PACERS -at- LAKERS – 1-19-18 - 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: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:46 pm    Post subject: PACERS -at- LAKERS – 1-19-18 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

How Did They Win This One?… Wow. Hit your $#(*@!$#*@ freethrows!!!

The Lakers shot 2-14 from the freethrow line. Without Clarkson, the rest of the team put up a donut from the line. How in the $@(*@#ing world do you shoot that bad from the line as an NBA team? Never seen anything like that. Neither has the NBA in a win (at least not since 1964 we’re told).

If it wasn’t for JC’s best game of the season, dropping 33 points on 14-19 shooting to go with 7 boards and 7 assists, they don’t win this one. He was simply superb.

Somehow he was still coming off the bench tonight despite no Lonzo, no KCP and no Ingram.

So how do you win this game with all that going against them tonight? Defense. Guys like rookie Josh Hart forcing Victor Oladipo into 25 points on 26 shots, locking him up in the last 3 minutes as the Lakers went for the close. Defense made this one possible.

The Lakers trailed early on tonight after an abysmal first quarter, where they went 0-5 from the line and 0-5 from three. They turned a 9-point deficit into a 9-point lead, however, at one point during their 29-14 second quarter. They shut the Pacers down.

The lead would come and go in the second half as the Lakers gave the Pacers life with more missed FTs and some poor sequences in transition.

Clarkson, however, closed the door offensively with a key three and a 4-point play late in the game as the Lakers took the 99-86 win.

“I hope the lesson learned tonight was how important defense is,” Luke said afterward.


Randle -- -- He misses the Lonzo pick and roll, but we were able to get him some scores off that through Ennis and JC tonight. Got to make sure we don’t go away from that as he’s one of the best at finishing in those situations this year. Our offense got clunky with those starters when we didn’t. Luke pulled him aside in the second half because we weren’t defending Oladipo like we wanted to. Randle said they tried to make it hard on Oladipo by crowding him and making him go where they wanted. Low minutes tonight for him. The Stats: He scored 14 points on 7-12 shooting (0-2 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 3 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a -9. The Action: He missed a 20-footer on our first possession. He iso’d and tried to draw a foul on the swing through but got no call and missed. He scored a layup off the Kuzma drive in transition. Nice challenge on a guard to get a stop. He missed flip in attempt off a spin. He scored a layup off the interior feed, getting fouled with no call. He scored a layup on a slip screen. Second Half: He slammed off the pick and roll with Ennis. He hit Kuzma on the give and go for a layup. He outmuscled his man in the paint for an offensive board and putback. He faced up, attacked across the lane to his left and hit the jumphook. He blocked a shot on help D. Quick attack in early offense when the D didn’t match up and he drew FTs, he missed both. He overpowered his man on iso for a layup. He was blocked on iso next time down (Pacers getting away with illegal D).

Kuzma -- -- Not a great game on either end, but quality minutes nonetheless. He knocked down three threes. His shot seemed a bit flat at times, even his floater. He had three assists, including a nice feed to Julius on the break after drawing the D. Defensively, he was in to close this game at the PF. The Pacers go a little small and mobile, so he managed that well. Great block on iso D in the post in the first half. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 5-15 shooting (3-9 from three, 0-3 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 3 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in 32 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: Speedy attack in transition down the middle of the lane and he dumped it to Julius for the layup. Wild shot on a drive across the lane. He rejected his man in the post to ignite a break. He missed a three straight away. He charged trailing the break and attacking the paint. Way short on a 17-footer. He missed a wing three. He threw a kickout away (not on time nor on target). He sank a wing three on a kickout. Poor spacing, he attacked and was stripped by the help D. He missed a wing three, short. Second Half: He missed a wing jumper. He scored a layup on the give and go with Julius. He missed a corner three. He ran to the FT line for a tech and missed it, fool. He dunked when JC found him under the hoop. He sank a three straight away. He missed a flat floater. He missed a wing three. He was fouled for FTs, he missed both. He swished a big step-back three. He missed a wing three.

Brewer -- -- With Ingram and KCP out, Brewer got the start. Some poor minutes at times, especially in the second half where he was just awful, allowing the Pacers to come back after some miscues on offense and breakdowns on D. He did pull down 7 boards, which led all starters and is excellent for our SF spot. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-6 shooting (0-2 from three) to go with 7 boards, 2 steals, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 29 minutes. He was a -4. The Action: He missed a layup curling into the paint and trying to finish over a big. He airballed on a chuck trying to beat the shotclock, not his fault on that possession. He stripped a man but threw it away. He attacked from the corner and scored a layup. Second Half: He missed an open corner three. SLOB pass right to a Pacer, awful. He scored a layup off the Nance handoff. He missed a reverse.

Hart -- -- “We grinded it out on the defensive end,” Hart said. Great D on Oladipo on multiple possessions to help the Lakers go on the late run in the fourth. Oladipo was scoring in this one with some highlight plays at times, but just watch those last couple minutes of defense by Hart when the game was on the line. Superb. In fact, I might actually watch that again. Just a great job navigating the screens and recovering on him again and again. When you can make the point of attack work that hard without collapsing the D, you will do well most nights. “Our defense was awesome tonight,” Luke said. Can’t say enough about Hart on the defensive end. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 4-8 shooting (1-4 from three) to go with 5 boards, 1 assist, 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 33 minutes. He was a +5. The Action: He attacked off the handoff and scored a layup to his right. He missed an open wing three. He missed another open wing three on a kickout. He sank a corner three on a kickout. Second Half: Sloppy handoff on the weave, turnover. He probed baseline and threw it away. He grabbed a rebound and took it coast to coast for the layup. He attacked off the three line, changed directions around the defender and scored the layup. Way off the mark trying to hit Nance down court, turnover. He missed a wing three. He got hit hard on a drive with no call and missed.

Ennis -- -- Our PGs have to be aggressive. If they aren’t, our offense dies into a late-clock iso stagnation. Luke said Tyler set the tone with being aggressive. It’s key. You could see a play or two where he didn’t take the shot and or get back to attacking and the offense just died as the D loaded back up. He got into foul trouble and that limited his minutes. Good job while he was out there. “Our guys were making the right play all night long and that led to good shots and that led to assists,” Luke said. The Stats: He scored 7 points on 3-5 shooting (1-1 from three, 0-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 5 assists and 5 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a -12. The Action: He spun off the pressure, attacked the paint and scored the layup over his head. He attacked on iso and didn’t hit rim on the drive. He attacked in transition and drew FTs, he missed both. He attacked, spun and scored a layup in transition. Great feed to JC backdooring his man for a layup. He kicked to Nance for the jumper. He killed the offense not taking a three and instead missed a tough turnaround against the shotclock. He hit Randle on a slip screen for a layup. Second Half: He hit Randle on the two-man game for a dunk. He swished a deep three on a low kickout.

Lopez -- -- To the bench he goes. Awful game in the last one. Frankly, I wouldn’t have minded this at time when we were healthy. Tonight, I guess part of the thinking was having Lopez go against Al Jefferson on the bench. But I really don’t mind him being benched if it was to send a message about his last game. Not the ideal situation for that, however, with all the injuries and lack of talent, but if that’s what it takes. Brook had more rebounds in the first half of this one than he did the entire last game. I think we really should have used his midrange and paint game a bit more in this one, but we don’t really know how to do that. Brook shot blanks from three and the line (even Brook clanking from the line…sigh). The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-7 shooting (0-4 from three, 0-2 from the line) to go with 5 boards, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 16 minutes. He was a +10. The Action: He hit a jumphook in the post. Not close on a wing three. He missed a three straight away. He sank a 14-footer in the paint (more please). He attacked and threw it over the backboard expecting a whistle that didn’t come. Second Half: He missed an open wing three on a kickout. He threw a post entry pass out of bounds to start the fourth. He was fouled trying to finish a dunk, he missed both. He missed a deep three (why are you setting up that deep?).

Clarkson -- -- Give him the W and MVP and any other good initials that stand for something. He killed it tonight. Briefly…just briefly for a night…it looked like “his team” tonight with how well he ran things offensively. That’s how well he played in this one. A great 15-point, 5-assist first half that energized the team when we were down and he didn’t stop in the second half. When he’s able to find teammates that just opens up the game for him. He was getting defenders into jail, taking his time, keeping the dribble alive and picking apart the D. When he’s at his worst, he’s not looking to pass, going full speed and picking up his dribble after over penetrating and getting caught in the air. “Just got back to the basics and did my job,” JC said. I don’t know why the lightbulb doesn’t go off with him, but he struggles to make the well-rounded game part of his DNA even though he shows those flashes. Great job tonight. The Stats: He scored 33 points on 14-19 shooting (3-6 from three, 2-3 from the line) to go with 7 boards, 7 assists, 4 turnovers and no fouls in 34 minutes. He was a +25. The Action: He cut backdoor out of a timeout and Ennis hit him for the reverse. He fumbled a perimeter pass out of bounds. Wild leaner on a probe and he missed badly. He scored an And-1 layup on the break, he missed the FT. He missed a wild wing three (maybe an ill-advised two-for-one). He hit a floater on a drive off the high screen. Nice 45-foot lob pass to Nance on the break. He was fouled in the paint with no call and lost it. He scored a layup a few seconds later in transition. He tracked down a long outlet and scored from nearly behind the backboard at high speed. He missed a three in transition. He attacked and hit Caruso for the monster jam. He pulled up at the FT line off the screen and hit the And-1 jumper, he made the FT. He made a tough, off-balance floater, falling sideways. He probed off the screen under control and hit Randle for the layup. He attacked and hit Hart in the corner for a three. Second Half: He got into the paint, fumbled it and hit Kuzma for a dunk after the recovery. He hit a tough baseline one-footer. He missed a wing three in transition (had a one-on-one situation to attack). He hit an elbow jumper working off the screen. He nearly lost the ball, got it back and attacked the paint for a layup. Forced pass in transition, turnover. He swished a wing three. He sank a corner And-1 three and made the FT. He hit a big pull-up wing three (nice bounce). Out on the break off a Hart steal and he scored a layup.

Nance -- -- “Defensively, we were awesome tonight,” Nance said. He played both the PF and C again tonight. Love when he gets into the passing lanes on the perimeter for steals. He had 3 tonight along with a couple blocks. Good job challenging and getting vertical. He got bullied in the post once or twice early, but late in the game battled and held ground. He hit a jumper and had dunks and layups at the rim for the rest of his scores. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 5-5 shooting (0-2 from the line) to go with 11 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks and 1 foul in 28 minutes. He was a +22. The Action: He sank a wing jumper on a kickout. He drew FTs on a roll to the hoop, he missed both. Nice challenge going vertical to get a stop on a drive. He dunked trailing the break. He threw down a lob dunk from JC on the break. He swiped a pass on the perimeter. Second Half: Handoff to Brewer for a layup. He swiped a perimeter pass. He finished the lob off the two-man sequence with Caruso. He blocked a drive. He dunked when we broke the press.

Caruso -- -- His best game as a Laker and NBAer. Hopefully, he’s feeling more comfortable and is starting to translate what he does in the G-League. “AC and Tyler did a really nice job,” Luke said of the ball movement. He was aggressive and that made the difference. They were a +25 while he was out there (mostly because JC was on the floor with him). But a genuine NBA-quality game from him in this one. He had one of the plays of the night with a monster jam cutting of JC’s penetration and he also hit a three for his scores. “Just got to carry on from what we did tonight,” Caruso said of the team, but it’s especially true for him. Career high minutes tonight. “I like the confidence he played with,” Horry said after him. That’s key for Caruso right now. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-3 shooting (1-2 from three) to go with 2 boards, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover and no fouls in 28 minutes. He was a +25. The Action: Nice pocket feed to Nance rolling for FTs. He missed a three. He dumped off a pass to Nance on the break for a dunk. He swiped a kickout and threw it down court for JC to chase and score on. Great cut off JC’s drive, he took the pass and hammered. He kicked out to Kuzma for three. Second Half: His bounce pass on the drive was picked off. He sank a wing three with the D switching. He was picked at midcourt on a pass reception. He attacked and set up Lopez for FTs. He attacked off the screen and lobbed to Larry for the score.

Walton -- -- A bad situation to be in. Ball, Ingram, KCP all out. Randle and Kuzma with hand injuries. Luke emphasized D to the team again and again before this one, then shuffled the lineups and rolled them out there… Neither team scoring well to start the game. The Lakers offense was far too iso oriented... The Lakers trailed 13-8 when the time came with 4:38. Awful game… He brought in JC and Nance for Randle and Brewer… Caruso and Lopez in for Ennis and Kuzma down 7… Brewer back in for Hart down 7… The Lakers trailed 25-18 after the first (going 0-5 from the line)… Same unit to start the second quarter. Lopez, Nance, Brewer, JC and Caruso… They cut the lead to 1 and forced a timeout… Kuzma in for Lopez, Lakers up 3… Up 6 when Caruso sat for Ennis… Lakers went up by 9, but Luke called a timeout after it was trimmed back to 5… JC out with 13 points for Hart. All starters back in… JC back in after just a couple seconds for Brewer… The Lakers led 47-39 at the half… Up just 2, he called a timeout after 3 minutes. Mostly Brewer’s suckage… Nance in for Randle so Luke could lecture Randle. How about sitting Brewer?… Ennis picked up his fifth and had to sit midway through the third. Caruso and JC in for Brewer (finally) and Ennis… A couple of threes by the Summer League Champs, Kuzma and Caruso, and the Lakers forced a timeout up by 6… Lopez in for Kuzma when Jefferson came in at the C… Lakers a little wild in transition (three straight trips down court) and Luke called a timeout up 8… Randle back in for Nance with 1 minute left… Lakers up 74-66 heading into the fourth (now 1-9 from the line)… He started the Lopez, Randle, Brewer, JC, Caruso lineup… JC not touching the ball for a while and the lead dwindled… Kuzma and Hart in for Brewer and Lopez… Randle out for Nance up 4. Seemed a bit of an abrupt pull of Randle… Refs erasing And-1s for both Randle and JC… Big three and another 4-point play by JC to force a timeout up 7 with 4 minutes…


Last edited by DancingBarry on Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Dr. Laker
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 12 Apr 2002
Posts: 17065

PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:47 pm    Post subject:

FIRST.

Thx, DB!
_________________
On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
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: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:48 pm    Post subject:

Wow!

Thanks DB!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Yumyumcha
Starting Rotation
Starting Rotation


Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 751

PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:52 pm    Post subject:

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


Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 13207
Location: Oregon

PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:08 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB
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: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:10 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB! I actually forced myself to watch the second half of this one. Glad I did!! We finally had someone step up with Lonzo out!

Kudos to JC for going full Berserker on Indy, and to Hart and a lot of Lakers for solid defense!

Worst free throw shooting in history. And we won. Heckuva note.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
A Mad Chinaman
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 07 Apr 2005
Posts: 6121

PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:23 pm    Post subject:

As Kobe stated in the Rob Pelinka interview now airing on the Laker Channel, when you can produce when one is tired, cold and not at full strength at arenas in the smaller cities (consistently) - it is an important indication if one has arrived as a star/superstar

During these games where injuries to key players have provided numerous opportunities to show where Randle and JC are at as players. Are they leaders, do they produce consistently and are they leaders on the court - especially when leadership is needed

Games like tonight has shown that JC and Randle (in other games) have immense physical talent, like the vast majority of NBA players


Last edited by A Mad Chinaman on Sat Jan 20, 2018 2:46 am; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Lakers#1Team
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 36360
Location: Nomad

PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:28 pm    Post subject:

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


Joined: 29 Jul 2012
Posts: 3026

PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:31 pm    Post subject:

Wasn't expecting : )) ratings. ha
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
tox
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 16 Nov 2015
Posts: 17835

PostPosted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:59 pm    Post subject:

Why is it when I watch random games, it's like the OKC games, but when I don't, it's like this one.

Well, can't complain too much about the Lakers winning.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
oldlakerfan
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 15 May 2001
Posts: 2146
Location: Tega Cay, South Carolina

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 5:29 am    Post subject:

Thanks again as always a thoughtful write up.

Liked the way the ball moved when Caruso was in the game.

Randle Defense seems to have waned a bit lately.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
pio2u
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 26 Dec 2012
Posts: 54519

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 7:00 am    Post subject:

It feels really good to read your write-up when we win. 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: Sat Jan 20, 2018 7:23 am    Post subject:

THanks DB!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
LakerDYnasty72
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 4562

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 8:21 am    Post subject:

I wish that I was smart enough to figure this team out. I wish that I wasn't so impatient, and pessimistic, at times about this team.

I'm so grateful that guys like Hart's "superb" defense, a term which sent a little shiver through me, and the maturity of Jordan, and the overall ability of this team to play D when they want to, makes games like this so unpredictable.

Thanks DB!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Four Decade Bandwagon
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 18 Jul 2014
Posts: 8127

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:05 am    Post subject:

tox wrote:
Why is it when I watch random games, it's like the OKC games, but when I don't, it's like this one.

Well, can't complain too much about the Lakers winning.


Watch them all and you wouldn’t have that problem 😀

Loved the defense and overall effort by an undermanned roster in a draft Jan game. These are the little flashes that keep me going with this team
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Basketball Fan
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 24741

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:30 am    Post subject:

I DVR'd the game because I was tired and couldn't stay up to watch it.

Didn't miss much apparently.
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: Sat Jan 20, 2018 10:00 am    Post subject:

Basketball Fan wrote:
I DVR'd the game because I was tired and couldn't stay up to watch it.

Didn't miss much apparently.


You missed a win, lol
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
pio2u
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 26 Dec 2012
Posts: 54519

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 11:15 am    Post subject:

danzag wrote:
Basketball Fan wrote:
I DVR'd the game because I was tired and couldn't stay up to watch it.

Didn't miss much apparently.


You missed a win, lol
BINGO
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
tox
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 16 Nov 2015
Posts: 17835

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 12:24 pm    Post subject:

Four Decade Bandwagon wrote:
tox wrote:
Why is it when I watch random games, it's like the OKC games, but when I don't, it's like this one.

Well, can't complain too much about the Lakers winning.


Watch them all and you wouldn’t have that problem 😀

Loved the defense and overall effort by an undermanned roster in a draft Jan game. These are the little flashes that keep me going with this team

If I watch them all, this team will go 0-82 😒
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Basketball Fan
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 24741

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 3:02 pm    Post subject:

danzag wrote:
Basketball Fan wrote:
I DVR'd the game because I was tired and couldn't stay up to watch it.

Didn't miss much apparently.


You missed a win, lol



I'm a Pacers fan though.

But I am surprised we're 2-2 so far on this road trip to begin with.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Basketball Fan
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 24741

PostPosted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:22 pm    Post subject:

Figures the Pacers would be on the wrong side of history well Shaq would be proud.

http://nba.nbcsports.com/2018/01/20/lakers-make-14-of-their-free-throws-win/

Quote:

Lakers make 14% of their free throws, win

Jordan Clarkson‘s free throw rattled around the rim before falling out late in the first quarter. The Los Angeles crowd groaned. The Lakers missed their first five free throws, and the visiting Pacers led by seven.

It appeared to be one of those nights.

And it was. The Lakers shot just 2-for-14 (14%) on free throws Friday. But they still won, 99-86.

That’s the worst free-throw percentage with at least eight attempts by any team and the worst free-throw percentage regardless of attempts by a winning team in the Basketball-Reference database, which dates back to 1963-64.

Here’s the “leaderboard,” winners in purple and losers in gold:

image

The Lakers are shooting an NBA-worst 69% on free throws, but last night took the cake. The offenders:

Kyle Kuzma (0-3)
Julius Randle (0-2)
Tyler Ennis (0-2)
Larry Nance Jr. (0-2)
Brook Lopez (0-2)
Jordan Clarkson (2-3)
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