable matchup inside. Kyle Kuzma returned to the bench with 18 points. He struggled from three and shot 1-4 from the free throw line, but he came alive in the 4th quarter to help the Lakers pull this one away. He's in command of the 2nd unit with I.T. loss for the season. Speaking of injuries, Lonzo Ball walked away in 3rd with a knee ailment. Hopefully, it's just minor. He looked primed to stuff the stats sheet once again, despite the shooting woes. Nonethless, this game was ugly, but the Lakers pulled it out. It's no surprise, that's who they are all season long: a team that overcomes adversity and a team that plays hard until the final buzzer.

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. 

Lakers Snap 4-Game Losing Streak in Memphis

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Kyle Kuzma poured in 25 points to go with 10 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block to help the Lakers snap a 4-game skid, beating the tanking Grizzlies 100-93. Julius Randle also racked up a double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. KCP racked up 18 points and Lonzo Ball stuffed the stats sheet with 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists. Travis Wear lead the 2nd unit in scoring with 11 points.

Final Score: @ Memphis 100-93 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180324/LALMEM

Next Game: @ Detroit (03/26)

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

An ugly game with a pretty ending. I did catch glimpses of this game and that's what it was. Memphis started leading as many as 17 over the Lakers. Keep in mind, this Grizzlies tham just got a major butt kicking from the Hornets the other night. And pretty much, they're contempt with tanking. But out of the gate, they started off hot. I'm thinking, wow this is gonna be the most embarrassing game of the season if the Lakers get beat from the worst team in the West like that, especially with a lot of bodies missing on the bench (take a nap Chris Kaman). But then like all season long, the Lakers mustered enough on both ends of the floor to shake off the slow start and get out of Memphis with a victory. KCP knocked down a couple of threes to keep the Lakers within striking distance. Randle shook off a really slow start and got back to the bully ball we're accustomed of seeing from him. Travis Wear racked up a hidden gem off the bench. From what I heard, Isaiah's hip acted up on him again and was a no go this game. Hopefully it's nothing serious since the Lakers are really missing bodies now. But Wear stepped it up. I thought he showed no hesitation, spotting up from three. He was under 40% shooting, but I'll take the good with the bad. Lonzo struggled from three again, but I liked he was taking more inside shots to go along with 8 boards and 10 dimes. He actually hit a mid range jumper this game. He's gonna have to fine tune that more in the offseason as well as the free throw shooting, but nonetheless a solid bounceback game from Zo. Kuz took over in the 4th quarter, including hitting a dagger three to put this game away for good. Ugly win, but the Lakers have been stringing wins like that on the road all season long that it shouldn't be a surprise.

Lakers Succumb to Late Pelicans Rally

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Julius Randle racked up a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds as the Lakers' top performer in the game, but the Lakers couldn't stop a late surge from the Pelicans behind Anthony Davis' 33 point performance, losing 125-128. KCP was the team's leading scorer with 28 points. Brook Lopez racked up 23 points and 6 boards and Kyle Kuzma notched 22 points to go with 5 rebounds to round out the starters. I.T. lead the 2nd unit scoring with 15 points.

Final Score: @ New Orleans 125-128 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180322/LALNOP#/recap

Next Game: @ Memphis (03/24)

Highlights: *Courtesy of Rapid Highlights*

Remembered when I said that this current Laker team is not built for shootout games when they loss to the Mavs last month? That still holds true. Don't get me wrong, they almost pulled it out, but surrendering 128 pints is frustrating. The time they were up by double figures, by 11 points early in the fourth quarter, that should've been the time the Lakers should put the clamps on defensively. Some positives in this game first, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went off from deep. He was off to a really good start in the first quarter and finished strong to end the game despite the losing effort. In the final seconds of the game, Luke Walton drew up a play for KCP to get open and hit a potential game-tying three. But, the Pelicans were well-prepared for that to force a pass from KCP. The defense was not the only problem of the game. Should I throw it out there? I should. Lonzo Ball shot 1-12 from beyond the arc. Despite grabbing 13 rebounds and 9 assists, he only made one three. Based on Luke's comments, most of the looks that Zo was getting were high-percentage looks. The problem is, his shot kept clanking off the rim. Overall, Zo shot 2-15 from the field. He only took three shots from inside. What happened to more slashing at the rim? Obviously, he got blocked by AD when he tried to take it to the rim? But who hasn't been blocked by AD? I saw on the highlights Isaiah Thomas did the same thing when going up against AD. Here's the difference, I.T. bumped into AD to give him some space for the layup and prevent him from blocking the shot. Definitely, the point of emphasis for Zo this offseason is scoring, working on that shot and knowing when to take it strong to the basket when the shot is not falling. The rebounding, passing, and defense is there already. Other than that, this loss just paints a recurring picture that the Lakers can't play with the lead, especially on the road. Not to mention, they really miss Ingram to be that closer. They really need him back if they want to get back on track and make a strong finish by season's end.

Lakers Drop 4-Game Road Trip Opener vs. Pacers

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Brook Lopez was the Lakers' top performer with 23 points and 8 rebounds to go with 3 assists and 2 blocks, but could not pull it out as they fall to the Pacers 100-110 to open up their 4-game road trip. Kyle Kuzma lead all starters in scoring with 27 points to go with 8 rebounds, Julius Randle racked up 21 points and 9 rebounds, and KCP added 12 points and 7 rebounds. I.T. lead the 2nd unit in scoring with 11 points.

Final Score: @ Indiana 100-110 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180319/LALIND#/recap

Next Game: @ New Orleans (03/22)

Highlights: *courtesy of Rapid Highlights*

Classic example of a game starting with a bang and ending with a dud. The Lakers had a really good first quarter, capping it off with an 8 point lead. The game got even during the 2nd quarter and then, the Pacers just pulled away late in the third quarter. The starting front court was the big plus with Lopez, Randle, and Kuzma putting up 20+ points each. The problem was, they couldn't stop the back court of Oladipo and Collison. Based on the full article, they wrecked the Laker defense by driving and setting teammates up for high percentage shots. Myles Turner and Thaddeus Young were the beneficiaries on that. It also didn't help that the bench got outscored 13-30. Lance Stephenson lead the way for the Pacers bench with 16 points and he was also key for Indiana pulling away throughout the rest of the game. The Laker back court as a whole struggled again with I.T., Zo, and KCP having off nights shooting the ball. Zo in particular continues to crash back down to earth as a scorer. That'll be the biggest emphasis of improvement Zo has to focus on in the offseason. The Lakers are back to a losing skid again. That's been a recurring theme this season. The Lakers will compile together a winning streak. And then some time later, they will skid off with a losing streak. The Lakers faced their longest skid when they rode a 9-game losing streak prior to the New Year. The last thing the Lakers need is an underwhelming finish to an improving season. They really need Ingram back to settle things down before it gets ugly.

Lakers Edged Out By Heat in Defensive Battle

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Julius Randle lead the Lakers with 25 points and 12 rebounds, but came up unlucky in a potential game-sealing basket, leading to the 92-91 loss to the Heat. Brook Lopez added 18 points and Kyle Kuzma added 11 points to go with 8 rebounds. Travis Wear lead the 2nd unit in scoring with 11 points.

Final Score: vs. Miami 92-91 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180316/MIALAL#/recap

Next Game: @ Indiana (03/19)

Highlights: *Courtesy of House of Highlights*

Yes, this one hurts. This was a very physical, defensive battle from both teams. It came down to which team was gonna make the final defensive stand. You'd figured the more experience defensive would come out on top, which would be the Heat. What a damp on another big game from Randle. He had a chance to put the Lakers up by three, but the jump hook just rimmed out. That shot has been completely effective for Randle and you can't blame him for missing that shot, which lead to Goran Dragic's go-ahead shot. It was really unlucky as I mentioned. The biggest culprits in the game were the turnovers and the offensive rebounding from the Heat. Lakers committed 20 turnovers to 11 turnovers from Miami. They were careless. They were too passive. At the same time, you gotta give credit to the Heat defense. They made the adjustments to slow down the fast pace tempo of the Lakers after the Lakers destroyed them on their home floor a few weeks ago. The Lakers were forced to play at a half court game and Miami was able to take advantage with an aggressive, swarming defense. They outhustled the Lakers for 2nd chance opportunities. Every time the Lakers looked like they made good defensive stops, the Heat were one step ahead of them in crashing the glass for 2nd chance opportunities. Bam Adebayo looked like a mini Hassan Whiteside out there. He and Josh Richardson terrorized the Lakers in the offensive rebounding category. I.T. was ice cold off the bench. Ball continues to struggle. KCP is at a funk. The back court was just terrible this game scoring-wise. It's a tough way to transition to a very tough four-game road trip ahead.  Pacers, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Pistons, three of those teams are fighting for their playoff lives there.

Warriors Sweep Lakers for the First Time Since 1993-94

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Golden State Warriors where the Lakers could not follow up on an emotionally-draining Nuggets win last night as they lose to the Warriors 106-117. This win marks the first time the Lakers got swept by the Warriors in a regular season series since the 1993-94 season. And the Lakers missed the playoffs that season.

I was barely scratching the surface in my life the last time this happened. I can only look back at those two close losses in OT at Staples where the Lakers had an opportunity to get at least one game. But, it is what it is. This game was a true trap game for the Lakers. The Warriors didn't have Curry, Klay, or Draymond, but they still found a way to win with their depth. Clearly, the Lakers are light years behind to where we want them to be exactly like the Warriors are now.

(+)

Brook Lopez, 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 8-15 shooting. Lopez started great from beyond the arc and then he regressed there. But, he racked up points with his inside game. The Warriors don't have a lot of bulk on the frontcourt, so that presented a favorable matchup for Brook. He also did it on the defensive end with the five block shots. He had a nice start on both ends during the first quarter when he went all the way for the layup and following it up with a block. That provided early blueprint for Lopez's solid game tonight.

Tyler Ennis, 12 points, 5-6 shooting. We have a love-hate relationship with Ennis. But, let's face it tonight, the Warriors reserves outscored the Laker reserves. Since Luke Walton put I.T. in the starting lineup, that presented a "who's who" on the 2nd unit. And Ennis in that fourth quarter provided some good scoring to spark a mini Lakers run, despite it being in vain as the Warriors continued to hit shots.

Julius Randle, 22 points, 10 rebounds. Like I said on Lopez's section, tonight presented a favorable matchup for Randle. Randle fouling out puts a damp on his performance, but he was pretty much the dependable guy to lean on to quell some of the Golden State momentum.

Isaiah Thomas, 20 points, 7 assists, 5-9 three pointers. I.T. was the only guy who can shoot it efficiently from deep. He was responsible for starting a couple of Laker scoring runs to keep the team in the game. Lakers could've used this performance if he was coming off the bench. But, Ingram out, Kuzma out, I.T. still put up big numbers at the expense of not leading the charge with the 2nd unit.

(-)

Bench scoring. The final count is that the Warriors' 2nd unit racked up 39 points. The Lakers' 2nd unit put up 23 points. At one point, the disparency was evident with the Warriors outscoring the Lakers 25-2 in bench points. That's where the Warriors killed the Lakers there. Shaun Livingston picked up the scoring early on. Omri Cassipi got going after a slow start in the first half. Livingston presented a big time mismatch on I.T. Cassipi, the Laker defense could not account for him as he was just sneaking into the basket untouched.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. It's alarming that KCP is on a current cold shooting streak. He got hot late in the game, but it was already out of reach. Defensively, he got abused trying to guard Kevin Durant. KCP on KD was like a small kid picking on a big kid. Caldwell-Pope as good of a defender he is had all kinds of trouble with Durant's length tonight. Not to mention, he also committed some silly fouls defending the three point line to destroy some of the Lakers' momentum.

Lonzo Ball, 1-8 three point shooting. Zo stuffs the stats sheet somewhere else and he's been shooting the three ball better. But, if it's not working, get your shot going by being aggressive to the cup. Clearly, Zo can't buy a bucket from deep now. So, the logical conclusion for Lonzo is to attack the basket. He's still has long ways to go to find that scoring balance. But, everything else is fine for him.

MVP

Brook Lopez, 20 points, 6 rebounds, 5 blocks, 8-15 shooting

Based on how Lopez played tonight and put up numbers on both ends of the floor, he's the MVP of the game. He's not a big time shot blocker, but the five blocks from him were a rare sight to see.




Conclusion

We can't use the no B.I., no Kuz excuse for this one. The Warriors didn't have Curry, Klay, and Green. It would've been a different story if both teams were healthy. And like I said, the Warriors would likely get this game since they're making a playoff push. The Lakers are clearly on the rise and the Warriors will gradually head down their peaking point. Nowadays, it's hard to stay on top, especially when a team has been to three straight finals and won 73 games. That's a lot of minutes and wear and tear logged onto the players. Not to mention, the locked up Curry to a big money contract. KD as well. The Warriors are at that period of playing "keep as many as you can." But, enough with me providing some fact checks here. My Bay Area buddies who are longtime Warrior fans deserve this after being on the losing end for a long time. Seeing the Lakers get swept by the Warriors is gonna take some time to adjust to because it's a rare occurrence given the past fortunes of these two teams. Hopefully, it doesn't become a habit. I'll see you guys later.

03/14: LAKERS @ Warriors 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

This is the 2nd half open thread of the Lakers-Warriors matchup. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

LAL 106 GSW 117

Well, if there's anything that can be picked out in this game, the Warriors still have the more superior depth. Nothing the Lakers can hang their heads on, the West will be theirs when the Warriors start to decline. As I said, the Lakers have to contain everyone else outside of KD. But, Nick Young stepped it up as well as Quinn Cook and Omri Cassipi this game. That just ruined the Lakers' plan all-in-all to get this win. Warrior fans get the sweep of the Lakers they wanted and I know I'm not gonna hear the end of it from friends and co-workers here from the Bay. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3

LAL 82 GSW 89

The one thing that can be relied on the most is that the Lakers find ways to come back. This had "bad quarter" written all over it. Obviously, the scoring off the bench has been biggest difference. At one point, the Warriors' reserves outscored the Lakers' reserves 2-25 until Travis Wear hit a three and Ennis hit a couple of shots. Warriors also keep turning the ball over, which allows this Laker team to hang around and the Lakers' are gonna need more of that. Going back to the Warriors' run this quarter, the last thing the Lakers need is either Nick Young or Quinn Cook to get hot and that played a part in the Warriors building to a double-digit lead and hanging on to the 7 point lead at the end of the quarter.

03/14: LAKERS @ Golden State Warriors 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Welcome in to the first half open thread of the Lakers' road matchup vs. the Golden State Warriors off a back-to-back set. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

LAL 55 GSW 55

That was some good awareness by Lonzo to end it. Broken play, but the Lakers will take it. KCP got doubled at the end and Zo was at the right place at the right time to nod this thing up at 55 a piece. I wouldn't be surprised if this game turns out to be a really slow game. The Warriors are hurting themselves with a couple of turnovers, but the Lakers are hurting themselves more with missed free throws, turnovers, and early foul trouble. They're not really taking full advantage of a very short-handed Warriors squad. But some positives to take here is that Brook Lopez, Julius Randle, and I.T. are carrying the scoring load on this team without B.I. or Kuz. Brook and I.T. had 15 points each. Randle had 13. Those are the Lakers' big 3 right now. They gotta keep feeding it inside with Lopez and Randle and I.T. and Zo have to continue to be aggressive to the cup. KCP vs. KD is a lopsided matchup. Durant is just using his length to his advantage to get any shot he wants. That's where the Lakers miss Ingram and Kuzma. Interesting enough, Lonzo at one point defended KD and did a decent job. Perhaps that's a defensive adjustment Luke Walton can implement. So far, it's a who's who with the way this game's going. Other Lakers have to step in to help Brook, Randle, and I.T. as it is working with the Warriors who are very dependent on Durant to get their offense running. The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

LAL 23 GSW 26

Didn't like that last possession with I.T. dribbling it out as passing it to Derrick Williams for a contested three. I'm stressing this in the comments, the Lakers can live with Kevin Durant scoring at will. KCP defending him is a huge mismatch and KD's having his way. It's the other Warrior players they have to contain. They've stepped up and were actively moving the ball and cutting into the lane. The Lakers had no defense on that early on. Missed free throws were apparent. The turnovers too were a story, but the Warriors are giving it right back. This game could come down to whoever turns it over the most. But, the Lakers are hanging in there with good starts from Lopez and Randle.