The first time I saw this stretch, this was without question the most pivotal week for the Purple and Gold. Three teams that are above .500 and in playoff contention. Two of them that are among the elite teams in the NBA. The Lakers have had an impressive resurgence after nearly six years of turmoil. But many critics have been skeptical that they could beat some of the better teams in the league. Three marquee games with a playoff berth on the line. It's the LakeShow's time to shine!
03/03: vs. Philadelphia 107-120 [W] (47-13)
Philly fans will have their excuses, pointing to the fact that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons didn't play this game. There shouldn't be any excuses for the Lakers to lose against the 76ers without their top two stars. It certainly almost looked like that with the way this game started. They were losing to an injury-ridden Sixers squad with Shake Milton, Glenn Robinson III, and yes, Furkan Korkmaz of all people as their top players. Even Frank Vogel admitted the team looked sluggish to start that he took a timeout to give the team a pep talk. After that, the Lakers came storming back, especially in that 2nd quarter. I said this before and I'll say this again: Anthony Davis is a man among boys. Yes, no Embiid to matchup against him, but Davis did what he had to do: 37 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and a couple of razzle dazzle highlights that quarter. The gloves came off in that 2nd quarter for the purple and gold. You had AD and KCP throwing it down like it's a dunk contest. You had LeBron shooting from near half court...again and blocking the final shot in the 2nd quarter almost on the opposite end of the court. The Lakers took care of business against the hapless 76ers who have not won on the road for nine straight games. It would've been more impressive if the Sixers had their full roster. But, a W is a W regardless.
03/06: vs. Milwaukee 103-113 [W] (48-13)
Arguably the NBA's heavyweight fight this season. The last time these two teams met, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks creamed the Lakers in "Cream City." With playoff implications on the line, the results should be different. The Lakers won this game despite shooting a woeful 20% from three-point land. The defense and trips to the free throw line is what kept them alive this game. From Avery Bradley drawing offensive fouls to Alex Caruso swiping the ball off of a Bucks' player out of bounds. Despite Giannis' big game of 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, he got shut down with LeBron and AD taking turns defending him. And that's the way it should be: the best players on the team locking down the opposition's best player. The Lakers drew more fouls by attacking the Bucks' interior defense. From the graphics, Lakers had 19 more free throw attempts than the Bucks did
Defensively, the Toronto Raptors formulated the blueprint: you stop Antetokounmpo, the Bucks offense stops flowing. Jeff Van Gundy brought out an interesting point Friday: Giannis is not accustomed to playing extended minutes in the 4th because Milwaukee had games in the bag before that period. But because the Lakers hung close behind big performances by the King and the Brow this game, that kept the Greek Freak on the floor. This was a statement win from the Lakers and LeBron showed people he deserves MVP consideration with 37 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals and shutting down Antetokounmpo in crunch time. AD showed he deserves some Defensive Player of the Year (DOPY) consideration with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks and despite drawing some foul trouble, he played good defense against Giannis down the stretch and came up with a key block on Khris Middleton when the Bucks looked to push. Not only did the Lakers win big, but they clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2013. The last few postseasons were entertaining, but felt weird without the Lakers involved. The Purple (and Gold) rain returns to the the postseason after a 7-year drought!
03/08: @ LA Clippers 112-103 [W] (49-13)
By the end of last year, we had to put up with Clipper fans as they rightfully have bragging rights when the Clippers beat the Lakers not only once, but twice. It was mortifying indeed. To make matters worse, the Clippers marketing department created a marketing campaign to take a shot at the Lakers once more called: "Real LA." This marketing campaign was targeted to have the Clippers be LA's team of not just for the Hollywood celebrities and personalities (like the Lakers), but also the blue collar demographic of LA. I need Nipsey Hussle's "Last Time I Checc'd" right about now. I get it the Clippers have an identity with a roster who have heart, hustle, and grind. But, you're telling me the Lakers don't appeal to the blue collar people LA? Get out of here with that notion! You'll see people in the gritty parts of LA outside of Hollywood sport Laker gear. The Clippers are trying so hard to integrate themselves into the LA culture and identity. It's laughable.
Which comes to my attention, the Lakers need to get this game to slap the Clippers and their fans back to reality. After an impressive win against the best team in the NBA, the Bucks the other night, they need to get one again to put the league on notice. Round 3 for these two teams was as advertised. Both teams were chippy. Although I don't like the fact that the refs didn't call one tech on the Clippers when they were complaining all game long! But Avery Bradley and Danny Green get techs when they barely complain about the refs. Speaking of Avery Bradley, he had himself a big game with 24 points and connecting on 6 three pointers. He was averaging 20+ points for a couple games some time ago, but he hasn't had a lot of touches since then. And it was good to see him do some damage offensively because he was the X-factor and the reason why the Lakers kept hanging around. Kuzma, KCP, and Markieff Morris didn't quite fill up the stats sheet, but boy did they play well defensively. Kuz lead the team with 10 boards and played some really tough defense.
The 2nd half was when the Lakers took complete control of the game. They said LeBron was scared of PG and moreso Kawhi. Despite 7-17 shooting, LeBron James shredded the stifling Clippers defense by attacking and getting to the foul line. And just like when he drew the assignment of defending Giannis Friday, he did so matching up against Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi was held in check for the most part of the game. The 4th quarter, the Lakers drew fouls early on to put themselves in the bonus early. Even though the Clippers took more free throws, they missed some down the stretch, especially when Montrezl Harrell went to the line. He's a handful, but it's a win when he misses some free throws as he's a 65% FT shooter. Anthony Davis lead all scorers with 30 points. AD and LeBron exorcised some demons against the Clippers. You recall the first game when they were held to two points in the 4th quarter. This game, they took over when it mattered the most and helped the Lakers win a pivotal matchup. Forget all the talk that the Lakers can't beat good teams! They proved themselves this weekend. This is playoff mode!
Showing posts with label Milwaukee Bucks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milwaukee Bucks. Show all posts
Monday, March 9, 2020
Monday, December 23, 2019
Lakers Weekly Roundup #8: Funked Up
Success at the top doesn't come without any adversity the rest of the way. As the season ramps up with more games heading into the New Year, it'll get harder from here. Further success must be proceeded with caution. The Lakers are on a tremendous start 24-3 heading into this week. As Anthony Davis mentioned, this team vows to never lose a game back-to-back. Saying it is easy. Doing it presents a bigger challenge. And quite frankly, the Lakers were due to overcome a little adversity at some point.
12/17: @ Indiana 102-105 [L] (24-4)
It was a homecoming for coach Vogel after a few years of coaching the Pacers to a pair of Eastern Conference Finals appearances. The road streak was fun while it lasted. With the way the Lakers are keeping games close, this was bound to happen eventually. Although, there's no denying that the presence of Anthony Davis was sorely missed. The Lakers ruled out AD after he tweaked an ankle on Sunday's win against the Hawks. The Pacers may be missing their best player in Victor Oladipo, but they aren't no pushover because of how head coach Nate McMillan gets the best out of the talent he has. As expected, the game was tightly contested all the way. In the 4th quarter, the Lakers looked like they about to pull away with a minute and thirty left in the game. But the Pacers kept roaring back behind the efforts of Malcolm Brogdon and a beastly performance from Domantas Sabonis. LA had all kinds of chances to regain momentum and pull out the victory...if they made their free throws down the stretch.
Free throws down the stretch cost the Lakers this game. Despite the greatness of LeBron James, he has been shooting poorly from the free throw line as of late and it showed this game with no AD to bail out the team. As for Dwight Howard, great throwback performance from him with a 20 point game and a perfect 10-10 field goals. But, when you have to rely on Dwight to make free throws in the clutch, you are bound to lose. Indiana kept the window open for the Lakers, but the Lakers could not capitalize because of their own mishaps. LeBron went 0-6 from 3-point. Rajon Rondo was atrocious this game, but you let him take the potential game-tying shot. As mentioned Dwight stepped up as well as Avery Bradley, chipping 13 points this game. You'll probably not see them perform like this on a night-to-night basis. Next game against the Bucks raises the stakes in this heavyweight fight on Thursday night as two of the best teams look to bounce back from tough, streak-breaking losses.
12/19: @ Milwaukee 104-111 [L] (24-5)
NBA fans are in for a treat for a possible Finals matchup. Lakers and the Bucks. The King and the 'Brow battle the Greek Freak, the reigning, defending league MVP. This had all the makings of a heavyweight fight. 12 rounds of boxing converted into 4 quarters of basketball.
And the Bucks win by unanimous decision! Let's be honest, the Lakers could not stop Milwaukee's three-point shooting. When you have Giannis hitting threes, you know you're in big trouble. He hit five threes this game. Five threes! And he also picked his spots against the Laker defense. Poor KCP was thrown into the fodder having to guard the "Greek god of the deer." AD and LeBron guarded him in some spurts and did well. It boggles my mind why we couldn't cancel out Giannis' length with either of those guys full time. Well, AD in particular. We all know LeBron needs his rest. It also doesn't help that the Lakers' 2nd unit scored a whopping 4 points compared to the Bucks' 34 points lead by George Hill's 21 points. They were literally playing five on ten this game and I'm surprised they almost rallied. Key word "almost." They just couldn't stop the precipitation of threes.
12/22: vs. Denver 128-104 [L] (24-6)
The four words that we all don't want to hear prior to this game: LeBron James is OUT. The reports say that he has a strain on his back. Well, literally LeBron and AD are carrying this team throughout the duration of the season. When their backs give out, the purple and gold are in a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, it was LeBron's back that gave out. When he goes, so does the flow of this offense. And it showed this game. I'm not going to say much, but Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma's return carried this Lakers team this game. Outside of Rondo, the Lakers could not find ways to move the ball and create shots for the team. 19 assists has got to be a season low for this team. The offense was literally give AD the ball and make him do work. Oh, and he aggravated his ankle injury. Meanwhile, Denver controlled the pace of the game and dominated flat out in the 2nd half with ball movement and spacing. It's a small sample size, but without LeBron as the primary floor general, this offense staggers.
With the Lakers' recent skid, other top teams in the West are slowly creeping up for the top seed. Denver and Houston are back in the race. You know who else is? The dreaded Clippers. The only thing that's stopping the Clippers from overtaking the entire conference is their affinity for load management. The last thing the Lakers need in this anticipated rematch on Christmas Day is their top stars hobbled with injuries as LeBron and AD are questionable for that game. Just like last Christmas game, I can guarantee you that this game will also be a fortune-changing game for the Lakers.
12/17: @ Indiana 102-105 [L] (24-4)
It was a homecoming for coach Vogel after a few years of coaching the Pacers to a pair of Eastern Conference Finals appearances. The road streak was fun while it lasted. With the way the Lakers are keeping games close, this was bound to happen eventually. Although, there's no denying that the presence of Anthony Davis was sorely missed. The Lakers ruled out AD after he tweaked an ankle on Sunday's win against the Hawks. The Pacers may be missing their best player in Victor Oladipo, but they aren't no pushover because of how head coach Nate McMillan gets the best out of the talent he has. As expected, the game was tightly contested all the way. In the 4th quarter, the Lakers looked like they about to pull away with a minute and thirty left in the game. But the Pacers kept roaring back behind the efforts of Malcolm Brogdon and a beastly performance from Domantas Sabonis. LA had all kinds of chances to regain momentum and pull out the victory...if they made their free throws down the stretch.
Free throws down the stretch cost the Lakers this game. Despite the greatness of LeBron James, he has been shooting poorly from the free throw line as of late and it showed this game with no AD to bail out the team. As for Dwight Howard, great throwback performance from him with a 20 point game and a perfect 10-10 field goals. But, when you have to rely on Dwight to make free throws in the clutch, you are bound to lose. Indiana kept the window open for the Lakers, but the Lakers could not capitalize because of their own mishaps. LeBron went 0-6 from 3-point. Rajon Rondo was atrocious this game, but you let him take the potential game-tying shot. As mentioned Dwight stepped up as well as Avery Bradley, chipping 13 points this game. You'll probably not see them perform like this on a night-to-night basis. Next game against the Bucks raises the stakes in this heavyweight fight on Thursday night as two of the best teams look to bounce back from tough, streak-breaking losses.
12/19: @ Milwaukee 104-111 [L] (24-5)
NBA fans are in for a treat for a possible Finals matchup. Lakers and the Bucks. The King and the 'Brow battle the Greek Freak, the reigning, defending league MVP. This had all the makings of a heavyweight fight. 12 rounds of boxing converted into 4 quarters of basketball.
And the Bucks win by unanimous decision! Let's be honest, the Lakers could not stop Milwaukee's three-point shooting. When you have Giannis hitting threes, you know you're in big trouble. He hit five threes this game. Five threes! And he also picked his spots against the Laker defense. Poor KCP was thrown into the fodder having to guard the "Greek god of the deer." AD and LeBron guarded him in some spurts and did well. It boggles my mind why we couldn't cancel out Giannis' length with either of those guys full time. Well, AD in particular. We all know LeBron needs his rest. It also doesn't help that the Lakers' 2nd unit scored a whopping 4 points compared to the Bucks' 34 points lead by George Hill's 21 points. They were literally playing five on ten this game and I'm surprised they almost rallied. Key word "almost." They just couldn't stop the precipitation of threes.
12/22: vs. Denver 128-104 [L] (24-6)
The four words that we all don't want to hear prior to this game: LeBron James is OUT. The reports say that he has a strain on his back. Well, literally LeBron and AD are carrying this team throughout the duration of the season. When their backs give out, the purple and gold are in a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, it was LeBron's back that gave out. When he goes, so does the flow of this offense. And it showed this game. I'm not going to say much, but Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma's return carried this Lakers team this game. Outside of Rondo, the Lakers could not find ways to move the ball and create shots for the team. 19 assists has got to be a season low for this team. The offense was literally give AD the ball and make him do work. Oh, and he aggravated his ankle injury. Meanwhile, Denver controlled the pace of the game and dominated flat out in the 2nd half with ball movement and spacing. It's a small sample size, but without LeBron as the primary floor general, this offense staggers.
With the Lakers' recent skid, other top teams in the West are slowly creeping up for the top seed. Denver and Houston are back in the race. You know who else is? The dreaded Clippers. The only thing that's stopping the Clippers from overtaking the entire conference is their affinity for load management. The last thing the Lakers need in this anticipated rematch on Christmas Day is their top stars hobbled with injuries as LeBron and AD are questionable for that game. Just like last Christmas game, I can guarantee you that this game will also be a fortune-changing game for the Lakers.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/24): Eliminated From Playoff Contention
*Some NSFW language*
It was only inevitable. But thank goodness it's finally over. After taking so many L's this month, the Lakers have been eliminated from playoff contention. There are three reasons for this underwhelming season 1) injuries 2) the failed fire sale for Anthony Davis 3) chemistry ruined by Magic, Rob, and LeBron pulling the string behind the scenes. In a 2nd half of the season that was full of drama, the Lakers have ruined in what was their most promising start from the 4th seed to eliminated. And the drama doesn't stop there. While this was overshadowed by LeBron's influence to urge the Lakers to build a superteam and bring Anthony Davis, tensions arise within the Big Baller Brand as Lonzo Ball did the unthinkable: leaving BBB for Nike. Those BBB shoes are probably the reason why he was injury-prone these past two seasons. Not to mention, their co-founder committed some fraud. Ouch. So much for the BBB empire. Then, there's the search for a new head coach. It's inevitable that Luke Walton is gone by season's end. Rumors of Jason Kidd possibly being next in line is starting to pick up steam. To paraphrase his own words, it's hard to pass up a franchise that breeds championship DNA. That hasn't been the case the past few seasons. So, let's round and solve the problem of the Lakers' being mathematically eliminated in this week's Weekly Roundup.
03/19: @ Milwaukee 101-115 [L] (31-40)
HIGHLIGHTS
The Lakers wrap up their 4-game road trip with a visit against the best team in the East. This was a guaranteed beatdown for the Bucks. No LeBron. No Zo or B.I. Even if the Bucks were without the Greek Freak, they're roster is still loaded. The Bucks had control for the majority of the game. That's until the 4th quarter where they tried to give the game away to the Lakers. KCP or Kenny as the Lakers social media nicknamed him during this game's recap helped lead the way, going off with 35 points. But, the Bucks depth showed by the end of the game. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez came to save the day to avoid an embarrassing disaster without their MVP. But on the flipside, they lose a key piece in Nikola Mirotic.
03/22: vs. Brooklyn 111-106 [L] (31-41)
HIGHLIGHTS
The stipulation is simple, if the Lakers lose this, it's officially over for their postseason aspirations. This presents an opportunity for the would-be successor of the Lakers. Yes, it had to be destiny that the one to bury the playoff hopes of the Purple and Gold would be D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' former #2 pick of 2015. If we look at the trade in hindsight, the Lakers drew first blood on the trade. Then, the Nets came out connecting on a huge haymaker through D'Lo's All-Star play this season. He singlehandedly has the Nets primed for playoff ball in the East. The Lakers battled all game thanks to a monster game by JaVale McGee. I guess trading for Zubac would've been worth it if he put up these numbers: 33 points, 20 rebounds, 15-20 shooting, 6 blocks. It felt like prime Shaq was reincarnated. Ironic for the former Shaqtin' a Fool legend. But it wasn't enough as LeBron stumbled and tumbled down the stretch and the Nets grinded out another win over the Lakers. Poetic justice for D'Lo. Now for the sixth straight season, the Lakers get to sit on the couch during the postseason. *ELIMINATED* *Seppuku sounds* *UrinatingTree fans will get this reference*
03/24: vs. Sacramento 106-111 [W] (32-41)
HIGHLIGHTS
Oh, now they finally start winning. Where was this effort the last few games? But, it's the Kings. Even though Sacramento has improved through their young core of Fox, Hield, and Bagley III, they'll need a few veteran pieces to take the next step to the playoffs. Not to mention, they were coming off back-to-back sets. As meaningless as this was, it was good to see the Lakers finally win a game. The King and KuzMania powered the Lakers to this victory with 29 points each coming from both players. McGee didn't have a scoring explosion, but still contributed a double-double and almost half a dozen blocks. At this point, the Lakers have nothing to play for but pride. It would be an absolute miracle for this team to have some sort of shot at Zion Williamson in the NBA draft.
It was only inevitable. But thank goodness it's finally over. After taking so many L's this month, the Lakers have been eliminated from playoff contention. There are three reasons for this underwhelming season 1) injuries 2) the failed fire sale for Anthony Davis 3) chemistry ruined by Magic, Rob, and LeBron pulling the string behind the scenes. In a 2nd half of the season that was full of drama, the Lakers have ruined in what was their most promising start from the 4th seed to eliminated. And the drama doesn't stop there. While this was overshadowed by LeBron's influence to urge the Lakers to build a superteam and bring Anthony Davis, tensions arise within the Big Baller Brand as Lonzo Ball did the unthinkable: leaving BBB for Nike. Those BBB shoes are probably the reason why he was injury-prone these past two seasons. Not to mention, their co-founder committed some fraud. Ouch. So much for the BBB empire. Then, there's the search for a new head coach. It's inevitable that Luke Walton is gone by season's end. Rumors of Jason Kidd possibly being next in line is starting to pick up steam. To paraphrase his own words, it's hard to pass up a franchise that breeds championship DNA. That hasn't been the case the past few seasons. So, let's round and solve the problem of the Lakers' being mathematically eliminated in this week's Weekly Roundup.
03/19: @ Milwaukee 101-115 [L] (31-40)
HIGHLIGHTS
The Lakers wrap up their 4-game road trip with a visit against the best team in the East. This was a guaranteed beatdown for the Bucks. No LeBron. No Zo or B.I. Even if the Bucks were without the Greek Freak, they're roster is still loaded. The Bucks had control for the majority of the game. That's until the 4th quarter where they tried to give the game away to the Lakers. KCP or Kenny as the Lakers social media nicknamed him during this game's recap helped lead the way, going off with 35 points. But, the Bucks depth showed by the end of the game. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez came to save the day to avoid an embarrassing disaster without their MVP. But on the flipside, they lose a key piece in Nikola Mirotic.
03/22: vs. Brooklyn 111-106 [L] (31-41)
HIGHLIGHTS
The stipulation is simple, if the Lakers lose this, it's officially over for their postseason aspirations. This presents an opportunity for the would-be successor of the Lakers. Yes, it had to be destiny that the one to bury the playoff hopes of the Purple and Gold would be D'Angelo Russell, the Lakers' former #2 pick of 2015. If we look at the trade in hindsight, the Lakers drew first blood on the trade. Then, the Nets came out connecting on a huge haymaker through D'Lo's All-Star play this season. He singlehandedly has the Nets primed for playoff ball in the East. The Lakers battled all game thanks to a monster game by JaVale McGee. I guess trading for Zubac would've been worth it if he put up these numbers: 33 points, 20 rebounds, 15-20 shooting, 6 blocks. It felt like prime Shaq was reincarnated. Ironic for the former Shaqtin' a Fool legend. But it wasn't enough as LeBron stumbled and tumbled down the stretch and the Nets grinded out another win over the Lakers. Poetic justice for D'Lo. Now for the sixth straight season, the Lakers get to sit on the couch during the postseason. *ELIMINATED* *Seppuku sounds* *UrinatingTree fans will get this reference*
03/24: vs. Sacramento 106-111 [W] (32-41)
HIGHLIGHTS
Oh, now they finally start winning. Where was this effort the last few games? But, it's the Kings. Even though Sacramento has improved through their young core of Fox, Hield, and Bagley III, they'll need a few veteran pieces to take the next step to the playoffs. Not to mention, they were coming off back-to-back sets. As meaningless as this was, it was good to see the Lakers finally win a game. The King and KuzMania powered the Lakers to this victory with 29 points each coming from both players. McGee didn't have a scoring explosion, but still contributed a double-double and almost half a dozen blocks. At this point, the Lakers have nothing to play for but pride. It would be an absolute miracle for this team to have some sort of shot at Zion Williamson in the NBA draft.
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Lakers Weekly Roundup (03/03): Playoff Mode: ON?
*Some NSFW language*
The All-Star break is over. Time for teams to get back to work. This is the most exciting time in the NBA. With fewer games left now on the schedule, teams are getting serious as they get ready for the fight of their playoff lives. The fun and games are O-V-E-R. For the Lakers, it's the most daunting challenge. They have a steep mountain to climb as they trail closely behind the Clippers and the Kings in the race for the 8th seed. The bad news? The Lakers are facing their difficult stretch of the season. Yes, against the top-notch teams that are locking in their playoff position in either conference. This stretch is the measuring stick to see how playoff-ready this team is. Are they up for the challenge? This is this week's Lakers Weekly Roundup.
Keep in mind I combined last week's games with this week's games. I mean, the Lakers just had two games last week. We'll get back to normal in the next week. Without further ado, here's the lengthy Weekly Roundup.
02/21: vs. Houston 106-111 [W] (29-29)
HIGHLIGHTS
Right out of the gate, let's test that playoff intensity after the All-Star break by going up against the surging Houston Rockets. The Rockets have owned the Lakers this season with their flippity floppity tactics. This 4th installments had much more flavor than the last two. Mainly because Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are on the floor. It feels like it's been ages since that infamous brawl between the two Point Guards back in the 2nd game when the season was still young that reignited this rivalry. And Laker fans since the 70's were taken a trip down memory lane when Kermit Washington sucker punched Rudy Tomjanovich as Rondo landed the 1-2 punch on CP3. On to the present matchup, it looked like the Rockets were going to run away with this. CP3 and Harden were up to their fancy old floppity flop flop bullshit to swindle out a victory against the Lakers. However, Playoff Intensity: ON. King James and the SlenderIngram commanded the Lakers to a rally against the Houston Floppets. Even the refs had enough of the Rockets' flopping ways that Harden and CP3 called out the head referee of this game, Scott Foster. Harden threw a tantrum. CP3 threw a tantrum and got T'd. Mike D'Antoni was up-in-arms. Not so much fun when the calls are not in your favor now is it?
In all seriousness, I was impressed with B.I.'s performance this game. Looks like he's finding his way to get more comfortable playing off ball while still being his aggressive usual self. Reggie Bullock was huge too with some key three pointers down the stretch to seal the win for the Lakers. I'll warm to the trade a little bit. Laker debut was flop, but he's making some okay all-around contributions.
02/23: @ New Orleans 115-128 [L] (29-30)
HIGHLIGHTS
All I wish for the Lakers is to build some consistency after a big win. They didn't do so before the break when they got a thrilling victory over the Celtics in Boston. Hopefully, they had the chance to look back and learn from some mistakes.
They didn't.
How in the hell do you lose to Pelicans team that sat Anthony Davis down for this game and traded away one of their stretch 4 sharpshooters in Mirotic? I should be riding high on this team after a big win against the Rockets, but games like these are the reason why I hold back because this team will find a way to say "fuck you" when it looked like things were coming along just fine. "Oh, their best player is not playing. Let's take it a little easy." If this is the attitude that the Lakers are giving against teams that they should beat, then there is a reason why they're two spots away from the 8th seed. Distrust among players after the trade drama. LeBron James questioning the mentality of this team after this ugly loss when he and Magic tried to boot them out. It's even worse that they left Luke Walton, yes there own head coach behind after this game on the bus ride back to the hotel. Oh by the way, for those who are watching ex-Lakers: Julius Randle had 24 points and connected on two 3-pointer. He's having a solid season for the Pelicans. (For fucks sake, WHO THE FUCK'S IN CHARGE OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ON THIS TEAM??????)
02/25: @ Memphis 105-110 [L] (29-31)
HIGHLIGHTS
0-2 on a road trip against sub .500 teams. Not a good look for a team with playoff aspirations on the line here. My goodness this Grizzlies team is not even good. Since they traded away Marc Gasol, they consist of a group of washed up vets/misfits. Despite some solid efforts by the Lakers' Big 3 of LeBron, B.I., and Kuz, the Lakers fell short as the offense became stagnant as LeBron's effort on defense late in the game. The starting five did its job. The bench failed them here. 7 points compared to the Grizzlies' 33 points in bench scoring has never nor will win any games. It's clear as day that the Lakers left their playoff intensity at home during this road trip. They find themselves with a 4% chance now of making the playoffs as they're placed back at the 11th seed.
02/27: vs. New Orleans 119-125 [W] (30-31)
HIGHLIGHTS
Ah yes, Anthony Davis suits up this game as he travels with the Pelicans since the trade drama. If the Lakers struggled against the Pelicans on the road without A.D., what more when they have him on the floor? A.D. did damage because Luke Walton thought it would be a great idea to match up Kyle Kuzma against one of the best big man in the league. Fortunately, the Pelicans had nothing to gain. So, they sat A.D. down after the 3rd quarter. This is something teams do in the preseason. How rare is it that you find a team that shuts their star player down in a regular season game when the outcome is not even decided? The Lakers are not the only team with internal issues. Despite the Pelicans decision, they still competed behind a 35-point effort by Julius Randle and a couple of three balls. But, here comes that playoff intensity as "Deus ex LeBron" bails the Lakers out from impending doom. Let's break down some stat lines here: LeBron, 33 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast. B.I., 23 pts. Kuzma, 22 pts. Rondo, 11 pts, 7 reb, 16 ast. Bullock, 14 pts. For the Lakers to win out, they need statistical output like these from their starting five on a consistent basis. Quality bench contribution is another bonus. Well, playoff mode for the Lakers came back after it hit a snag on the road. Fortunately, the Lakers got some significant help on this night as the Jazz topped the Clippers and the Bucks pulled out a thrilling OT win against the Kings. The race for the 8th seed in the West is far from settled.
03/01: vs. Milwaukee 131-120 [L] (30-32)
FULL RECAP HERE
The NBA has entered the month "March Madness." This time, NBA teams are serious about jockeying for position for playoff spot. Every game at this month is MUST-WIN. And the Lakers' efforts certainly showed against the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers did everything they can to spring the upset. Unfortunately, they gassed out in the 4th quarter against a better team. Good teams find ways to win.
03/02: @ Phoenix 109-118 [L] (30-33)
HIGHLIGHTS
Boy, did I have a feeling something would go wrong in this game? When an aspiring playoff-team loses to the Phoenix Suns, a franchise that is the living embodiment of mediocrity, then truly the sky is falling down. The Lakers have owned the Suns this season, but they couldn't get the job done in getting the sweep. This team isn't even good despite the likes of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton. The Lakers did attempt to rally in this game though. But I'm sorry, if you have to rally and come from behind against a mediocre Phoenix squad, then there's serious problems. Ask yourself this my fellow Lakers fans, do you really think this team is good enough to make some noise in the playoffs? The fact they loss to the shittier teams like the Hawks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Cavs, and Suns, and swept by the Magic is the team's mark of being a pretender. Even if Lonzo Ball comes back, that's a big IF, this team is gonna have to run a really tough gauntlet if you look at the schedule this month. Playoff Mode has been activated alright. Unfortunately, the free trial ended in the win against Houston.
The All-Star break is over. Time for teams to get back to work. This is the most exciting time in the NBA. With fewer games left now on the schedule, teams are getting serious as they get ready for the fight of their playoff lives. The fun and games are O-V-E-R. For the Lakers, it's the most daunting challenge. They have a steep mountain to climb as they trail closely behind the Clippers and the Kings in the race for the 8th seed. The bad news? The Lakers are facing their difficult stretch of the season. Yes, against the top-notch teams that are locking in their playoff position in either conference. This stretch is the measuring stick to see how playoff-ready this team is. Are they up for the challenge? This is this week's Lakers Weekly Roundup.
Keep in mind I combined last week's games with this week's games. I mean, the Lakers just had two games last week. We'll get back to normal in the next week. Without further ado, here's the lengthy Weekly Roundup.
02/21: vs. Houston 106-111 [W] (29-29)
HIGHLIGHTS
Right out of the gate, let's test that playoff intensity after the All-Star break by going up against the surging Houston Rockets. The Rockets have owned the Lakers this season with their flippity floppity tactics. This 4th installments had much more flavor than the last two. Mainly because Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul are on the floor. It feels like it's been ages since that infamous brawl between the two Point Guards back in the 2nd game when the season was still young that reignited this rivalry. And Laker fans since the 70's were taken a trip down memory lane when Kermit Washington sucker punched Rudy Tomjanovich as Rondo landed the 1-2 punch on CP3. On to the present matchup, it looked like the Rockets were going to run away with this. CP3 and Harden were up to their fancy old floppity flop flop bullshit to swindle out a victory against the Lakers. However, Playoff Intensity: ON. King James and the SlenderIngram commanded the Lakers to a rally against the Houston Floppets. Even the refs had enough of the Rockets' flopping ways that Harden and CP3 called out the head referee of this game, Scott Foster. Harden threw a tantrum. CP3 threw a tantrum and got T'd. Mike D'Antoni was up-in-arms. Not so much fun when the calls are not in your favor now is it?
In all seriousness, I was impressed with B.I.'s performance this game. Looks like he's finding his way to get more comfortable playing off ball while still being his aggressive usual self. Reggie Bullock was huge too with some key three pointers down the stretch to seal the win for the Lakers. I'll warm to the trade a little bit. Laker debut was flop, but he's making some okay all-around contributions.
02/23: @ New Orleans 115-128 [L] (29-30)
HIGHLIGHTS
All I wish for the Lakers is to build some consistency after a big win. They didn't do so before the break when they got a thrilling victory over the Celtics in Boston. Hopefully, they had the chance to look back and learn from some mistakes.
They didn't.
How in the hell do you lose to Pelicans team that sat Anthony Davis down for this game and traded away one of their stretch 4 sharpshooters in Mirotic? I should be riding high on this team after a big win against the Rockets, but games like these are the reason why I hold back because this team will find a way to say "fuck you" when it looked like things were coming along just fine. "Oh, their best player is not playing. Let's take it a little easy." If this is the attitude that the Lakers are giving against teams that they should beat, then there is a reason why they're two spots away from the 8th seed. Distrust among players after the trade drama. LeBron James questioning the mentality of this team after this ugly loss when he and Magic tried to boot them out. It's even worse that they left Luke Walton, yes there own head coach behind after this game on the bus ride back to the hotel. Oh by the way, for those who are watching ex-Lakers: Julius Randle had 24 points and connected on two 3-pointer. He's having a solid season for the Pelicans. (For fucks sake, WHO THE FUCK'S IN CHARGE OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ON THIS TEAM??????)
02/25: @ Memphis 105-110 [L] (29-31)
HIGHLIGHTS
0-2 on a road trip against sub .500 teams. Not a good look for a team with playoff aspirations on the line here. My goodness this Grizzlies team is not even good. Since they traded away Marc Gasol, they consist of a group of washed up vets/misfits. Despite some solid efforts by the Lakers' Big 3 of LeBron, B.I., and Kuz, the Lakers fell short as the offense became stagnant as LeBron's effort on defense late in the game. The starting five did its job. The bench failed them here. 7 points compared to the Grizzlies' 33 points in bench scoring has never nor will win any games. It's clear as day that the Lakers left their playoff intensity at home during this road trip. They find themselves with a 4% chance now of making the playoffs as they're placed back at the 11th seed.
02/27: vs. New Orleans 119-125 [W] (30-31)
HIGHLIGHTS
Ah yes, Anthony Davis suits up this game as he travels with the Pelicans since the trade drama. If the Lakers struggled against the Pelicans on the road without A.D., what more when they have him on the floor? A.D. did damage because Luke Walton thought it would be a great idea to match up Kyle Kuzma against one of the best big man in the league. Fortunately, the Pelicans had nothing to gain. So, they sat A.D. down after the 3rd quarter. This is something teams do in the preseason. How rare is it that you find a team that shuts their star player down in a regular season game when the outcome is not even decided? The Lakers are not the only team with internal issues. Despite the Pelicans decision, they still competed behind a 35-point effort by Julius Randle and a couple of three balls. But, here comes that playoff intensity as "Deus ex LeBron" bails the Lakers out from impending doom. Let's break down some stat lines here: LeBron, 33 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast. B.I., 23 pts. Kuzma, 22 pts. Rondo, 11 pts, 7 reb, 16 ast. Bullock, 14 pts. For the Lakers to win out, they need statistical output like these from their starting five on a consistent basis. Quality bench contribution is another bonus. Well, playoff mode for the Lakers came back after it hit a snag on the road. Fortunately, the Lakers got some significant help on this night as the Jazz topped the Clippers and the Bucks pulled out a thrilling OT win against the Kings. The race for the 8th seed in the West is far from settled.
03/01: vs. Milwaukee 131-120 [L] (30-32)
FULL RECAP HERE
The NBA has entered the month "March Madness." This time, NBA teams are serious about jockeying for position for playoff spot. Every game at this month is MUST-WIN. And the Lakers' efforts certainly showed against the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks. The Lakers did everything they can to spring the upset. Unfortunately, they gassed out in the 4th quarter against a better team. Good teams find ways to win.
03/02: @ Phoenix 109-118 [L] (30-33)
HIGHLIGHTS
Boy, did I have a feeling something would go wrong in this game? When an aspiring playoff-team loses to the Phoenix Suns, a franchise that is the living embodiment of mediocrity, then truly the sky is falling down. The Lakers have owned the Suns this season, but they couldn't get the job done in getting the sweep. This team isn't even good despite the likes of Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton. The Lakers did attempt to rally in this game though. But I'm sorry, if you have to rally and come from behind against a mediocre Phoenix squad, then there's serious problems. Ask yourself this my fellow Lakers fans, do you really think this team is good enough to make some noise in the playoffs? The fact they loss to the shittier teams like the Hawks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Cavs, and Suns, and swept by the Magic is the team's mark of being a pretender. Even if Lonzo Ball comes back, that's a big IF, this team is gonna have to run a really tough gauntlet if you look at the schedule this month. Playoff Mode has been activated alright. Unfortunately, the free trial ended in the win against Houston.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Bucks Dampen Lakers Playoff Hopes
Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Milwaukee Bucks where the Lakers hung tight against the Bucks for 48 minutes. But in the end, the Bucks proved to be too much for the Lakers as they rally to beat the LakeShow 131-120.
It was fun until the final stretch fourth quarter. This game had a stomach-sickening finish. As the Lakers hit this stretch of the season, there's absolutely no room for error. And they had to get off a good start at the beginning of March. It was going to be tall task to knock off these Bucks. I can't say I'm not proud of this effort from the Lakers. But, this is an example of how good teams find ways to win. Milwaukee earned their status. They are no joke this year. It's either between them and Toronto for the East. Of course they have Boston and Philly creeping, but those two teams are head and shoulders above the rest. While the Lakers are trying to find their stride in the competitive West.
(+)
Brandon Ingram, 31 points, 8 rebounds, 13-21 shooting. B.I. continues his streak of 20+ point games. I've been watching the games and like I said he's finding his place on the team since the All-Star break and all the Anthony Davis trade fiasco. He's on a unbelievable streak. Tonight, he started off hot, going a perfect 8-8 from the field. He's so confident on his midrange and his ability to attack the basket. Of course, his first miss had to be a 3-point attempt, which he still needs to work on. That's the only thing missing from his itinerary. Of course, highlight of the night here: the poster dunk on Brook Lopez. I'm sure last year in those practices, Ingram wanted to dunk on him one day.
LeBron James, 31 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 10-19 shooting. LeBron turned on the playoff intensity once again here. We had a little scare again as he took a shot to the ribs from Ersan Ilyasova. We're like "oh no, not again." But, no problem as he's able to continue on and give the Bucks all kinds of problems when he makes his move to the hole. LeBron did enough with some heroics down the stretch, but it wasn't enough.
Rajon Rondo, 20 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 7-19 shooting. I was on the fence of leaving Rondo off this list. Rondo attempted 12 threes tonight. He was missing all kinds of open shots and I believe on his 7th attempt, he started hitting the three-ball. Terrible start for Rajon, but he was able to make it up with some key plays and key buckets down the stretch.
(-)
Final seconds of the 4th quarter. Eric Bledsoe with a couple of and 1's. There was a stretch where the Lakers were up 116-118 and had a possible possession for another score, but they threw it away. KCP had an ugly inbounds pass to LeBron, which pretty much sealed the game as Brogdon hit a dagger three. Then after, the Lakers had spent all their offense and they couldn't buy a bucket down the stretch. If anything, good teams find ways to finish. The Bucks were challenged the whole game and down the stretch of the game, they found ways to come up big.
Eric Bledsoe, 31 points. When it looked like the Lakers were gonna run away en route to an upset win, in comes Eric Bledsoe to save the day. Giannis put up some numbers, but didn't have that MVP-esque impact Bucks fans were accustomed to see. However, it was Bledsoe that stepped up. He's proven in his career that he's a lightning fast guard and once he has a step over his defender, he's already to the basket. Even more frustrating is his ability to balance scoring and facilitating. The Lakers couldn't keep a body up front on him nor could they keep up when he's ready to attack. There's no doubt Bledsoe killed the Lakers here. He sparked the late run in the third quarter. And he took the game over late in the fourth quarter with a couple of consecutive and 1's.
MVP
Brandon Ingram, 31 points, 8 rebounds, 13-21 shooting.
LeBron James, 31 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 10-19 shooting.
One of the rare times I give out co-MVPs. I haven't done that since Josh Hart and Gary Payton II at the end of last season. They've been carrying this team during this stretch. LeBron despite some lapses, will put up numbers and keep the Lakers afloat. Ingram has broken out during this stretch. They're the MVPs this game.
Conclusion
I heard after this game, the Bucks are the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Good for them, they deserve it. As I said, this month is going to be the Lakers' hardest stretch if they want to keep playoff hopes alive. They have Milwaukee twice this month. They have to go on a road trip to Toronto. They have some key matchups against the Clippers and the Kings that'll determine playoff implications. Oh, and there's also Denver and Boston to look out for as well. The margin of error is so slim if the Lakers are hoping to snag that last playoff spot. I swear if they lose to Phoenix tomorrow after a draining loss like this, then I feel it's over for this team barring a big-time choke by the Clippers and/or Sacramento. We'll see what this Lakers team is made of. Fight or flight from here on out. I'll see you guys later.
03/01: LAKERS vs. Bucks 2nd Half Open Thread
King James and the Lakers, Greek Freak Giannis and the Bucks, 2nd half open thread of this matchup. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game!
Q4
MIL 131 LAL 120
Ugh, what a bitter finish to the game. Stay tuned for the full recap.
Q3
MIL 93 LAL 94
The only good thing was that the Lakers were able to reclaim the lead. They put the Bucks in early foul trouble to set up the disparity from the free throws. It was quite a fun 3rd quarter early on. Highlight of this quarter? B.I. dunking all over Brook Lopez. I'm sure Lopez was thinking twice about his decision to leave LA for Milwaukee. But he's with a good team now. All was good, but Eric Bledsoe singlehandedly brought the Bucks back with his scoring and playmaking. He's so fast that the Lakers couldn't keep him in their front view mirror. He still has that quick step to burn you to the basket. Anyway, strong finish needed to close this game out.
03/01: LAKERS vs. Milwaukee Bucks 1st Half Open Thread
Welcome to the first half open thread of the Lakers' Friday Night matchup vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. Playoff implications at stake right here against an elite team in the East. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.
Q2
MIL 59 LAL 65
Now that was a much better finish to an overall strong first half from the Lakers. This is pretty much a playoff game for the Purple and Gold and they've answered the challenge. Milwaukee is getting some buckets for themselves. But, they're offense is not as crisp as Mike Budenholzer expects it to be. We gotta give credit to the Lakers' defense on that. They've disrupted the Bucks' flow a bit. In these last few games, I think we've figured out who LeBron's partner-in-crime is. Brandon Ingram stays hot. 16 points, a perfect 8-8 shooting to go with 6 rebounds. You look at his numbers since the All-Star break, 27 points, 29 points, 32 points, and 23 points in the past few games. It's a small sample size, but I think B.I. is starting to find his role on this team. Whether or not he retains this once Lonzo Ball returns (if he returns) remain to be seen, but we can't deny he has broken out and played better after the break. We've seen him turn it on a few times once the All-Star break is over. But, this is just on another level. So far, the Lakers are dictating the pace here in this game minus a couple of sloppy sequences where the Bucks took advantage and cashed in on some points. Not to mention, the Lakers had a lot of open looks, but players are not hitting their shots and they left a lot of points behind in this half. 2nd half will open up shortly.
Q1
MIL 27 LAL 26
Eh, a bitter finish to what was a strong 1st quarter. Slow start for both teams. It was a little ugly seeing Rajon Rondo miss a whole lot of wide open threes. As I said, the Bucks can live with him hitting those from deep since he's not that good. He hit one, but that's not saying much. Onto more positives, Brandon Ingram continues to be on a tear. He had 10 points this quarter and I believe he's leading the team in scoring early on. I'm really excited that he has come on since the All-Star break. Nonetheless, despite trailing by one, the Lakers shown they can keep up with these Bucks. The defensive activity was evident with LeBron hounding Brook and Muscala with the big block on Antetokounmpo before the buzzer.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Saturday, March 31, 2018
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.
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.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Ball's Triple-Double Overshadowed by Lakers' Costly Mistakes in the 2nd Half vs. Bucks
*Stats courtesy of NBA.com and Yahoo Sports*
Lonzo Ball surpassed LeBron James as the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists. But, the Lakers had no answer for the MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo in their 90-98 loss to the Bucks last Saturday night. Kyle Kuzma grabbed another double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Brook Lopez added 10 points. Julius Randle lead all scorers off the bench with 17 points and adding 9 rebounds.
Final Score: @ Milwaukee 90-98 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20171111/LALMIL#/
Next Game: @ Phoenix (11/13)
Highlights: *Courtesy of Ximo Pierto*
I managed to catch this game on League Pass just before halftime. The 2nd half was where the Lakers ultimately loss this game. They were terrible on the free throw line. When you see in the stats sheet that they made 50% of their free throws, that is inexcusable. To make matters worse, turnovers come again and shot the Lakers in the foot. If I remember, the Lakers were called for traveling three times in the 2nd half because they were shuffling their feet. Julius Randle was called for a 3-second violation in the key. They were too passive down the stretch as well. Players were hesitant to take a shot and trying to make the extra pass. But, on the plus side, congrats to Lonzo Ball on getting the triple-double. He got his shot going early on, which was very encouraging. The one game in Phoenix where he dropped 29 points was his best game scoring-wise. Last night's game was arguably his best all-around game without question. Besides the turnovers and missed free throws, the Lakers couldn't find a way to slow down the Greek Freak. Giannis had another monster game with 33 points and 15 rebounds. The defense couldn't do anything when he attacked the basket. There's no question that he's the early front runner in the MVP race. In this road trip, the Lakers went up against Kyrie Irving, John Wall, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. We fans knew that was going to be a brutal road trip for them and the Lakers lost all three games against Boston, Washington, and Milwaukee respectively. Luckily, they get some breathing room when they wrap their 4-game road trip in Phoenix. Although, the Suns are slowly playing better basketball as of late. It should be a different matchup after their last outing early on the season, which resulted in the Lakers winning in a shootout and preventing a late 4th quarter scare.
Lonzo Ball surpassed LeBron James as the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 13 assists. But, the Lakers had no answer for the MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo in their 90-98 loss to the Bucks last Saturday night. Kyle Kuzma grabbed another double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds and Brook Lopez added 10 points. Julius Randle lead all scorers off the bench with 17 points and adding 9 rebounds.
Final Score: @ Milwaukee 90-98 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20171111/LALMIL#/
Next Game: @ Phoenix (11/13)
Highlights: *Courtesy of Ximo Pierto*
I managed to catch this game on League Pass just before halftime. The 2nd half was where the Lakers ultimately loss this game. They were terrible on the free throw line. When you see in the stats sheet that they made 50% of their free throws, that is inexcusable. To make matters worse, turnovers come again and shot the Lakers in the foot. If I remember, the Lakers were called for traveling three times in the 2nd half because they were shuffling their feet. Julius Randle was called for a 3-second violation in the key. They were too passive down the stretch as well. Players were hesitant to take a shot and trying to make the extra pass. But, on the plus side, congrats to Lonzo Ball on getting the triple-double. He got his shot going early on, which was very encouraging. The one game in Phoenix where he dropped 29 points was his best game scoring-wise. Last night's game was arguably his best all-around game without question. Besides the turnovers and missed free throws, the Lakers couldn't find a way to slow down the Greek Freak. Giannis had another monster game with 33 points and 15 rebounds. The defense couldn't do anything when he attacked the basket. There's no question that he's the early front runner in the MVP race. In this road trip, the Lakers went up against Kyrie Irving, John Wall, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. We fans knew that was going to be a brutal road trip for them and the Lakers lost all three games against Boston, Washington, and Milwaukee respectively. Luckily, they get some breathing room when they wrap their 4-game road trip in Phoenix. Although, the Suns are slowly playing better basketball as of late. It should be a different matchup after their last outing early on the season, which resulted in the Lakers winning in a shootout and preventing a late 4th quarter scare.
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