Lakers Weekly Roundup (01/27): "Kingdom Under Fire"

*Some NSFW language*

Let's be perfectly honest Laker Nation, not a lot has gone right for the Lakers since the injury bug hit them. As Purple and Gold Royalty continues to record staggering lows, perhaps it is time to make a move or two as most Laker fans are clamoring for it. Talks of Anthony Davis wanting out of New Orleans is heating up as the trade deadline nears with the Lakers being the preferred destination. Instead of the young core of Kuzma, Hart, Ingram, Ball, and Zubac being untouchable, they are now potential pieces for a blockbuster to acquire the services of the "Unibrow." In other news, the strings of losses since the injuries have possibly put Luke Walton's job in jeopardy. The King's camp is reportedly not happy of coach Luke's efforts to hold the team together. There may be some merit to justify Luke's firing, such as the team looks uninspired, demoralized, and overwhelmed against some of the better teams in the league. As the saying goes, coaches coach and players play. Laker fans in forums continue to lament on past young pieces, such that they wished they had D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle back as D'Lo continues to put Brooklyn on the map in an impressive winning streak or Randle still putting up pts and rebs and leading the 2nd unit for the Pelicans. Truly, it opens up a case of what-ifs. Maybe the team needs an overhaul on their player development staff or it's finally time for a "changing-of-the-guard" in ownership. Dear Jeanie, will you lead the Lakers back to the promised land? Or are you just another product of the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss's inheritance like your brother Jim before you? Hmmm, this does remind me of another guy who inherited his father's team and is currently burning it to the ground in Oakland and has no idea where to play before heading to Sin City. Nonetheless, this is your Lakers Weekly Roundup!

01/21: vs. Golden State 130-111 [L] (25-23)

FULL RECAP 

Thanos has arrived with all Infinity Stones in tact. That would be the new-look Warriors with a fully healthy DeMarcus Cousins going up against a Lakers squad with injuries to their top play makers. Luckily for the Lakers, the Golden State gods of Oakland decided to grant mercy on them as they only needed Klay, god of catch-and-shoot, to rain threes on them to the tune of 38 points in a 2nd half blowout. The other gods? They had the night off. But Steph, the god of rainbow threes took quite a Shaqtin' tumble in the 3rd quarter.

01/24: vs. Minnesota 120-105 [L] (25-24)

FULL RECAP

The Lakers get Rajon Rondo back. Finally, all is well for the flow of the Neo-Showtime offense. But, the Timberwolves decided it was feasting time on the glass and fastbreak points. You know it's bad when you let Andrew Wiggins play a meaningful game. Take that Jimmy Butler!

01/27: vs. Phoenix 102-116 [W] (26-24)

HIGHLIGHTS

To think this happened on the late, great Dr. Jerry Buss's birthday. I'm pretty sure he's turning in his grave after the current 5 years of pure shit in Lakers franchise history. But, the Lakers managed to channel some of the winning magic that Dr. Buss left behind. Well, then again this game was against the Suns. They're definitely going places with a Devin Booker who wants to pick fights with players in the locker room and a currently injured DeAndre Ayton. The Lakers get big-time contributions of 24 points from KCP, 24 points and 16 rebounds from Ivica Zubac, and  22 points Brandon Ingram. Plus  a guitar solo from Lance Stephenson off the bench to the tune of 17 points. The Lakers certainly needed this win as they embark on an upcoming hellacious stretch against some of the better teams in the NBA. LeBron, where art thou?

Timberwolves Pull Away in 4th Quarter to Beat Lakers

*Forgot to save changes in the master file, hence why I couldn't change the records. But as it stands, Minnesota improves to 24-24 while Lakers fall to 25-24.*

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves where not even the return of Rajon Rondo wasn't enough to prevent the Lakers from being pummeled as the Timberwolves win in a 120-105 rout.

And the going gets tougher. These last few meetings against the T'Wolves, with the exception of that one win since the acquisition of Chandler, they just continually open up a can of whoop ass on the Lakers. Tonight was pretty competitive for the first three quarters. Then the fourth quarter, the Lakers just gassed out and things just went completely out of hand from flagrant fouls to technical fouls to getting beat in the paint. Clearly, there's a lot of problems with this team once the 4th quarter hits.

(+)

Rajon Rondo, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 6-11 shooting. He hasn't missed a beat after being sidelined for a month. When Rondo's on the floor, it takes away a lot of pressure from a lot players on this Lakers roster to be the playmaker and make a play for teammates. Rondo's function is exactly and he's not afraid to shoot too unlike in years past. Offensively, Rondo looked sharp tonight. And the funny thing is, his index finger is not even close to 100%, that's why he had to adjust and take as minimal contact as he can. Overall, he looked real good out there tonight.

Brandon Ingram, 20 points, 8-14 shooting. B.I. recovered from a really slow start this game. At least with Rondo on board, he doesn't have to be pressured to assume point guard duties and set up. Tonight, he was back to being aggressive, making a play for himself, and get to his sweet spots where he can put the ball in the net.

(-)

34 points off turnovers. 32 second chance pts. Thank you Chris Webber for that stat line as it goes to shows that the Lakers just got bullied inside. Ivica Zubac and JaVale McGee obviously cannot hold KAT much longer inside the paint. But, the Timberwolves got a huge spark off Andrew Wiggins as he spent the majority of this game in attack mode. Honestly, Wiggins' biggest problems since he entered the league was consistency and his lack of assertiveness. Tonight, he showed as a capable 2nd option next to KAT. Lakers got outrebounded off the offensive glass 22-9. Not to mention they comitted 7 more turnovers than Minnesota and the Timberwolves dictated the pace on their accord on that one.

Kyle Kuzma, 10 points, 4-12 shooting. Here we go with one of those funk series from Kuz. This was also a problem last year. After putting together a string of high scoring outputs, he just goes on a trail where he doesn't contribute as much as he should. Tonight, nothing from beyond the arc again. Most of his hook shots were too strong and hitting nothing but rim. We definitely to see KuzMania run wild again.

MVP

Rajon Rondo, 15 points, 6 rebounds, 13 assists, 6-11 shooting

Great to have him back tonight. The Laker offense just flowed much better and everybody didn't have to work as much to get their shot as Rondo creates a lot of opportunity for them. Outside of LeBron and Lonzo to form a "Cerberus" of playmakers, Rondo is just as valuable.

Conclusion

The more the Lakers continue to lose, the more I have to quote Jim Mora. "Playoffs? Don't talk about Playoffs! I just hope we win a game." Because right now the Lakers aren't in a hole, they're in a ditch. This team has been in a downward spiral since LeBron went down with the injury. All I hear is "wait until LeBron comes back." I think the Lakers are way too dependent on 'Bron to go MVP-mode and save them from sinking. Players have to step up, find their rhythm, and play like he's not coming back. And I know the young core is capable of doing more than that with the savvy veterans surrounding them. The Lakers get a winnable game coming up against Phoenix. And then after, with the exception of a home game against Philly, it's a long road trip away from home with a tough schedule up. There needs to be a sense of urgency with this team. For some trivia, the Lakers have only won one game this season when I hosts some open threads (X-Mas vs. Warriors). I'll be on sabbattical yet again and usually, that's when they string together some wins. Let's see if I can work the Juju. But honestly, to the Lakers' young core, LeBron is a stop gap player for the franchise, but you guys are the future. Own it now. I'll see you guys later.

01/24: LAKERS vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2nd Half Open Thread

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

Q4

MIN 120 LAL 105

The start of this quarter doomed the Lakers as Minnesota built a 12-point lead. Gauging how this game went, it looked like it was going to go down-to-the-wire. But, the Timberwolve just pulled away and did all the little things to win. Goodness, gracious, even with an integral piece in Rondo back, the Lakers still have issues, especially since they're not a team to come from behind unless LeBron's on the court. More to come in the full recap.

Q3

MIN 84 LAL 82

Strong finish to the quarter after a slow start even though the Lakers still trail. They had a solid start this quarter, scoring five quick points. Then, they just fizzled out and the T'Wolves just controlled the pace for the majority of the game after a quick timeout. Give credit where its due. Neither team wants the other to pile up points and build and insurmountable. This is setting up a tightly contested 4th quarter. The Lakers hung around and got themselves back in the game.

01/24: LAKERS vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 1st Half Open Thread

Welcome to the first half open thread of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves as both teams try to keep afloat in the playoff race in the West. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

MIN 58 LAL 61

Not a good defensive sequence to end the half. But, happy the Lakers have the lead at the half. Of course, the big story here is the return of Rajon Rondo. As I said in the first quarter, all is well when you have one of your floor generals back. Players get to do what they do best without taking up the bulk of the playmaking. Rondo looked good, scoring-wise and facilitating-wise. It's like he hasn't missed one month of action. And that's the big plus right now. But, the Timberwolves are hanging around there as their getting some quality minutes out of Jerryd Bayless off the bench. They're a scrappy bunch despite all the drama that has happened with Jimmy Butler and Tom Thibodeau and they're fighting for a playoff spot as well. For the Lakers, while Rondo is a big boost, we need to see more from our main cast off the young core. Kyle Kuzma finally scored in the 2nd quarter, he's struggled as of late and hope he gets the hot hand back. Ingram's been underwhelming. He had a couple of good looks this first half, he just is not able to knock his shots down. There's still plenty more to play. The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

MIN 28 LAL 29

Quite a struggle for B.I. in this quarter with that jump shot. Outside of that, this quarter shows the beauty of having a playmaker like Rondo back. It was just one game that the Lakers didn't have all three of their floor generals. But, it was nowhere near where it was when the Lakers had a pure playmaker. Rondo's return tonight exemplifies the Lakers' getting back to the flow the offense. He looked good this quarter, knocking down a couple of shots and he takes a lot of pressure off of B.I. and Lance as ball handlers. The last stretch was a bitter finish as the T'Wolves benefited on some and one calls to make this a one point game.

Lakers' Weekly Roundup (01/06): PLAYOFFS? Don't Talk About Playoffs!

*Some NSFW language*

The Lakers have failed so far in their New Year's Resolution of stringing together a winning streak without LeBron James in the lineup. After a convincing win against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, their current free fall has made all that an afterthought. In the words of former NFL head coach Jim Mora:

The Lakers find themselves stuck in an endless struggle without LeBron James making up for their roster/personnel deficiencies. And the injury bug just won't stop derailing the Lakers from returning to perennial playoff glory. Let's see how the Lakers fared here in this week's Lakers' Weekly Roundup.

01/02: vs. Oklahoma City 107-100 [L] (21-17)

HIGHLIGHTS

Ah yes, the native son has returned for the New Year after pulling a 3-part swerve on us Laker fans and NBA fans around the world the previous offseason. Paul George had the opportunity to come home and fulfill a childhood dream of playing for the Lakers. He chickened out because he didn't want to get chewed out by his "best friend" Russell Westbrook. I'll admit I had the "red carpet" rolled out for Paul George's possible homecoming. TrueRaiderLaker Productions was gonna have the hyphiest hype video for PG13 to the Lakers with a two-part mixtape using songs by Ice Cube. This was going to get Lakers fans hyped because Paul George officially joined the Lakers with an all-too West Coast vibe, unlike where most videos tried to cocktease us by having a Paul George Lakers hype video uploaded prematurely before PG ever made a decision. All that time and effort putting a video together only for it to blow up in my face when the news broke out that PG was staying in OKC and I never recovered right on queue by the time LeBron James signed with the Lakers.

It was clear as day that Paul George couldn't handle the bright lights of LA as a hometown boy and he wanted to get paid big dollars. Typical of someone who shot OKC's daylights out of the playoffs last year against Utah. He then tried to spare us the sentimental bullshit that if the Lakers wanted him, they should've traded for him when they had the chance. Oh yeah, even if the Lakers traded for Paul George, he would've been unhappy that he was stuck with a team in the midst of rebuilding for life after Kobe and would've left the Lakers in the dust as a free agent. Understandably so, he'd be playing in the shadow of LeBron and play under intense scrutiny. Because when you're a star player and play alongside LeBron, a larger-than-life NBA superstar of his magnitude, definitely you'll shoulder all of the blame while he shoulders none of it. Instead of playing like an All-Star, you're like a pawn for LeBron. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love as Exhibits A and B.

Enough of the Paul George melancholy, this recap is supposed to be short and sweet. Despite being shorthanded, this game just upped the ante for the Lakers and their young core: prove Paul George that he made a big mistake. They've answered the challenge by baiting PG to initiate contact on the defensive end. Attack him. Bully your way inside against him. It worked for the most part as he was in foul trouble early. Oh my goodness, PG13 might foul out of the game early. Poetic justice! Even better that Russell Westbrook is building a really big house with his bricks (excuse me while my Fantasy Basketball self cries in a corner). But, the fun wasn't meant to last as PG13 put the Thunder on his back. Once again, the Lakers were hampered by their inability to shoot free throws and forgetting how to box out for a rebound. But, at least they're hanging tight with a five-point lead into the 4th quarter. Then everything about the 4th quarter for the Lakers reared its ugly head again as every Lakers possession continued to stall and stall and stall and, well, you get the point. The Lakers couldn't buy a bucket until the game was well out of reach. This team absolutely failed us. Even worse, they're teetering on the 8th spot in the West. What this teaches us is that the "LeBron effect" is real. LeBron does mask major weaknesses for teams that are supposed to rot in mediocrity. Even more bad news, Kyle Kuzma didn't finish the game due to some back pain. That now makes three key players that the Lakers are missing badly (James, Rondo, Kuzma). During this game, we see a shot of LeBron in the back talking to Magic and Pelinka. Something tells me that drastic roster changes are brewing.

01/04: vs. New York 119-112 [L] (21-18)

HIGHLIGHTS

They lost to the Knicks. That's all there is to say. When a team loses to the team that is insanity in the flesh, obviously they've hit a layer that is lower than rock bottom. And by that, the Lakers' woes continue in this never ending skid since LeBron and Rondo went down. The injury bug continues to hit the Purple and Gold as Kyle Kuzma is ruled out this game. It's all in the hands of Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram to carry this team. This game was laughable to watch. The fact that the Lakers had to scratch and claw back into this game in the 3rd quarter against a previously 9-29 team is a testament that this team is trending in really tough waters. Then, like in the OKC game, the Lakers decided to crap out in the fourth quarter as the Knicks pulled out a gritty win. Common denominator? Brandon Ingram attempting to take over this game and chucking some missed shots. As I mentioned in the past, when it comes to evaluating young talent, you can't judge them until Year 3 of their career. As far as I know, time is ticking on B.I. He struggled in these situations last year of being big in the clutch. We fans gave him a pass on that. As he continues to struggle in these situations this year, patience is definitely being tested. It also doesn't help that Luke Walton deviated away from sets and plays that made B.I. so effective last year. Was it because of LeBron coming over? Or having a plethora of playmakers/floor generals this time around? We don't know.  Ingram needs to get better in the clutch. Zo needs to score better. This team as a whole needs to get better at their free throws and rebounding. Luke has to be better at coaching with the roster and rotation he has now. The fact of the matter is that the Lakers continue to be exposed without LeBron having to mask their deficiencies. The West can change in an instant as the Lakers have fallen flat on their faces from the 4th seed to the 8th seed with this loss.

01/06: @ Minnesota 86-108 [L] (21-19)

HIGHLIGHTS

By the time I tuned into this game on League Pass, the Lakers were down 3-22 in the middle of the first quarter. I thought that was the score of an NFL Wild Card game for a second. But no, it's basketball and the Lakers only scored 3 points to start in the first quarter. I didn't pay too much attention to this game. This was beyond horrendous from top to bottom. As shorthanded as the Lakers were, they were in for an ass kicking against a much more talented Timberwolves team. The starting five was trash this game, Zo, Ingram, and Hart especially. Interesting enough, they implemented a lineup with Zubac and McGee in the lineup and boy, did things go South for the Lakers? It was garbage time at the start of the 4th quarter. With this 3rd loss, drastic changes have to be made. A lot of people are saying it's early in the season...with about four more months left. Teams have to start thinking about jockeying in position for a playoff spot, especially in the West where anything can happen. The Lakers need to have that mindset as they are no guarantees that this roster will be at full strength sooner or later. These next few months will go by fast with the trade deadline, All-Star weekend, and the stretch run of the 2018-19 NBA season in March-April. We do have a shakeup after this loss. Tom Thibodeau is relieved of his duties as Timberwolves Head Coach/President. Wait a second, what?

Lakers Weekly Roundup (11/11) - The "Tyson Chandler Effect"

*Some NSFW language*

In an effort to bolster the Lakers' defense and rebounding, LeBron James turned to an old friend who has the 2nd most Finals appearance than he has. That is James Jones, who's the acting GM for the Phoenix Suns. With the history surrounding these two since Miami and Cleveland, James Jones decided to do LeBron a favor and reached a buyout agreement with veteran Center and NBA champion, Tyson Chandler. Because honestly he is no use for a rebuilding Suns team anymore with the emerging DeAndre Ayton.  At least we have one LA native come home and play for the Lakers. Congrats Tyson, you did something Paul George doesn't have enough balls to do. This is your Lakers Weekly Roundup.

11/07: vs. Minnesota 110-114 [W] (5-6)

HIGHLIGHTS

Headband LeBron and Derrick Rose back to MVP form. What is this? 2011? It certainly felt like that as both teams traded shots one after another. Despite all of "the Return" jokes, I've always been a fan of Derrick Rose and I wished he got back to MVP form. When the Lakers looked like they were gonna run away, Derrick "Rose" up to the occasion to bring the Timberwolves back and steal one from the Lakers. But, the heroics of the once aspiring "King Slayer" once again couldn't bring down the King and his men. Definitely, the addition of Tyson Chandler helped because the Lakers finally have somebody who will box out and get players in sync on defense. In fact, the loss caused a ripple effect on Jimmy Butler's tenure with Minnesota, sending him to "The Process" yesterday. At least the drama is over.

11/10: @ Sacramento 101-86 [W] (6-6)

HIGHLIGHTS

Oh boy, prior to this game, Lonzo Ball was questionable due to a possible ankle injury. The flood gates of "he's dodging De'Aaron Fox" just opened up once more. Lonzo decided to man up and battle against his nemesis. Though Fox won the battle with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals compared to Lonzo's mere 4 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal, Zo ultimately won the war this game. The Kings have some pretty good potential, but they don't have a LeBron James. The Lakers smothered the Sucramento Queens to finally get on that .500 threshold, piling up arguably their most complete win of the season so far. Again it's against the Queens, so that's not saying much.

11/11: vs. Atlanta 106-107 [W] (7-6)

HIGHLIGHTS

We're just reminded this game that no lead is safe when it comes to these Lakers. I can't believe that this team almost squandered a 14 point lead against a rebuilding Hawks team of all people. Defense disappeared in the 4th quarter. The Lakers couldn't hit a free throw this game if their life depended on it. LeBron James did as much as he can to LeChoke the game away. Settling for step back threes against a 41-year old Vinsanity and of course, missing two key free throws. *YOU BLEW IT FOR ME IN FANTASY BBALL!* In comes Kyle Kuzma to save the King from choking, securing a rebound, but missing a shot. However that helped put LeBron in position for redemption with a putback dunk. On defense, the "Tyson Chandler Effect" was on full display as he made a game saving block on the help against Trae Young to seal the game. That block was inches away from a goaltend. Nonetheless, this win puts the Lakers above .500 for the first time this season.

Lakers Weekly Roundup (11/04): Disappointing Wins; Even More Disappointing Losses

*Some NSFW language*

Well, we heard it from LeBron and Magic Johnson themselves, they are not happy about this start. The Magic Man held a private meeting with Luke and if our assumptions are correct, his job is on the line. So it's time for Luke to stop fucking around with rotation experiments and roll with what works. Let's see how they fare for the week:

Oct. 29 @ Minnesota [L] 120-124 (2-5)

HIGHLIGHTS

As drama unfolds upon the Lakers, they do battle against another drama-filled team in the Minnesota Timberwolves. A shootout was what you expect considering the Lakers surrender big chunks of points. Unfortunately, they could not stop Jimmy Buckets as he welcomes LeBron to the West to the tune of 32 points. "YOU CAN'T WIN AGAINST ME!" Screams Jimmy B.

Oct. 31 vs. Dallas [W] 114-113 (3-5)

HIGHLIGHTS

The Lakers go back home to do battle against a rising Mavs team and the European heir apparent to Dirk Nowitzki in Luka Doncic. The Lakers come right out of the gate and put a curb stomping on those horses for three straight quarters, this should be an easy win. But, the Lakers decided to nearly pull their best Atlanta Falcons blew a 28-3 lead impression as they allowed the Mavs to storm right on back and eventually tying the game up. Fortunately, Wesley Matthews went full bonehead as he fouled LeBron. All LeBron has to do is just make one free throw, which he did and that was all she wrote. A bipolar victory indeed.

Nov 3 @ Portland [W] 114-110 (4-5)

HIGHLIGHTS

Congratulations Lakers, you've finally ended the 16 game losing against those schmucks from the Pacific Northwest. Fitting the win was in Portland as that was the last Lakers' win four years ago. Hard to believe of all former Lakers, Wesley freakin' Johnson was the last player to lead the Lakers to victory. "Dame Time" definitely ran out on this one. "Playoff" Rondo showed up earlier than expected with a near triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists as he finger rolled the Blazers to death with layups. The Lakers built a comfortable lead in the third quarter, then as usual decided to make it interesting than normal in the fourth. I swear these wins are making us bipolar. Happy they won, but not happy they almost squandered what was a decisive lead in Q3.

Nov. 4 vs. Toronto [L] 121-107 (4-6)

HIGHLIGHTS

On this day of November 4, 2018, the City of "LeBronto" declared independence from the clutches of their ruler King James and reverted back to Toronto. To add insult to injury, they were without one of the original "King Slayers" Kawhi Leonard and yet the Raptors still kicked the Lakers' ass. They were carried by Serge Ibaka and Kyle Lowry who endured King James' reign of terror in all those years. Ibaka rekindled his game that was lost in his OKC years with 34 points and 10 rebounds while Lowry had a double-double with 21 points and 15 assists. Unfortunately, there was not much the Lakers could do as the Raptors steamrolled them. They had a chance in the 4th quarter, but the curb stomping was insurmountable. The North shall remember this day in history.

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 Round Up Commentary: @ New Orleans; @ Minnesota + Post All-Star Adjustments

The NBA is back at it again after a fun All-Star break. Obviously, I called it a week when the Lakers still had two road games before the All-Star weekend. I already provided my quick commentary on the Dallas game as the Lakers opened up this three game road trip prior to the All-Star break. Now, I'll give my two cents on the last two games and bonus thoughts on what the Lakers need to do to get back on track for the 2nd half of the season.

02/14 - Final Score: @ New Orleans 117-139 [L]

Highlights: *Courtesy of Ximo Pierto*

The big highlight of the game was Isaiah Thomas' fight with Rajon Rondo. Both players got ejected this game. Not that it affected the outcome. The Pelicans got off to a very fast start. They didn't run away the whole game. The Lakers cut the deficit to as little as two points. Randle, Ingram, Kuzma, and Hart carried the team scoring-wise as all four were in double figures. Kuzma really had to pick up the load for the 2nd unit, especially without I.T. with 23 points. But, they really had no answer for Anthony Davis down low. This was one ugly road loss this season.

02/15 - Final Score: @ Minnesota 111-119 [L]

Highlights: *Courtesy of Ximo Pierto*

The Lakers almost had this game as the first win with I.T. on the floor. The biggest positive was the chemistry between I.T. and Ivica Zubac. They really developed a very effective rapport in pick-and-roll during this game. Zubac resurrected himself here with 18 points and 11 rebounds on perfect 8-8 shooting. No question he should see the floor more. The Timberwolves, they have a promising teams with seasoned veterans. And that showed down the stretch in this game. Wiggins and KAT didn't have to pick up the load. Rather, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, Jeff Teague, and Jamal Crawford carried the Timberwolves to victory here. Butler, in particular, was sensational on both ends of the floor in that quarter. That ultimately spelled the Lakers' demise before the All-Star break.

After the All-Star Break

The Lakers get a big time boost with Lonzo Ball returning to the lineup. It's a heated debate between Zo and I.T. in terms of the starting point guard role. Some say they should start alongside each other. I don't see how that would work, especially at the idea of I.T. at the 2 guard or Zo at the 2 guard (which doesn't make any sense). It should be clear as day with Zo in the starting lineup and I.T. coming off the bench to give the Lakers more firepower. Zo's return should also benefit the Lakers defensively. The team defense has been out of the loop during this three game losing streak. The Lakers have to recommit on the defensive end to set up the fast pace play in the Lakers' favor. I think after Zubac's game, Luke Walton must consider adding him to the rotation. They're playing a two-man rotation at the 5 with Brook and Randle. The small ball lineup works, but like the Dallas game, coaches will counter with a big-sized lineup to slow down the Lakers' small ball play. I'd say the same should be said for including Thomas Bryant in the rotation. Use those guys to counter if teams send out a bigger lineup. Josh Hart likely going back to the bench with Zo returning could do wonders to mask I.T.'s defensive weaknesses as they'll be the back court for the 2nd unit. A playoff push for the 2nd half is still not out of the picture, but the Lakers have to get back to the basics to make that a reality: playing tough team defense and playing fast and aggressive. It all hinges on Luke as a head coach to push the right buttons at the right time. The Lakers resume tomorrow against Dallas. I was supposed to cover that game after the break, but something else has popped up and I won't be covering the game unfortunately. Speaking of Dallas, the Mavs in a massive ditch with the sexual harassment in the workplace allegations. Mark Cuban's got his work cut out to clean up that deep of a mess. I'll see you guys later.

No Lakers-Timberwolves Open Thread and Full Recap

Hey guys. Just to re-assure everyone, I will not be providing open thread and full recap posts for tonight's Laker game vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves on the blog. I'll provide a Quick Fact Check and Commentary posts though for the game as well as last night's game vs. the Pelicans. Those will be up after All-Star weekend and I will see you guys next Friday when the Lakers take on the Mavs after the All-Star break.

Lakers Can't Overcome Slow Start vs. T'Wolves

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com and Yahoo Sports*

Julius Randle notched a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to the Lakers, but the Timberwolves lead proved to be insurmountable as the Lakers lose 96-114 to open up 2018. Brandon Ingram added 14 points and Josh Hart chipped in 10 points to round out the starters. Jordan Clarkson lead the 2nd unit in scoring with 20 points and Corey Brewer added 12 points.

Final Score: @ Minnesota 96-114 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180101/LALMIN#/recap

Next Game: vs. Oklahoma City (01/03) <-- b="">*Open Thread and Full Recap Posts*

Highlights: *Courtesy of Rapid Highlights*

Prior to this game, the Lakers were in a dogfight with the Rockets the other night since this was a back-to-back set. They took Houston to double overtime and we're all thinking how much energy was sapped out of them during this back-to-back set? The result, the Lakers dug themselves a 0-14 hole to start the game last night. I read an article that the Lakers started so bad that Luke Walton pulled the starters early, hence why Clarkson and Brewer came off the bench earlier than expected. Defensively, the Lakers lacked a whole lot of energy during that terrible start. The defensive pressure was non-existent and players were half a step behind in putting hand up to contest a shot. When Clarkson and Brewer came in, they helped provide some spark on offense and defense respectively. Despite the fast start, the Timberwolves let the Lakers hung around for a bit and the Lakers took advantage of that to make a run. Minnesota shot 7-20 from three point land which probably was one of the reasons why the Lakers still had a pulse in this game. It would've been a whole different story if Karl Anthony-Towns was given the ball more, but Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins helped stepped up and ensured the Timberwolves won this in wire-to-wire fashion. The biggest common denominator here is that the Lakers are seriously missing Lonzo Ball and Brook Lopez during this losing skid. Lopez has not had a good season, but he's a proven threat to score from inside or outside and the Lakers are missing that. Without Zo, it's obvious that the assists numbers have dipped. Ingram and Kuzma for example, their numbers and percentages are dipping because Lonzo sets them up well for high percentage looks to the basket. The good news is that they're cleared for practice and likely a game time call for tomorrow's game against the Thunder. Speaking of the Lakers vs. Thunder, you've all heard the Paul George rumors by now. That game is basically their audition to try and entice PG13 to come next Summer. I'll see you guys tomorrow for that.

Christmas Doubleheader Recap: Raiders, Lakers Get Lumps of Coal From Eagles, Timberwolves

Welcome in to the full recap of a Christmas double-header in the Raiders' Week 16 game at the Philadelphia Eagles and the Lakers' matchup vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both teams were sent packing with an "L" tonight as the Raiders fall to the Eagles in a tightly contested game 10-19 and the Lakers dropping a game to the T'Wolves 121-104.

Not the Christmas gifts we were hoping for. But, for both my fellow Raider and Laker fans, Merry Christmas to all of you. Hope you guys enjoyed time with your family and unwrapped a lot of presents under the tree. Onto the two games, first on the Raiders. They had nothing to play for with the Chiefs winning last night, but they held their own against the NFC's top team. But, they turned the ball over too many times, which costed them an upset victory and I'm sure Vikings fans are livid since they want home field advantage. Not all is bad for Minnesota though. The T'Wolves won against the Lakers behind their trio of Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Jimmy Butler with a little help from Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson. The Lakers were in it, but so many turnovers and missed shots in the 2nd half doomed them.

Raiders

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Defense. This was pretty much the whole positive of the Monday Night game for the Raiders. I hope they keep John Pagano around. Since, he took over for Ken Norton, Jr., the defense has played a lot better despite the missing pieces around this unit. The entire front outside of Khalil Mack was able to create pressure on Nick Foles. That's the biggest question the Eagles must answer: how can they fill the void Carson Wentz left behind? Because Foles does not have Wentz' scrambling ability. The front seven for the Raiders made Foles uncomfortable throughout the game. They forced some fumbles. Reggie Nelson grabbed an INT. Most impressively, Sean Smith held his own against Alshon Jeffrey, holding him to no catches. Then again, Jeffrey is more of a get up and grab type of receiver and is not as fast. So, Smith was able to get that advantage. Overall, the defense made enough plays for the Derek Carr and the offense to win the game. It's just that Carr and company kept giving it away.

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Turnovers. The Raiders were definitely in the Christmas spirit of giving. Derek Carr threw two interceptions. Marshawn Lynch fumbled after the Raiders get it back with a fumble recovery. Jalen Richard fumbled twice. The 2nd half was pretty much a turnover fest for both teams. So this game came down to who commits the costlier turnovers. It turned out the Raiders did and nothing you can say, other than it's a microcosm of how underwhelming this season has been for the Raiders.

Lakers

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Kyle Kuzma, 31 points, 8-18 shooting. Kuzma got things going for the Lakers to start the game with four quick points. I changed the game back to the Raiders-Eagles game after that. But, looking at the stats sheet in the first half, Kuzma scored 16 points on 6-11 shooting. The great thing about him is that he can create his own shots and he needed to do that since Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are not there to draw defenses in and free him up. An interesting stat from Bleacher Report is that Kuz is the first rookie to score 30+ points on Christmas Day since LeBron James in 2003. That's a pretty amazing feat and his legend from 27th overall to a star-in-the-making continues to grow.

Julius Randle, 16 points, 7 rebounds, 7-10 shooting. It's either feed Julius Randle down low and he'll bully his way in or let him have the ball and go coast-to-coast full speed and bully his way in. That was the case tonight. That has always been Randle's game, muscling his way into the paint and crashing the boards as well. Commonly, once Randle plays bully ball, that's when the Lakers make their run. Randle continues to come off the bench and just pinball his way off defenders in the paint.

Josh Hart, 12 points, 5-13 shooting. Hart's finding his way into the rotation and making the most out of it. He'll give out good small sample sizes on his game. Tonight, it was making the unselfish passes and making a three to cut the deficit to eight before the T'Wolves pulled away. The Lakers have to continue to give him more PT as he's the overlooked guy between Ball and Kuzma.

Jordan Clarkson, 17 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals. Clarkson is still struggling with his shot with an 8-24 shooting tonight. But, he made his presence known with the all-around stat line. With Ball out, Clarkson filled in well as a facilitator. He set up guys like Randle and Nance nicely for easy shots by using his slashing ability to draw the Timberwolves defense to him.

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The biggest negatives here were the missed shots and the 2nd half turnovers. Based on the report on the first half, the Lakers had chances to build on a big lead, but they ended up missing. I'm sure Clarkson's 8-24 shooting night had something to do with it. KCP also struggled with a 3-11 shooting night. Like JC, Caldwell-Pope has been struggling with his shot. I don't want to believe his legal issue stemming from last season off a DUI had something to do with his struggles. But, he just can't find the range these last few games, especially from three. The turnovers in the 2nd half, Timberwolves defense started to tighten up and swarm the Lakers to turn the ball over.


MVP

Reggie Nelson, 6 tackles, 1 INT

For this weeks MVP, it's like asking "who do I give it to?" The whole defensive unit deserves it, but random selection, Reggie Nelson gets it. It's his last year here, so he might as well ball out while he can. He had an interception to set the Raiders up in good field position to take the lead and could've had a sure pick 6 in the 1st half.



Kyle Kuzma, 31 points, 8-18 shooting

Kuz had to pick up the slack for tonight's game with the Lakers missing Ingram and Ball. But still, he was able to play his game and create his own shots. He's been on a tear these last few games and it looks like Kuz is showing no signs of slowing down.




Conclusion

I'm almost there to the finish line on this hectic Christmas night. Overall if you think about it, turnovers and misfires directly link to the Raiders and Lakers losses tonight. There is not a lot of luster for either games. The Raiders are playing for pride after being eliminated from playoff contention. The Lakers are still in the development stage and the Timberwolves were able to take advantage of Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram's absence. Only one more week for the Raiders till this jinx of a season is over when they wrap it up against the Chargers on New Year's Eve. Raider Nation, I'll see you guys next week for that game. On the Lakers' side, I missed out on the Portland game on Saturday night. I'll provide a quick fact check and commentary for that game tomorrow. Other than that, Merry Christmas to all Raider and Laker family and friends even though both outcomes were not what we wanted for this holiday season. I'll see you guys later.

#ReignTogether 12/25: LAKERS vs. T'Wolves 2nd Half Open Thread and Discussion

The 2nd half of the Lakers-Timberwolves matchup in a battle of two young teams with rising star potential. As usual, leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q4

MIN 121 LAL 104

Taj Gibson and Karl Anthony-Towns took over when the Timberwolves needed it and they came up with the win. Lakers tried to make a final run, but Minnesota clamped down on the defensive end generating a lot of turnovers, hence why they had a flurry down the stretch to seal this game. Kuzma, Hart, Clarkson, and Randle tried to carry this shorthanded Laker team, but when the Timberwolves built up the 10 point lead in this 4th quarter, it just became insurmountable. Stay tuned for a mega recap.

Q3

MIN 83 LAL 80

Rarely do you see the refs call a foul with 1 second to go. But, Kuzma did a nice job selling the contact for three shots. Based on the stats in the 1st half, both teams were pretty much neck-and-neck. I heard that the Lakers had a couple of opportunities to blow up the score, but they just kept missing a shots. Probably, Minnesota's defense and their trio of Town, Butler, and Wiggins add into the equation. The 3rd quarter, that story carried over. When the Timberwolves look like they were about to pull away with defense to offense, the Lakers come right back. Julius Randle is at the center of it this quarter, just bullying his way into the paint for easy baskets. T'Wolves are holding on to a three point lead, but the Lakers continue to creep on them with Ball and Ingram out tonight. 

#ReignTogether 12/25: LAKERS vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

Merry Christmas! Since the Raiders-Eagles game is still ongoing by the time the Lakers-Timberwolves game starts, priority will be given to the Raiders-Eagles game, unless the score is not close. However, the 1st half open thread is still on and feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts in the game. I'll see you guys in the 2nd half.

Q2

MIN 53 LAL 52

Q1

MIN 29 LAL 20

Lakers Can't Hold On vs. Emotional Timberwolves

Welcome in to the full recap of the Lakers' season opener vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves where the Lakers had all the makings of getting a W this game, but the T'Wolves were able to come from behind and steal a victory, beating the Lakers 112-111.

First off, congratulations to Minnesota Timberwolves organization and their fans out there. It was an emotional week in the basketball world as they honored the memory of Flip Saunders who passed away this past Sunday. Saunders meant a lot to the T'Wolves and kudos to them for fighting back and getting the win. It's a feel good story when something like that happens. Transitioning to the Lakers, a basketball game is played for 48 minutes and they started strong, but they just completely flopped in the 2nd half out there.

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Bench play. The good news is that the Lakers have a bench that can be relied upon to spare Kobe from logging heavy minutes. Lou Williams finished with 21 points on 6-14 shooting and Nick Young finished with 14 points on 5-8 shooting. These guys are going to provide quite a scoring tandem if they stay consistent in future games. I thought Lou had a good showing in his first regular season game as a Laker and he showed why he is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. He had a good look at the game winning floater, but it just bounced off the rim. Nick Young didn't shoot the lights out at least, but he provided a highlight play of shooting from half court to end the first quarter. The bench earned a positive because of this scoring duo.

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Deferring to isolation on offense. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Lakers were moving the ball in the first half and that's one of the reasons why they had the lead for the majority of the game because that set up some high percentage shots. The Lakers shot 51% during that half and they finished with 37% shooting. What happened? They started doing more isolation and the Timberwolves just knew to double and triple team on defense. The offense won't be efficient if the ball doesn't move and they were just forcing up really bad shots in the 2nd half to try and respond to the T'Wolves' big run in the 2nd half.

2nd half defense. The defense is going to be a liability all season long, especially in the 2nd half. I looked at that defense out there and they looked gassed out there. No awareness, not hustling to the ball, letting some Timberwolves blow by them, and committing silly fouls that put the T'Wolves back in the game. That didn't show in the first half, but it was heavily exposed in the 2nd half big time. The Lakers' defense treated the 2nd half like it was just another practice session.

Conclusion

Short recap guys, I gotta wake up early tomorrow because I have an early start time for class. But, overall, it was a good game for the Lakers for two and a half quarters, but that was marred because of the way they gave this game away by settling with more bad shots and playing slow defense and that just turned from good to just plain bad. It is what it is though, I predicted the Lakers would not make the playoffs because the young talent has a lot of growing to do and Byron Scott and the coaching staff is not the answer to this team in the long run. It was nice to see Kobe Bryant turn back the clock this game, but he didn't save that magic until the 4th quarter. This game will hurt and will lessen the confidence of this young Laker team a bit. There will be a lot more growing pains to come as this season progresses. Well, I guess you can call this a one night stand for me covering a Laker game because I won't cover another televised game until they play the Warriors late in November. As usual since my blog's upbringing, the remaining non-televised Laker games will take the form of a quick recap. I'll see you guys until later in November for the game against the defending champions Warriors.

10/28: Opening Night LAKERS vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Q-by-Q Reaction

Q4:

MIN 112 LAL 111

A deflating finish to nearly a promising opener. The Lakers had control of the whole game, Kobe Bryant still showing that he has something left, but they gassed out in the 2nd half and the Timberwolves were able to come from behind to win after the passing of Flip Saunders. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Q3:

MIN 88 LAL 95

Well an end to a slow foul fest that was the third quarter. That slow foul fest though worked in favor of the T'Wolves as they managed to convert on some and 1s. Most of the defensive flaws were demonstrated here. They looked slow out there to close out, box out, and secure rebounds after a defensive possession. Luckily, two threes by Nick Young saved the lead that the Lakers had for the most part of the game, but the Timberwolves are slowly creeping back into this game heading into the 4th.

Q2:

MIN 51 LAL 60

Feisty battle between Julius Randle and Kevin Garnett, but man Randle throwing the ball at KG and getting it back in bounds followed by Kobe Bryant's three pointer is probably the highlight of this quarter. That's just priceless. The Timberwolves start to cut into the lead at the end of the quarter, but Kobe Bryant turning back the clock this quarter was the key for the Lakers in retaining this lead. Onto the halftime report.

Q1:

MIN 22 LAL 31

Terrific finish at the end of the first quarter and a great shot by Swaggy P, Nick Young to end the quarter! Can you say that the bench mob is back? The starting lineup was off to a slow start, players were trying to find their way and Kobe Bryant was trying to get back into game form. However, when the second unit came with Lou Williams and Nick Young leading the charge, the offense was taken to a whole new level and the Lakers finish up with a great run to end the first quarter. Good start, good start.

LAKERS-Timberwolves Halftime Post

MIN 51 LAL 60

Welcome in to the halftime post of the Lakers' opening matchup of the 2015-16 NBA season vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves where the Lakers lead 51-60 at the half.

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Bench. Just simply, what a difference a year makes between last year's bench and this year's bench. The Lakers have two capable scorers off the bench. Lou Williams had 13 points and Nick Young had 8 points. Sweet Lou is making quite the impression at Staples and that's expected of the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. He provided quite a spark when the Lakers couldn't get it going with their starting five. What about Nick Young? He's doing his Swaggy P thing, shooting beyond half court at the end of the first quarter, but nonetheless having an efficient shooting night.

Kobe Bryant, 15 points, 6-13 shooting. Kobe Bryant went off to a slow start this game as he started like 2-7, but at the 2nd quarter, he was starting to be the Kobe of old. He drew up double teams, taking any T'Wolves player to school, and making his shots. He's showing no rusts so far.

Jordan Clarkson, 9 points, 3-6 shooting. For a 2nd rounder, earning All Rookie First Team mentions can be tough to follow up, but I thought Clarkson did well out there. He's improved his decision making as he's making his moves without any hesitation and was just looking to attack. Clarkson is looking to prove out there that his rookie year is no fluke.

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D'Angelo Russell, 2 points, 1-2 shooting. Russell hit his first bucket in his NBA career in the last quarter, but other than that, he's been a no show. It's understandable that it's his first game and he has some jitters, but 2nd half, it's time to play like the #2 overall pick of this year's draft class.

Julius Randle, 2 points, 1-6 shooting. We all know Julius Randle is strong and quick, but when he's driving the ball inside and posting up, he's rushing most of his shots. He got a good dunk off a pass by Hibbert, but with the ball in his hands, Randle is forcing most of the shots he was taking. Hopefully he cleans that up in the 2nd half.

Bottom Line

It's a good start for the Lakers in the first half. You can already tell that this team is light years ahead than the Laker that was constructed last season. In the 2nd half, they just have to tighten up the defense a little and continually push the ball up court with the young pieces they have out there. Let's see what happens.