LAKERS -at- HORNETS - 4/13 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

 
Post new topic    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> Thoughts and Ratings Reply to topic
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
DancingBarry
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief


Joined: 07 Sep 2001
Posts: 40188
Location: O.C.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:05 pm    Post subject: LAKERS -at- HORNETS - 4/13 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

A 4-3 Roadtrip... Despite missing their stars, the Lakers were able to pull off a winning roadtrip.

In the big picture, this stretch of ball will improve the team. They’ve struggled in those minutes without LeBron and now they’ve had to learn to sink or swim. In the process, Coach Vogel is getting a feel for his entire roster’s strengths and weaknesses.

Tonight, they leaned on that defensive strength. No matter who’s on the floor, they stick to their principles and battle.

After an up and down first half (starting 0-8 from three, before hitting 9-11), they led by 2 points heading into the third.

They held the depleted Hornets roster to 16 points in the third. No matter how inconsistent your offensive is, holding teams to low-scoring quarters like that will win you ball games.

Alex Coruso gave the team a lift with back-to-back defensive stops earlier in the second half, but came up big in the final minutes. As the Lakers tried to get separation in the fourth, the Hornets chipped away at the lead. Up just 1 with 43 seconds left, Caruso nailed a big three to beat the shotclock. On the other end, he played some tight D to force a miss and get a rebound.

The Lakers held on for the 101-93 win. They head home to their first game in front of fans since winning the championship.


Schröder -- -- No love from the refs tonight and the 19 attempts for his 19 points reflect that. He probably should have been there a couple of times. The midrange was working and he sank a few threes. He struggled a bit down the stretch as he was trying to get some scores. Finally, he sank a huge three with 2:08 left for the Lakers to go up 4. Got to give Dennis a lot of credit for this road trip. It wasn’t always pretty, but he was able to consistently put points on the board while playing hard-nosed D throughout. Hopefully, he’s not too beat up. The Stats: He scored 19 points on 8-19 shooting (3-7 from three) to go with 4 boards, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 36 minutes. He was a -3.

Caldwell-Pope -- -- His defense in this game was so strong. He had a couple of blocks, one where he was defending in transition and stayed in front of his man (vs. chase down from behind). Excellent job staying in front of guys and not giving ground easy. Offensively, he sank a three. He cut off THT who picked up his dribble to take a pass and score a layup. He also hit a midrange. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 3-7 shooting (1-5 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 2 assists, 2 blocks and 1 foul in 34 minutes. He was a +12.

Drummond -- -- “I’m still learning,” he said. He picked up his third foul, a charge in the post and then a tech and had to sit for the last 6 minutes of the half with foul trouble. He grabbed an offensive board and then threw it right to a Hornet with 3:10 left up 6. He was angry with himself and teammates were in his ear. He came back out and helped get a steal, later deflected a lob and got his hands on a ball to help disrupt a play late. Good job being disruptive defensively after that miscue. Offensively, he had both of his scores early to start the second half, hitting jumphooks. That second score is what I’d like to see a little more. He flashed weak to strong to take a pass from THT and hit it with ease. We have some set plays to get a big coming off a screen in that scenario, which I’m sure we’ll run for him. But I’d just like to see that general action for him. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-7 shooting to go with 12 boards (4 offensive) to go with 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 24 minutes. He was a -5.

Kuzma -- -- Leading scorer for the Lakers tonight. A flurry of scoring by Kuzma at the end of the half to regain the lead. He sank a couple of threes (one against the clock), then hammered a dunk on the break. He got stuck with a few late clock chucks he had to make, which didn’t help the percentage from three. But once he got over an initial airball and side of the backboard brick, he came on strong and caused problems. He sank a couple of threes to start the second half. One of those, you could see him get his hands and body squared and ready for a kick. Just perfect, fundamental ball right there. Late in the game, good job knocking down some freethrows. That shot is super high arching from the freethrow line. The Stats: He scored 24 points on 7-18 shooting (4-12 from three, 6-6 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 1 assist, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 34 minutes. He was a +1.

Horton-Tucker -- -- In the starting lineup with our depleted roster. That three shooting was not pretty. His first several misses were from three, barely hitting rim on one and then finally banking in his only make of the night. When they can zone and leave you open, it can cause a lot of issues. Some good playmaking as he only had 1 turnover tonight. He found KCP cutting, he kicked to McKinnie for a three, found Kuz on a kick for three and also hit Drummond coming weak to strong for a jumphook. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-8 shooting (1-6 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 foul in 23 minutes. He was a -8.

Harrell -- -- Not a lot of scoring in this one, either, but better overall play. He drew FTs on a spin. He attacked off the catch down the lane for a layup. I’d like to see that a little more. The D expects us to go through our usual handoffs but keeping them guessing helps everyone. He’d also finish a lob over his head after backing a smaller under the hoop before taking the pass. One assist, finding AC for a three. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-3 shooting (2-2 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 1 assist, 1 turnover and no fouls in 24 minutes. He was a +13.

Caruso -- -- Huge. Huge. Huge shooting in crunch time. Some clutch ball by AC tonight with a big three with 4:45 left and then a bigger one with 43 seconds left to go up by 4. Then he forced his man into a brick on the other end, got the board and was fouled for FTs with 28 seconds left. He made both of those, too. That +21 tonight in 25 minutes was from some great two-way play. He had an excellent sequence in the second half, stealing the ball from a man trying to attack him (just roofed and stripped him). Then on the other end, he found Trezz for a lob against smaller man. Then back on D, he drew a charge with some excellent anticipation off the ball to get a stop again. Blue collar baller. Just getting it done on both ends whatever is needed. He scored 10 of his 13 points in the second half and most of it in crunch time. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 4-6 shooting (3-5 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 6 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 25 minutes. He was a +21.

Matthews -- -- Some big plays in the second half. He came up with a 4-point play, drawing three fouls and a tech on a lean in after pumping his man into the air. He made all four of those. This was just after drawing a charge on the other end to get a stop. He’d later swish a three. Again, we went to some smaller lineups with Wes at PF. As a result, he did give up a putback on a missed freethrow. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 1-3 shooting from three (4-4 from the line) to go with 1 board, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 fouls in 14 minutes. He was a +7.

McLemore -- -- He was getting attacked on D and got into foul trouble early on. Very little resistance defensively in that first half. The difference between him and KCP or AC defensively tonight, just very, very obvious. When guys went at him, they were successful. He got put on a poster on a help defense sequence, just getting dunked on with both hands. That’s fine. It’s when he couldn’t contain his own man where we saw issues this game. When they left him alone, we were fine. He hit his first three in this game and then later would have a putback layup crashing the glass. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-5 shooting (1-3 from three) to go with 4 boards, 1 assist, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 17 minutes. He was a +11.

McKinnie -- -- Back in the mix and some quality effort out there. He sank a couple of threes. Hitting his first on his first touch offensively. He’d also get another one of those rebound putbacks from behind a man on the offensive glass. Good to see Vogel finding a niche for him as we go super small. Defensively, he was able to draw a charge. I don’t recall how many the Lakers had this game, but it might have been at least four. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-6 shooting (2-3 from three) to go with 2 boards and 1 turnover in 9 minutes. He was a -9.

Vogel -- -- Key Moment: You could go with a few in this game, but the big defensive stand after AC hit a three with 43 seconds left (just beating the shotclock) to go up 4. They scrapped on D, deflecting a ball, getting the Hornets into a scramble, then AC got a great challenge with both hands on a three to force a miss and secure the rebound. Vogel called that one out after the game.

Key Substitution: Let’s go with sitting THT for AC down the stretch. The Lakers were up 8, the lead got trimmed, but AC came up big late. THT’s perimeter shooting tonight was not great, so while he got the start, AC got the finish.

Key Stats: Let’s start with just 2 turnovers in the second half. Combine that with the three shooting and you will win some games. The Lakers started the game 0-8 from three. Then they hit their next 9-11 to close the first half. They’d finish 16-44 (36%). Up and down shooting, but they hit volume threes on an average percentage. Take that every night.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
JM
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 1281

PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:06 pm    Post subject:

Thanks
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
SweetP
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 6054
Location: My own little piece of reality

PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 9:25 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
_________________
“There is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it.” --Amanda Gorman
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
joeblow
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Posts: 3075

PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:41 pm    Post subject:

An interesting game, and props to the Hornets for playing hard despite the injuries.

Our MVP was definitely team defense. That's the area I am proud of most for the Laker squad playing without their two stars (and more at times). After that, the first runner up is AC for obvious (+21) reasons.

I'll say that DS is next in line for major props. The Hornets were extremely locked in to protecting the paint, sending two, three, sometimes four defenders down there to keep us from scoring down low. It's because of this strat that AD2, Montrezl, THT and DS couldn't find an offensive rhythm in the paint all night. They let us shoot open threes, and we missed a ton of them which kept the game close.

But in the second half, maybe the coaches figured it out because DS started attacking hard from the perimeter only to pull up for a mid range open jumper from the free throw line extended (where he was money) or to pass it to an open teammate (like the clutch assist to Caruso for the trey at the end of the game).

I looooved that adjustment, and along with his tenacious D, our point guard did a fantastic job on both sides of the court while keeping his turnover rate exceptionally low this time.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
DrDent
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 30 Jun 2016
Posts: 12975

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 12:06 am    Post subject:

DB thank you for the summary, I missed this one and have had only been able to pay attention to the replays (two of them now) in the background here and there. This gives me an idea of what happened.

And to you as well Joe, thanks for the additional input.

Great to see the W with the Blazers L. But now we hit the scary, and I do mean scary stretch The next 5 games will be brutal.

Celtics are just as desperate as us, but their roster is healthy so have an advantage.

Then Jazz and Mavs, 2 times each.

The "recent" news report has AD "maybe" returning in 10-14 days. LBJ, I believe, 3 more weeks.

Lakers could very well go 0-5 in the next 5. I'm not sure how they will do it, but if somehow, just somehow, they can pull out 2...or 3...W's? That will be pretty darn good.
_________________
"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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
TooMuchMajicBuss
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 17 Sep 2008
Posts: 21064
Location: In a white room, with black curtains near the station

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 12:09 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB! Excellent write-up once again. Great to see the Lakers bounce back with a solid win on the road. 4-3, not bad for missing our two superstars. Here's hoping we're healthy when it counts!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
akgolf
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 1448
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 4:20 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
danzag
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 28 Apr 2013
Posts: 22244
Location: Brazil

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 5:16 am    Post subject:

Thanks, DB!

Ball game to Caruso
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Richcbt
Starting Rotation
Starting Rotation


Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 328

PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 10:19 am    Post subject:

Brilliant summary, as usual, DB. It's always nice after watching a game to come on here and see an echo of my own observations in the moment, being recorded for posterity.

Here and there is a game that Caruso wins for us, and this certainly was one. His plus 21 speaks for itself.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address Reply with quote
Lakers#1Team
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 36360
Location: Nomad

PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2021 4:04 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    LakersGround.net Forum Index -> Thoughts and Ratings All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Jump to:  

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum






Graphics by uberzev
© 1995-2018 LakersGround.net. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Use.
LakersGround is an unofficial news source serving the fan community since 1995.
We are in no way associated with the Los Angeles Lakers or the National Basketball Association.


Powered by phpBB