LAKERS -at- KNICKS - 1-31-23 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

 
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DancingBarry
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:01 pm    Post subject: LAKERS -at- KNICKS - 1-31-23 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

OT in MSG... With the team near full strength for the second night of the back-to-back, they’d have to push through another overtime to try to get this one.

The Lakers went up by 6 with 1:41 when LeBron drilled a three, forcing a Knick timeout. The Laker offense for the next minute consisted of more long jumpers from LeBron, which he missed and the Knicks would tie it up. (They had done a great job early in the fourth moving the ball and scoring on just about every possession, but went away from it late.)

Laker ball with 24 seconds left, timeout. They ran clock down, AD came over to set the screen, and we got him rolling. The Knicks were ready for it and rotated over to force a charge. The Knicks got the ball back with 4.5 seconds left and decided to attack AD with Randle. Not the wisest decision. That went nowhere and we were on to the sixth overtime of the year.

Some great passing by the Lakers in overtime. Instead of iso possessions, they were back to working off screens and finding teammates. Russ drove the engine with three excellent passes as well as hitting a bank from the left side to go up 7.

A good overtime by Schröder, as well, as he sank a corner three when Bron found him and then fed LeBron for a layup that iced it with 19 seconds left. He added a couple of freethrows for good measure and the Lakers won in overtime, 129-123.

Good to see multiple Lakers contribute in some manner in this game. They also were able to find the needed energy to push through in overtime. After stalling out the offense to close the game in regulation, they got some extra juice with the ball in Russ’s hands in overtime. Props to him for playing clean without any turnovers or poor shot choices.


LeBron -- -- So many stats to go over in this one. He wasn’t dominating early, but was on a triple-double pace at halftime with 9 points, 6 boards and 4 assists. He’d end up getting it in overtime (looked like he had it regulation but they said he was fouled before he got the board). He’d finish with the 28-10-11 in a long 43 minutes. I guess if we weren’t playing him last night, he was good to go a little longer. Down the stretch, he hit a big three with under 2 minute left. But then slowed the offense down and settled for jumpers from the same area to close the game. We didn’t score the rest of regulation. Prior to the game, he was 126 points away from the all-time NBA scoring record. He’s now down to 98. Tonight, he passed Mark Jackson and Steve Nash in assists to move into fourth all time. The feed to pass Nash, LeBron told Bryant to rescreen at a different angle so he could drive left. He did, drew the D and set up Bryant for the massive dunk. He and Bryant also teamed up earlier for another score on a deeper screen at the FT line (that one tied Jackson in assists). To open that fourth quarter, he was serving up dimes left and right. He’s done that a few times lately. The offense just clicks when he goes into the pass mode like that. Good to see that again as that got the team off to a good start to the quarter. In OT, he also put a bullet right into Schröder’s shooting pocket in the corner as Bron drew the D at the opposite elbow and fired it to him for the big three. The Stats: He scored 28 points on 11-25 (2-8 from three, 407 from the line) to go with 10 boards, 11 assists, 1 steal, 5 turnovers and 2 fouls in 43 minutes. He was a +22.

Davis -- -- He was called for a charge with 3.9 seconds left in regulation and the score tied. He needs to read that as a short-roll scenario and pull-up short for a shot or kick to a teammate. Knicks played that well. In OT, AD finished off a couple of drive and dishes from Russ. He then stole a perimeter pass, as well. He had a mix of his usual types of scores in this game. I don’t think we threw anything up at the rim for him to chase. Although I do remember Russ throwing a lob to someone and it hitting the backboard, which Russ then turned into a pass to himself. AD looked a bit more integrated into the game. If there was an area where he looked rusty, it was some struggles with outlet passes. He had a couple turnovers off those. The 5 turnovers are way too many. Wish we could have played him in the previous game. We might have taken that one. A healthy 37 minutes from AD tonight with the OT. The Stats: He scored 27 points on 9-16 shooting (0-1 from three, 9-11 from the line) to go with 9 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals, 5 turnovers and 3 fouls in 37 minutes. He was a + 16.

Hachimura -- -- He looked super comfortable in the mix between the stars in this game. He knew where his shots were, didn’t pass on taking them and ended up leading the Lakers at the half with an efficient 12 points on 5-6 shooting. Really, really good job changing ends tonight. He had multiple scores where he got out in front of the pack off a Laker stop and we found him. That’s just manufacturing something out of nothing. Mix in the perimeter shot as he buried a couple of threes. That’s been more typical of what we’ve asked him to do in the first couple games, just space the floor. That he did. He also had a pick and pop with LeBron where he up-faked off the three line, attacked, then hit the pull-up over his man. That’s his goto. Really good read in the second half on a corner drive from Dennis, Rui cut into the open space in the paint as Dennis drew the D and then fed Rui for the score. We ran him to close this game out (great to see!) and in some bigger lineups tonight. A couple of plays down the stretch on misc. That had split outcomes. He fumbled a long offensive board away with just over a minute left that could have given the Lakers a key possession. Just slipped right out of his hands (he had 3 offensive boards tonight). In OT, we saw that length come to play on the back line as he got up high to challenge a drive. The refs called goaltend, but reviewed and said it was at the apex and a good block. What’s notable here is that we don’t have anyone else making that kind of play alongside AD and Bron all season. We’re typically going small and that shot goes unchallenged. We flipped Nunn and some second rounders for 19 and 9 tonight from a young player. Hope we see a lot more like this. The Stats: He scored 19 points on 8-12 shooting (2-4 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 9 boards (3 offensive), 1 block and 4 fouls in 40 minutes. He was a +4.

Brown -- -- All his scoring came in the second half. Russ would find him for a corner three. After working the short roll as the roll man, he shoveled a pass to Bryant cutting for a score. He drained another corner three on his next touch. Then, he’d steal the ball when his man fumbled a dribble and Brown went to the floor to recover. The Lakers had a deceptive play that led to a Brown And-1. He was in the corner as we set up to bring him off the double screen to the middle of the floor. Meanwhile, strongside we had Russ with the ball as the trigger man. As the D preps for that play, we often go into a two-man action on the strong side. Russ did that and while that action went on, Brown came backdoor to take the pass from Russ and score an And-1. Good second half by Brown. He picked up probably the cheapest foul in the game, getting hit square in the chest on the drive by Brunson. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 3-8 shooting (2-6 from three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 3 assists, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 34 minutes. He was a -9.

Schröder -- -- At the half, Bron dumped the ball to him at midcourt and he just grabbed and chucked up the shot at the buzzer and banked in a three. He didn’t even really look after he sent it up. Fluke shot and it fell. So many guys don’t take that shot, but if you think about how close this game was, that long prayer of a three made a difference. A couple nice feed to Rui in this game, one for a corner three. Another hitting him cutting for a layup. He’d also find Russ for a three, but that’s always open. He end up with 6 assists. Bron/Russ/Dennis combined for 25 of the Lakers 29 assists. As mentioned, we brought Dennis back in to close the overtime. He’d sink a big three and a couple of FTs. He’d get his final assist of the night, hitting Bron for the score that iced it. He and LBJ led the team with the +22s. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 4-7 shooting (2-3 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 6 assists, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 32 minutes. He was a +22.

Bryant -- -- Off the bench with AD starting. Serviceable minutes from TB. Offensively, he scored an ANd-1 when LeBron hit him with an interior feed. He got downhill as Brown was rolling to the hoop to take the pass. Brown pitched it back to Bryant who had a head of steam and Bryant scored around the D. He’d later work the two-man game with Bron and hammer a dunk. Great job on the rescreen on that play to get the angle LBJ wanted. Defensively, he fell asleep on a closeout and gave up a corner three. The amount of drives he’d have to defend was limited since we played him just 16 minutes tonight. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 3-3 shooting (3-3 from the line) to go with 1 board and no other stats in 16 minutes. He was a -10.

Westbrook -- -- Great overtime by Russ. One of his best stretches of ball in crunch time all season (probably is the best considering how clean it was). He scored or assisted on 4 of the Lakers 6 baskets. He was setting the table and hit a big bank shot to take a 7-point lead. The Lakers offense kind of flatlined to close the game, so getting the turbo boost from Russ in OT and without some of the usual chaos was great to see. He struggled a bit defensively with Brunson, who had a number of scores around him. But Russ made some good defensive plays elsewhere. Russ had a great play against Randle in the post in the first half. He held ground, then quickly reached around to poke the ball loose and he drew FTs in transition on the other end. In the second half, Randle tried to bully him in the post again and Russ held ground again, reached around and yanked the ball away from him. He was hyped. Great defensive work on both of those using his strength and speed. To start the fourth, they just decided to put Russ on him for a few possessions. That wasn’t quite as successful, but really good job by Russ. I love the assists to turnover ratio in this one (8 to 1), but when you combine it with 3 steals, as well, that’s winning the possession battle. Let’s string more like this together, please. The Stats: He scored 17 points on 7-13 shooting (1-4 from three, 2-5 from the line) to go with 6 boards (3 offensive), 8 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 36 minutes. He was a -5.

Walker IV -- -- He’d score one bucket, a layup hanging around the D after working off a staggered double screen. Good to see us set up something for him to get downhill. He’d miss all his threes and Ham limited his action considerably. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-6 shooting (0-4 from three) to go with 1 board and 1 turnover in 13 minutes. He was a -10.

Christie -- -- No Bev tonight, so more minutes for Christie. Some early foul trouble (one of them was barely a foul, rookie type of call), but he got three and had to sit after his first shift. He had a nice sequence in that shift challenging Quickley to force a bad miss on iso D, then he drained a corner three on the other end. He’d hit another three in the second half on a low kickout to the corner that he had to grab and chuck up with a second left on the shotclock and a man on. Nailed it. Defensively, they got him off balance a lot, biting on fakes and getting contact from him. He’s seeing guys for the first time and still needs to learn to use his height to stay on the ground a little more. But this is why you want him to get these minutes. Good learning experience for him tonight. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-3 shooting from three to go with 2 boards and 5 fouls in 13 minutes. He was a +2.

Ham -- -- Key Moment: Trying to run the two-man with LeBron and AD on the final play. Watch what the Knicks D does here. They rotate the corner man over, Russ’s man went down to the corner and left Russ open. Easy stop on our two-man game. A couple things to consider. Why is he in on this play? You could go with a floor spacer. But more importantly, why is he at the wing instead of the corner, or why isn’t he doing something off ball (like set a pin-in screen) if he is going to be out there? Charge on AD and the Knicks had the ball with 4.5 seconds left to possibly win the game. I didn’t like the thought process in that one. Thankfully, we overcame the issues in OT.

Key Substitution: A change up for overtime. We went with AD, Hachimura, LeBron, Russ and then Schröder instead of Brown. Good OT by Russ, but also by Schröder, as well. To start the game, I liked the size with AD/Bron/Rui/Brown/Schroder. The team was very switchy on D tonight and had some good length.

Key Stats: Awful 3-17 shooting from three by the Lakers in the first half. They were great everywhere else, shooting 51% from the floor compared to the Knicks 39% (5-16 from three). The Knicks, however, had a 9-0 advantage in second-chance points in the first half. The Lakers went 8-16 in the second half from three. That was huge.

Coach’s Challenge: With 4.5 seconds left, Ham used his challenge. It was a charge call on AD and the challenge was unsuccessful. Nice try.
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Palin
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:04 pm    Post subject:

First?

Good win, good job DB.
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sonic the laker
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:30 pm    Post subject:

Thanks, DB!

And, you comments about our lack of execution (especially at the end of regulation), and Hamm's decision to leave Russ in inopportune spots on the floor, are spot on.

I also wasn't a fan of how Lonnie was being used on offense. Yes, his long range shot has improved, but that's not his forte. His forte is attacking the basket. He rarely gets involved in plays where he gets to do this. Rui had a really good game, on both ends of the floor. But, I feel he should/could get more post touches. And, I'm perturbed by Wenyen's mounting DNP's. It would be easy to play him at the 4, after LeBron. I don't understand why Hamm refuses to play him. He should still be a part of our regular rotation, even when the team is fully healthy.

Hamm still leaves much to be desired in maximizing the talent that the team has, and getting the team to play consistent structured basketball, imo.
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A Mad Chinaman
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:41 pm    Post subject:

Good to see Rui's getting more comfortable with every game.

Next step, finding consistency in every game from Thomas to Bryant to Walker Jr to others

Thanks DB for your work
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mad55557777
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:59 pm    Post subject:

When Reaves/Pat Bev comes back, please don’t cut Max Christie’s minute, the kid is 19 and is looking like a future 3 and D. If Ham has to bench someone, let it be brown or walker(I don’t care), we need the kid to develop.
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Dr. Laker
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PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 11:09 pm    Post subject:

Thanks, DB!
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deal
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:36 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB !
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 6:44 am    Post subject:

THX DB!
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:07 am    Post subject:

Good thing Schroder made that heave

Really like this lineup:

Schroder
*Shooter
Lebron
Rui
AD

40%+ shooter there would be amazing
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:38 am    Post subject:

I used to bash Randle in these threads all the time when he was a Laker; now I get to bash him as a Knick. Empty stats and no defense.
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:46 pm    Post subject:

sonic the laker wrote:


I also wasn't a fan of how Lonnie was being used on offense. Yes, his long range shot has improved, but that's not his forte. His forte is attacking the basket. He rarely gets involved in plays where he gets to do this.


We had a number of plays for him in the past that we've run (I think maybe when LBJ was out and we had to put the ball in someone's hands more). Those need to be integrated back in with him and haven't yet.
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:26 pm    Post subject:

mad55557777 wrote:
When Reaves/Pat Bev comes back, please don’t cut Max Christie’s minute, the kid is 19 and is looking like a future 3 and D. If Ham has to bench someone, let it be brown or walker(I don’t care), we need the kid to develop.


I'm with you, but the reality is that the only reason his minutes will be cut is the lack of experience. Otherwise, for me, this kid is going to be special. I saw the clay that can devleop early.

And then to read recently about star players like Draymond, Carlos Boozer, DeAndre Jordan being picked in the same second round 35th slot was encouraging. That sequence when he played excellent D, and then buried a three pointer at the other end, is exactly the kind of two-way play that builds winners because it saves money bringing in one-way specialists.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 12:12 am    Post subject:

LakerDYnasty72 wrote:
mad55557777 wrote:
When Reaves/Pat Bev comes back, please don’t cut Max Christie’s minute, the kid is 19 and is looking like a future 3 and D. If Ham has to bench someone, let it be brown or walker(I don’t care), we need the kid to develop.
I'm with you, but the reality is that the only reason his minutes will be cut is the lack of experience. Otherwise, for me, this kid is going to be special. I saw the clay that can devleop early.

And then to read recently about star players like Draymond, Carlos Boozer, DeAndre Jordan being picked in the same second round 35th slot was encouraging. That sequence when he played excellent D, and then buried a three pointer at the other end, is exactly the kind of two-way play that builds winners because it saves money bringing in one-way specialists.
Agree that Christie is looking better and better, with experience and rookie mistakes being considered factors

With L.A. being minus-9.4 points per 100 clutch (defined by the league as the final five minutes of games within five points) possessions when Westbrook is on the floor (while factoring in that the Lakers are 2nd regarding pace - which helps the young Lakers) - many things to consider, along with the growing number of available options for Ham to find a lineup that is consistent in closing game.

Possible Closing Lineups
LBJ / AD / Reeves / Hashimura / Westbrook
LBJ / AD / Reeves / Schroeder / Hasimura
LBJ / AD / Reeves / Gabriel / Hashmura
LBJ / AD / Bryant / Reeves / Hasimura
LBJ / AD / Walker Jr / Thomas / Schroeder
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