LAKERS -at- TWOLVES - 3-31-23 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Huge Road Win... The season felt like it was in balance when AD went down holding his ankle in the third quarter. The Lakers were down, he was down, and the team was in the middle of a must-win type of game. Somehow, while he was on the floor, the Lakers managed to score twice and everything changed.

Credit Dennis Schröder for turning up the team’s intensity on the defensive end.

In the first half, the Lakers got torched on their coverage against Conley/Gobert. Three of the first four defensive stands in the game, they got killed on their two-man coverages. Last year, the team would have switched against that duo when they were with the Jazz to make them beat the defense on iso, Ham was sending defenders over the top. The Lakers paid the price.

To close the half, the TWolves went on an 11-4 run and they took a 65-55 lead. Conley had 15 points and 4 assists with a team-high +17. Gobert had 14 points.

In the second half, the first few possessions saw more of the same and the Lakers fell back a little further. Ham brought in Gabriel for Vando to go bigger. (He stuck with the bigger PFs, including Rui who was huge defensively, and the Laker had a few more switches in the mix. Vando would take on Edwards instead of KAT. They also had more weakside help to disrupt things. They put more pressure on the ball and the defense found itself.

So as AD went down with that injury, the Lakers were at the start of what would become a 24-2 run. After a timeout, AD came back in, stayed loose, and the defense rallied to help the Lakers push out to a double digit lead. (It also helped the TWolves went stone cold from three during this stretch, but give credit to the Lakers D for taking them out of the rhythm they had been in.)

Late in the game, the Lakers orchestrated the offense through AD on several straight possessions, and he scored on each of them. Huge response from AD, great job playing through the injury, and he carried the team to the win on a night when LeBron played one of his weaker games of the season.

“He powered through,” Ham said of AD.

Davis would finish with 38 points, 17 boards (8 offensive) and 2 blocks in the 123-111 road win. With that, the Lakers hopped a couple spots in the standings.


LeBron -- -- Awful first half going 3-12 for 7 points. After the Lakers cleaned up their turnovers in the first quarter, this was the area where the offense really lagged. He just wasn’t contributing. And then on the other end, very flat footed with his perimeter defense. McDaniels was just going around him. I think I would have much preferred Bron on KAT because Vando wasn’t being used well on his matchup. Inefficient night. He was the guy in the last game working the post. Tonight, it was AD’s turn. “My rhythm is still not quite there,” Bron said. He mentioned his wind is still up to par yet, either. The Stats: He scored 18 points on 7-19 shooting (1-3 from three, 3-4 from the line) to go with 10 boards, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers and 1 foul in 32 minutes. He was a +2.

Davis -- -- “We have a team that can make some things happen but you gotta have that one pivotal force that can lead the charge,” Ham said. Tonight, like most nights, it’s AD. He’s the glue that keeps the defense together and when he goes for big numbers like this, the Lakers are very difficult to beat. He had 13 points on 5-11 in the first half, but we gave Gobert 14. This was largely on the two-man coverage schemes where we didn’t switch, playing right into the Conley/Gobert strengths. Gobert did get a couple of scores on iso, but you live with those. That’s what you want. Make him into an iso player. In the second half, AD was went into dominant mode. He beasted on the offensive glass, in crowds and imposed his will. He score while falling on his back. He’d work the post for scores over Gobert or Towns. He’d get downhill on the two-man actions for dunks. There was a stretch where we just went to him on several straight possessions and he delivered every time. So you can play on twisted ankles. You can play well if you keep it loose. The Lakers were busy doing that on the sideline when he rested. But after the game will be the real test. Will it swell up and stiffen up to the point he will miss time? Hopefully, they can keep it in check because the Lakers are right there knocking on the door to the 6th seed. The Stats: He scored 38 points on 15-26 shooting (0-2 from three, 8-10 from the line) to go with 17 boards (8 offensive), 1 steal, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in 37 minutes. He was +4.

Russell -- -- Our coverage from the start tonight was to go over the top of the screens defensively. This basically got Conley into a two-on-one against the D. He’s too good at floaters or hitting Gobert to let this happen. You get stuck on screens or have to go under and your big needs to help or it’s easy open threes. Conley is a good pull-up shooter. So he had big numbers and you can’t really blame Russell because that’s what we schemed. The TWolves put Edwards on him defensively. So DLo was more into playmaker mode than trying to get his own. He knocked down a three early in transition and had some moments on drives (AD may have cleaned up a couple of DLo misses on drives, as well). Great passing. He set the table on multiple set actions. He’s always looking off defenders and doing little things to get some subtle advantages on those, too. His best play of the night, though, was probably a halfcourt bounce pass to Reaves in transition for a score. He threaded and timed that perfectly. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 5-12 shooting (1-4 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 10 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in 34 minutes. He was a -2.

Reaves -- -- We mixed up his rotations a little more to make sure we had him back with the bench for some extra playmaking as some of the starters sat. That helped quite a bit. Hopefully, we can start dialing in the rotations, but we had more balance tonight. Offensively, some nice moments from Reaves on catch and shoots from behind the arc. He made the help D pay. He had a great drive where he stopped and then stepped through for a layup. Again, he showed his ability to draw fouls getting into the paint. (The Lakers made 24-30, the TWolves 16-19…for those looking at the disparity, the TWolves shot 17 more threes than the Lakers.) This game wasn’t as clean from Reaves as we normally like with a couple of turnovers and getting blocked, but when you look at the stat sheet, still highly effective with 15 points on 9 shots. The Stats: He scored 15 points on 4-9 shooting (2-3 from three, 5-6 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 2 assists, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 30 minutes. He was a +14.

Vanderbilt -- -- Another 2-2 from behind the arc tonight. Brilliant. He also had a putback dunk, a layup in transition and another score around KAT off an attack from the corner. Defensively, is really where he makes the impact. I’d much rather have him using his length and agility to guard smaller athletic players than going up against bigs. Vando mentioned after the game that taking out the opposing team’s main offensive player is something he takes pride in. In the second half, we sat him early for Wenyen and then brought him back in to guard Edwards (4-16 shooting for 11 points and 3 turnovers). “Right now we’re doing it just kind off of talent,” Vando said afterward, meaning that this team doesn’t really have the collective chemistry that will make them better. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 5-8 shooting (2-2 from three) to go with 5 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 turnover in 28 minutes. He was a -3.

Schröder -- -- I don’t know that he single handedly changed the tone of the game in the third quarter, but it felt like it. The whole team locked down and he was kind of the tip of the spear on that. He was putting a ton of ball pressure on his man. The Lakers started to tighten things up around him. The team forced 4 turnovers on 6 possessions. One of his steals helped the team take the lead as he scored off it. He’d get another for a score. Then he’d draw a charge. Late in the game, he took Conley out with a swing through to draw FTs with 2:34 left. That was probably the dagger. Fouled Conley out and drew FTs to secure the W. A few nice passes to his stars in this one for scores (LeBron on a split play for a score out of a timeout was probably the best). The Stats: He scored 11 points on 3-4 shooting (0-1 from three, 5-6 from the line) to go with 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 22 minutes. He was a +13.

Hachimura -- -- I was thinking prior to this game that it might be better to start him instead of Vando. Afterward, you look at the stat sheet and it really doesn’t reflect how important he was until you see the team-high +20. Some really good moments on D by Rui in this one. He was active challenging shots (blocked one drive, goal tended another, but also altered some others). His size allowed us to match up better with the Gobert/KAT combo. Offensively, just one score, a lob in transition from Reaves where the TWolves didn’t see him on the backside. He missed some good looks on his jumper, but just having him as a more respected shooter out there helps. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 1-4 shooting (0-2 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 21 minutes. He was a +20.

Beasley -- -- He came in midway through the first quarter for Reaves and after a couple minutes caught fire. First one was a wide open look from Russell. It was a scramble play and Beasley darted out to the three line. He couldn’t have been more open and maybe that helped get him off to the good start. Second one was a quick hit that we run quite a bit as he comes off the high screen to take a pass for a three straight away. Then on an ATO, we set him up for an open wing three and that helped cap off a 13-4 run to get the Lakers back even. Glad to see him drain some threes. Hopefully, that gets him back in the groove. The Stats: He scored 9 points 3-5 shooting (3-4 from three) to go with 6 boards, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 10 minutes. He was a +1.

Brown -- -- Quiet night, missing a three. You really didn’t notice him out there. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-1 from three to go with 1 foul in 9 minutes. He was a -2.

Gabriel -- -- We brought him in early in the second half to get more size and mobility on the court. He may have had the first purposeful switch of the game. The defense locked down in that third quarter after that, holding the TWolves to 18 points. Offensively, a couple of hoops. He had a nice hook over Gobert when Bron found him coming baseline in the second half. His other score was a layup on a drive and dish from Dennis in the first half. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-2 shooting to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 fouls in 14 minutes. He was a +9.

Ham -- -- Key Moment: The Lakers were down 65-55 at the half after a poor close to the second quarter. The defensive scheming as mentioned, was awful. They didn’t start great in the second half, but when AD went down with that ankle twist, it seemed like the team was toast. Somehow, they scored, got a steal and drew a foul all while AD on was the floor. Out of that timeout off that injury, the Lakers strung together the run of the game. It started on D that turned into offense. They rattled off a 24-2 run. Season felt like it was in the balance there with that injury and the situation.

Key Substitution: Some better mixing up of the starters with the bench. One of Bron and AD were out there. Reaves subbed out early to come back and help the second unit. So good job with the rotations. But give major credit to this win for Dennis fighting like mad on D and making things happening for the team. Ham let him play out the run, as well.

Key Stats: Conley 15 points on 6-9 shooting, 4 assists and a +17 in the first half. Gobert with 14 points on 6-8 shooting. So 29 on 12-17 between the two. In the second half, Gobert didn’t score. Conley still had some moments, but finished with 25 points and 7 assists before fouling out. Conley was a -12 in the second half.

[tox]

First! Thanks DB

[JUST-MING]

Darvin made a ballsy move in the third quarter. I wont say who got benched, but it paid off.

[Theseus]

Now the night is complete. Thanks DB!

[slavavov]

Props to AD for being so dominant even after getting injured. Once again, he has proved to his haters that he isn't soft.

Good sign that we won fairly easily even though LeBron was just 7-of-19 and DLO was 5-of-12. That third quarter sprint where we had 14 fast-break points in that period alone off our defense was a real thing of beauty. That's the way we have to play on the regular.

[Vancouver Fan]

Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and D’Angelo Russell ALL had double doubles tonight for our squad.
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Music is my medicine

[Startrout]

Our defense was elite in the second half… great win!

[A Mad Chinaman]

This roster is starting to show the ability to impose their will on their opponent because they have the balance and talent

Key to this team is their energy, effort and urgency dedicated to continue being the NBA’s best defensive team in the NBA - aka @Dennjs Schroeder

[Dr. Laker]

Thanks, DB!
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On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".

[joeblow]

Is there a way to determine a player's +/-, say, in a particular quarter or half? It would be interesting at times to see if those numbers match up with an impression I get sometimes watching the game that one half is dramatically different for a player than the other.

Anyway, it was a great win (especially the defense in the second half, and some VERY nice play from Dennis and Rui in particular tonight.

[DrDent]

Another great write up DB.

Watching the late replay (as in now); D really kicked it up a notch in the 3rd. Pleased with overall effort and changes made.

Am once again frustrated with this ridiculous injury bug that just will not go away. Hopefully AD gets through this and it's all good, cannot afford him missing any time right now.
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"One thing I admire about Kuzma is his unwavering confidence. He truly has no idea that he’s not as good as he thinks." - Killer_Z

[Hammett]

Thanks DB.
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Lakers. Built different.

[A Mad Chinaman]

[RI Laker]

Thanks DB. Great win. The Wolves are our toughest matchup in the West (I am not saying they are the best team). Vanderbilt is a stopper plain and simple. He D is incredible and he is also versatile. He will blossom and showcase his talents during playoff ball.

[governator]

Vando looks like he’s fast enough to chase those SGs (the DeMars/Lavines/PGs)… maybe we can even go big at times with DLo-Vando-Rui-Bron-AD

[cheesehead88]

You go to this when you sub Reaves. Switch everything
. Will completely discombobulate any screen and roll or motion oriented offense

[cheesehead88]

Vando is fast enough to guard one’s. Already destroyed Luka this year

[cheesehead88]

And then if Bamba were back could bring him and Schroeder in. Start playing 2-3 or 3-2 zone

[ThePageDude]

[danzag]

Thanks, DB. What a great night.

This team is legit.

IIRC we have the best record in the West since the trade deadline.

And LBJ, AD and DLO are 4-0 when playing together.

[LakerSD]

[danzag]

#1 defense since the trade deadline?

[ThePageDude]

[City_Dawg]

If Rui can become a sturdy defender at the 4 for this team ,ooooooh baby
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*sighs*

!...

[pio2u]

Thx DB,
DEFENSE is the key!!