03/11: LAKERS vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 1st Half Open Thread and Discussion

LeBron comes to town. Clarkson and Nance make their returns in another uniform. Welcome in to the first half open thread of the Lakers' matchup vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on the game.

Q2

CLE 60 LAL 65

Good defense from Caruso to force LeBron off rhythm for a final shot. The Lakers can't cap off the first half any better. I heard Luke Walton in one mic'd up bits that this Laker team needs to wear down and punish this Cavs team down low. And he's right. The Cavs don't have any interior presence and the Lakers have the advantage with Lopez and Randle inside. It's not just them, but you see players actively cutting into the lane when the Cavs are forced to double. That's one of the key reasons why the Lakers racked up so many assists at the half with 19. Lopez is off to another good start. I've stressed that he needs to score more inside and he has and he's doing it again against a very thin Cavs front court. KCP's hot shooting the start has also helped the Lakers balloon the lead a bit. Defensively, the Lakers could be a lot better, especially inside. I lost count how many times Ante Zizic has been found wide open for the easy score after a couple feeds by LeBron and Clarkson. Someone on the Lakers team has to do a better job at communicating and accountiing for the cutter. The 2nd half will open up shortly.

Q1

CLE 29 LAL 33

Not a bad showing by Clarkson on the opposite end of the floor. He baited the Lakers to double and found somebody inside for an easy deuce. But, overall this was a solid start from the Lakers. Clearly, they are exploiting the Cavs' lack of interior presence with Lopez and Randle in the paint. Add into the fact that KCP started great in the first quarter is the reason why they get the early four point lead. They are baiting the Cavs to double and there's someone open inside. That's one early blueprint to wear this Cavs team down.

Cavs-Lakers Open Thread Full Go Tonight

Turns out I won't miss the first half of the game. So, Lakers-Cavs on ESPN will be covered on this blog at 100% tonight. I'll see you guys tonight for that game.

Lakers Drop Pivotal Game vs. Nuggets

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Brook Lopez lead the Lakers with another 20+ point performance with 29 points, but the Lakers couldn't hold off the hot shooting of the Nuggets, losing 116-125. Julius Randle added 18 points and Kyle Kuzma chipped in 14 points to add to the starting front court. Meanwhile in the backcourt, KCP racked up a near double-double with 17 points and 9 rebounds and Lonzo Ball recorded a near triple-double of 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists to go with 4 steals. I.T. lead the 2nd unit with 10 points and 4 assists.

Final Score: @ Denver 116-125 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180309/LALDEN#/recap

Next Game: vs. Cleveland (03/11) <-- b="">*Will provide Open Thread, but likely just take over in the 2nd half and Full Recap posts*

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

The Lakers really do miss Ingram and Hart to close games out. I'm gonna make this commentary as quick as possible since I'm going to be busy all day long. This is a game that the Lakers need to get to stay in that hunt for #8 seed, which the Clippers are holding onto now. But, Denver knew what was at hand fumbling that 8th seed away and this was a must-win for them. Heading into this game, the Nuggets' 3-point shooting would be a problem for the Lakers. Right out of the gate, they were on target from deep. Lakers scratched and clawed back in and lead, but they fizzled out momentum-wise. It didn't help that they looked really pedestrian in the closing moments of the 4th quarter. In the end, the Nuggets with Millsap, Jokic, Murray, Barton, and Harris sealed this game away with some key plays on both ends of the floor to deny the Lakers a late rally. Let's talk about Jamal Murray for a bit. I totally forgot about this, but in the Lakers and Nuggets first meeting, Denver won by a big margin and Murray dribbled the ball around Lonzo in the final seconds. Randle and the others took offense to that. This game, he got Luke and KCP heated. Both games, Murray played well and backed up the showboating. Somewhere in the locker room, Jamal Murray's picture should be bulletin-board material for Tuesday's match against this Nuggets team. This thing is not over yet. But first things first, the Lakers have to regroup against the Cavs on Sunday. Clarkson and Nance returning to Staples Center since the trade. I.T. going up against LeBron after the drama this season prior to the trade, it's gonna be some night and it's going be another big game for the Lakers' aspiring playoff hopes. I could miss the first half since I have somewhere to be. But, I'll make it time to provide coverage for the 2nd half and the full recap. Both threads will be open though. I'll see you guys for that game.

Lakers Cling On to Bounceback Win vs. Magic

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

All five starters were in double figures for the Lakers last night. Brook Lopez was the Lakers' top scorer with 27 points as he helped bail out the Lakers to a 107-108 thriller with a couple of game-winning free throws. Kyle Kuzma and Julius Randle recorded double-doubles as Kuz racked up 20 points and 10 rebounds and Randle added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Lonzo Ball finished with all-around numbers with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists and KCP chipped in 10 points to round out the starters. I.T. was one shy of a double-double as he lead the 2nd unit with 13 points and 9 dimes.

Final Score: vs. Orlando 107-108 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180307/ORLLAL#/recap

Next Game: @ Denver (03/09)

Highlights: *Courtesy of Rapid Highlights*

Looking back at this game, this was the most bizarre win so far of the season based on the finish. The clock operator thought that Brook Lopez tipped the end bounds pass, prompting the clock to run out early than expected. It should've started when Lonzo deflected the pass and the game would've been over. It was really weird that the refs called for a jump ball. Regardless, the Magic were in a lose-lose situation on that last play. This shouldn't have come down to a one-point lead. This was much like the Blazers game on Monday where the Lakers built a big lead and it just evaporated in crunch time. Again, they were more focused on going for the knockout blow rather than just go through their offense and settle for high-percentage looks. It almost killed them at the end again, but Brook played the "miracle worker" and won the game for the Lakers off two clutch free throws. It was smart that he went down low and drew the contact on Vucevic. Brook Lopez's game last night was the Brook Lopez I expected when the Lakers got him from the Nets in the first place. It boggles my mind that he's more than capable of taking it to the post, but he insists on camping on the three-point line for some reason. He'll make some threes, but most of three pointers hit nothing but iron. This is what we want out of Lopez, to score more inside and he did that last night. But, everybody's gonna talk about the 0 rebounds though. We know he's a rare case of a big man that doesn't get double-digits boards, but c'mon now. But outside Lopez, Kuzma came alive last night. I noticed that most of Kuz's struggles had to do with him rushing his shots a bit and being unbalanced with his jumper. He got back to the basics of what made him a draft day steal and that was encouraging to see. Randle's 20+ point streak came to an end, but he still made his presence felt as a bully down low. I.T. showed really good balance as a scorer and facilitator coming off the bench and took better percentage shots. Zo was solid, but he needs to calm down on the three-point game. He hit four, but he took some threes that were way out of range. Though, that has to do with the Lakers being out of sync offensively as the shot clock was about to expire. The Lakers were fortunate to come out with this win. But the way they've been blowing leads as of late is really concerning and that's where they really miss Ingram's capability of slowing things down and embracing that "closer" role. They also miss Josh Hart being at the right place at the right time to knock down big time high-percentage shots. The upcoming stretch for the Lakers is a big one if they're really thinking playoffs. Denver surrendered the 8th seed momentarily to the Clippers after the Cavs beat them last night and they're looking to regain that quickly when the Lakers come to town Friday night. These games down the line against teams in playoff contention are huge for this young Lakers team.

"Dame Time" Torches Lakers Yet Again

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Julius Randle lead all Lakers in scoring, recording a near double-double of 21 points and 9 rebounds to go with 2 steals. But, the Lakers couldn't find an answer for Damian Lillard's 4th quarter explosion as the Blazers beat the Lakers for the 15th straight time 108-103, snapping the five-game winning streak. KCP also recorded near double-double numbers with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Lonzo Ball cooled off with 10 points and 2 steals, Kyle Kuzma added 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks, Brook Lopez added 14 points to go with 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. I.T. once again lead the 2nd unit with 19 points and 7 dimes.

Final Score: vs. Portland 108-103 [L]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180305/PORLAL#/recap

Next Game: vs. Orlando (03/07)

Highlights: *Courtesy of MLG Highlights*

Another game, another loss to Portland. As a fan, when you have a long losing streak to a team such as the Blazers since Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum came into the spotlight, it gets sickening. I.T.'s missed free throw in the final seconds is a big what-if. Even if he made it, the Lakers need to get a clear shot to go for the tie or win it at the buzzer. We can't completely blame I.T. on the missed free throw because the Lakers, outside of the early 1st quarter start and the 3rd quarter weren't that good. Defensively, they didn't put the clamps on until the 3rd quarter. There should've been more on-ball pressure throughout the game as Dame and McCollum were getting all kinds of open looks. The Lakers were also ice cold to start. The one thing that griped me was that they were rushing all kinds of shots when they ballooned their lead over the Blazers to double digits in the 2nd half. The Lakers tried to go for the knockout blow by playing a little hero ball and it backfired on them and I'm sure Dame was licking his chops that the Lakers were settling for rushed shots from beyond the arc. Credit where it's due, he torched the Lakers defense in the 4th quarter. Lonzo had no answer for him on the defensive end. That's when things turned for the worst for the Lakers and they wound up losing to the Blazers yet again. For the namesake of this blog, Dame to the Lakers is what LaDainian Tomlinson was to the Raiders. They just light it up in crunch time. And if you're a Raider fan like I am, I just brought back memories of those times when LT used to torch the Raiders all those years with the Chargers. Dame is doing the same thing and the last 15 games against this team proved that. I'm afraid to say that as long as he's in his prime, I don't think he's going to let the Blazers concede to the Lakers as long as he's around.

Lakers Storm Back to Stun Spurs

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Lonzo Ball came up big in the clutch, finishing with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists to rally the Lakers past the Spurs for their fifth win in a row and achieve their 4-game road sweep in a 116-112 victory. Julius Randle earned another 20+ point performance with 25 points to go with 6 rebounds. KCP added a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds to go with 3 steals, Brook Lopez added 14 points, and Kyle Kuzma chipped in 11 points to round out the starters. I.T. carried a big load to lead a shorthanded 2nd unit, scoring 21 points and dishing 7 dimes off the bench.

Final Score: @ San Antonio 116-112 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180303/LALSAS#/recap

Next Game: vs. Portland (03/05)

Highlights: *Courtesy of Rapid Highlights*

Un-Be-Lieveable. Based on how this game went early on, it looked like this game was the Lakers to lose. They were ice cold and sloppy right out of the gate with a couple of careless turnovers to start. They couldn't buy a bucket. The only offense the Lakers were getting was to feed it to Randle inside and get him to free throw line. The Spurs played at the pace they wanted for the majority of the game: slow, half-court tempo and moving the ball around for a high percentage shot. As big of a deficit the Lakers had, they found ways to recover and get back into the game. That has been the main theme throughout the season: the Lakers face adversity, they compete harder and narrow down the lead. The way they handled the slow start looked routine to them. And this is against a short-handed, but great Spurs team offensively and defensively. This game, I.T. got the engine going for the offense off the bench. Brook Lopez woke up and contributed some timely buckets. Travis Wear, unsung player of the game, with 7 points off the bench. He made under-the-radar contributions to the Lakers' monster scoring run down the stretch. In fact, one of his buckets cut the San Antonio lead to 98-103. KCP crashed the boards and also helped ignited the Lakers' scoring run. He was also clutch on the defensive end with a steal to set up Lonzo to Randle to put the Lakers up 114-109. Speaking of Lonzo, he has arrived his game. No Brandon Ingram to take over and play the closer, Lonzo Ball came up big in the clutch. I'm talking about clutch 3-pointers down the stretch. The first three, he made it a one point game. The 2nd three, it put the Lakers up 109-107. The 3rd three was nothing but net and it put the Lakers up 112-109. Zo took over the game when needed. Like I said time and time again throughout this season, his shot will fall eventually. He just needed to be assertive and confident with it. Since his return from, we're seeing a more confident Ball, no pun intended. Some will say he's still a bust, but let them talk. They said the same thing about Ingram last year. You just can't judge a player based on his rookie year. This game, we saw the true arrival of the product we saw from UCLA last year and it couldn't have come at a better time. There are too many signature wins to keep track of from this young Lakers' team. But this one looks like the cream of the crop considering the odds against the Lakers' favor. They're finding ways to win. It's truly a turning point for this team to get a 5-game winning streak and sweeping a 4-game road trip, especially since the last two games are against playoff-contending teams that play solid defense.

Lakers Get Elusive Road Win in Miami

*Stats courtesy of NBA.com*

Julius Randle bullied his way to lead the Lakers with 25 points and 6 rebounds as the Lakers beat the Heat 131-113, ending a long losing streak down in South Beach.  Lonzo Ball returned to the starting lineup scoring 8 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and a team-high 6 steals. Brandon Ingram racked up 19 points to go with 5 boards and 5 dimes, KCP added 18 points, and Brook Lopez chipped in 10 points to round out the starters. I.T. showed flashes of last year's MVP-worthy season with 29 points off the bench including 6 threes and 6 assists and Kyle Kuzma added 16 points and 6 rebounds to round out the 2nd unit.

Final Score: @ Miami 131-113 [W]
Full article: http://www.nba.com/games/20180301/LALMIA#/recap

Next Game: @ San Antonio (03/03)

Highlights: *Courtesy of Ximo Pierto*

2008. That year was the last time the Lakers won a road game in Miami. They finally end the South Beach jinx 10 years later. The Heat have always been a quality defensive team under Erik Spoelstra's watch. You know coming into this game they'd gameplan defensively to slow down the Lakers full court tempo. They could not stop them. It's impressive that this young Lakers team just hung 131 points on one of the more quality defensive teams in the NBA. It all started at the defensive end. The Lakers get stops, they are on the break. It didn't matter if Miami got back on defense, they were looking to attack. Randle and Ingram lead the way, pounding the rim at will. Lonzo Ball was big time in the steals category. Call him a bust all you want, but he's not there to pad his stats like a 2nd pick would. He does all the little things to give his team the win. Zo set the tone on the defensive end, providing some quality help defense to set up the fast breaks that the Lakers love to do on the open floor. The team got off to a fast start with a 20-7 lead. The Heat fought back with Dragic and Wade paving the way. I.T. comes in and he puts the game on ice for the Lakers. He was red hot from deep, especially down the stretch when he hit three 3-pointers to give the Lakers all kinds of cushion. They don't call him "the King in the Fourth" for nothing. He's proven that he can be lightning in a bottle, especially during crunch time. The Heat got gashed big time. It was great to see this young Lakers team use their speed, quickness, and unselfishness against one of the better defensive teams. With this win, the Lakers are now over their win total from last season. We're seeing game-by-game that there is a core to lean on and a future to build around. That's what will entice quality free agents to come instead of this franchise begging for those free agents to play for them. The Lakers are riding a 4-game win streak. That's their cutoff in terms of winning streaks so far this season. They'll look to go above that and keep the train rolling in San Antonio. Like last meeting, the Spurs will likely be short-handed again given the ankle injury to LaMarcus Aldridge and the uncertain return of Kawhi Leonard. But nonetheless, they're still a good team as long as a certain Coach Popovich is on the sideline. That's gonna be another good test for the Lakers and the team's continued improvement.