Starting 5 versus Houston?

[BigBallerBrand]

Does Vogel have the guts to stand up to King McGee and start Kuzma?

I have a feeling McGee will still start at least game 1.
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[WeAreWorthy]

I think we’re better off starting Javale. Rim protection when funneling Harden towards the paint, and we need to get the rebounds. Put AD on Westbrook

[Gellollo]

We might play into Houston's hands if we play small. If we beat Houston, it will be the same way we beat Portland, I think.

[KBandKB]

Vogel did go small when we played with them during the seeding games and did state that he wanted to see how we'll match up with Hou using the small lineup. I have a feeling he does go small. Or he may run with Javale in Game 1 and if that fails, switch it up.

[WeAreWorthy]

Agreed. I think we will do an ok job on Harden and WB, a little worried about Tucker and Gordon getting too many open looks.

[wolfpaclaker]

I think we will probably see more AD at the 5 in this series, and probably 6 minutes of McGee and Howard (each) at the 5.

One mistake we made the previous game was to force the post ups. We do not want to force the post ups, we want them to come naturally within the flow of the game. We should utilize our size to get their smaller players sealed in the post, thus opening up the layup opportunities. We want to use the size to get second chance points, and tip ins, and stuff like that. We want to set good screens on their smaller players so that guys get open easier.

Lebron will be the key on offense. He can dictate how we play, how we attack. Rondo if he is back, can help with how we play as well. We can not just come into the game, looking to get post ups every time down. We do not want to get caught up playing that way as Houston will adjust their defense and begin to read the pôst entry passes and play that active hands defense and make us lose our flow.

Just because the team is smaller, does not mean our driving lanes are smaller. Lebron should get screens to open up his attack areas, as should Caruso, and even Rondo. What we can feast on, is the way AD and Howard-McGee get to the basket. Their smalls are not going to be able to get a body on our bigs coming in off the ball.

BTW Houston still has to beat OKC. There is a game 6.

[fansincemagic]

I agree that they'll dial back the true center minutes but still start the same 5. Something like this maybe give or take.

KCP 20/Caruso 28
Green 30/KCP 10/not Smith 8
James 36/Kuzma 12
Davis 12/Kuzma 18/Morris 18
McGee 12/Howard 12/Davis 24

[LakerSD]

All I ask is not to have Davis post up and set up that inefficient offense.

Let him face up and do his damage attacking.

They will need the defensive effort they had in games 1-4, they slipped on that end in game 5 with Lillard was out.

[BynumForThree]

This is going to be the most interesting matchup in all of the Playoffs. The Lakers' "old school" two-big lineup vs Houston's revolutionary small ball lineup. A battle of two philosophies.


I think McGee and Dwight are useless this series and will be played off the court. Morris and Davis have to be our options at the 5 to deal with Houston. Houston has some strong post defenders in Tucker, RoCo and (surprisingly) Harden who all have quick hands which means they essentially traded blocks and rebounds for forcing turnovers. They'll swarm Davis every time he catches the ball and will force the Lakers role players to hit their shots. Green, Kuzma, AC and KCP will decide this series.

I'm also interested to see how Houston's "switch everything" defense will do against Lebron since he's probably the best matchup hunter in the league right now.

Definitely a fun series to watch and might either accelerate the small ball revolution or keep it a niche scheme reserved at the end of games. Go Lakers.
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[pio2u]

DEFENSE is the KEY!

[AFireInside619]

It won’t be easy, especially without Bradley on defense. The thing to remember is that we can’t afford to get into a shootout with them. Westbrook will hurt us in the paint and Harden will hurt us from long range. Fortunately for us, we have a tendency to make teams take bad shots with our defense. Kuzma’s ability to score in the midrange will be crucial to us.
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“You have to dance beautifully in the box that you are comfortable dancing in.” - Kobe Bryant

[Lucky_Shot]

Our goal should always be trying to play the best defense we can.

Houston puts all of there "bigs" on the perimeter, so we are going to have to run these guys off the three point line. Our perimeter defense is going to have to be elite this round in order to win.

Go big against teams like the Bucks and Blazers and go small against the Clips and Rockets.

More mpg for Morris and Kuz less for Dight and JM

[krisobe]

BRON KCP GREEN MORRIS AD

WB GORDON HARDEN COVIE TUCKER


bron on gordon
kcp on wb
green on harden
morris on covington
ad on tucker

[pjiddy]

If we go small against Houston we'll get destroyed.

[cathy78]

Why should the Lakers change their starting 5? Let Houston deal with the fact that they traded their center...

[AFireInside619]

[Lucky_Shot]

[cathy78]

[Four Decade Bandwagon]

It is a battle of philosophies and will.

Lakers choose to continue to play to their strengths and play with more consistent energy on defense they have a good chance to win the series.

The Lakers choose to adapt and play small ball as HOU prefers, they likely get beat. Why play the style that your opponent wants and is damn good at playing?

Be nice if the Lakers can shoot similar percentages to the last couple games then the previous nine games. Be surprised if James is going to be able to continue playing only 32 mpg too. Lakers need him on the floor being Lebron F’n James the deeper they go in the playoffs

12 wins to go!

[Treble Clef]

I see no reason to play to Houston’s strengths. The Lakers are back to being an elite 3 point shooting team. LeBron is automatic from 3 and if only 4 of the 5 guys on the court are knock down shooters, that’s more than enough.

Houston is going to take a ton of shots and they’re going to miss a ton of them. Getting the rebound is important. McGee and Howard are going to dominate.

[Jesusdelonla]

Keep regular lineup of McGee/ad in the front

[Runway8]

[lakersfever714]

How's their shots been against the Thunder? It'll be a matter of whether their jumpers would fall or not. We know we can on score on them. It's up to them to keep up with their three's. We don't gotta change anything. We just keep our lineup as usual. Without homecourt, it should favor us cuz Harden won't be shooting 40 FT's a game. That dude plays dirty af.
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Playoffs is good enough. - Jeanie Buss 2024

[Great One]

Make Houston adapt to us, not the other way around
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"Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones." - KB

[Baron Von Humongous]

Keep the same starting lineup, but reduce minutes for McGee and Howard. Morris and Kuz are going to need to step up.
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