Game was actually competitive for most of it, Lakers even made it interesting at times as the game often floated between an 8-12 point Suns lead. Several times Lakers had consecutive chances to make the game alot closer, but would turn the ball over, or have the Suns hit a run-killing shot.
DS started slow, but had some real nice sequences in the second half. At one point was responsible for about 3 Suns turnovers in over a 3 minutes span by his defensive play, while simultaneously trying to carry the team.
But in the end, aside from him and Trez, and a splash from THT here and there, just simply not enough fire power. Kuz/KCP were extremely frustrating, combining 3-12 from 3, which was almost half the Lakers' 3 point attempts. They ended up shooting 5-25 from 3.
LBJ (and AD) typically can carry the team through bad 3 shooting nights. Without him / them...you saw the results.
Trez. Dennis. Kuz. THT showed up. Everyone else forgot this was a NBA game.
I disagree on the kuz part. He did not play well to me.
Players were trying hard but disorganized and not consistent - not surprising
At this time, Kuz is a good rotation player with a higher ceiling that he will reached in a few years. At this time, it is clear that he is not a legitamate offensive threat. With Kuz going 5-16 from the floor for 13 points in 36 minutes where we needed shooters was dissappointing while confirming what his best role is.
Wes Matthews going 0-5 with zero points and not making an impact on defense in 16 minutes are allowing teams to just forget him on offense. Sinde he is not cutting or moving, he is a dead zone on defense
KCP played 30 minutes while getting 7 points on 2-7 shooting. Given that he hit his first shot within the first few sedonds of the game - for 29 minutes, he only made one more shot. With Matthews and KCP not producing at all, Vogel has a decision on how much of a whole he is willing to take with KCP/Matthew in the starting lineup - especially since they are not making an impact on defense. These two players REQUIRE LeBron and/or AD on the floor to be effective
Lakers' starting lineup produced (gulp) a total of 42 points
If our veterans aren't able to produce (KCP/Matthews), soon it will be time to see what Antetokounmpo, Cacok and McKinnie can do in limited minutes.
THT was making defensive hustle plays that one expects from KCP and Matthews.
This was a good game to see which players are able to adopt and change, along with their skillset that can only be seen with extended MPG. With Vogel planning to have his team ready for the playoffs, he has additional evidence on what players' abilities are and they can make a positive impact on the floor.
Trez dominated in stretches, got the pick n roll working
DS played CP3 tough but after tech, CP3 went another gear
Kuz gotta be more aggressive, he gotta play like he’s first option
THT played like he’s first option, this kid played well
Can’t shoot threes for crap
Wes... even the nice Suns announcer said he horrible... for the whole season not just this game lol
Man, everybody else just made cameos
We need KUZ-Trez-DS-THT, 2 or 3 need to get hot, a streak of 20s
This was a back to back game, against one of the best teams in the NBA, and after a devastating injury to LBJ. We kept hanging on around a 6-10 point deficit but the Suns just turned it on at the end. They have their two all stars and a true 7 footer who just killed our "bigs." Pretty expected. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Dennis Schroder on how LAL have to play without LeBron and AD: "It’s totally opposite now. We have to move the ball, play with more pace … on the defensive end, by more scrappy … shoot more 3’s.”
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