WARRIORS -at- LAKERS- 10/16 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Warming Up... They’ve had a few bumps and bruises this preseason, but it’s time for the team to really start to come together. The rotations got a little tighter tonight. The execution a little more focused. And everyone seemed to fall into their roles.

The Lakers have played five games, but against just two opponents. They’re familiar with the Warriors. Their current lack of size with their injuries allowed the Laker front court to once again impose its will on them.

AD, McGee and LeBron were just too big and strong to start the game. The shooters around them were knocking down threes. Good night.

They made 15-30 of their threes. If they get that kind of shooting, it’s trouble.

“First time in a while I can have 5 points and be up 30,” AD said he joked with LeBron at halftime. The thumb didn’t seem to impact his play. Although his scoring was low, he was making teams pay for double teams as he was on a triple-double pace.

This game was over early. The attention spans started to fade for the Lakers in the third when the Lakers were up big, and they cruised to the 126-93 win.

It’s time to build some momentum for when the games start to count.


LeBron -- -- He had 16 points on 6-8 shooting and 6 assists in the first half. He worked the post for scores and finding teammates. Some nice finds of his bigs whether it was AD rolling or LeBron (while still in the air on the catch) lobbing to Dwight. When he wasn’t making shots or setting teammates up, they seemed to be scoring off LeBron’s misses with some consistency. When he gets speed in the offensive zone and pressures on the rim, the bigs will feast. It would be nice for the team to have a few of these blowouts every now and then so they can rest guys. LeBron was a +30 in 25 minutes. The Stats: He scored 18 points on 6-9 shooting (1-2 from three, 5-6 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 11 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers and no fouls in 25 minutes. He was a +30. The Action: He set up McGee for a dunk off the two-man game. He got speed into the offensive zone off McGee’s high screen, bumped a big and scored a layup easily. Turnover on a cross-court feed. Wide pindown sequence flowed into a LeBron/AD two-man game and a dunk for AD. He put pressure on the rim in transition, missed and McGee dunked it back in. He hit Bradley slipping the screen for a layup. He attacked in transition, spun around a defender and scored a layup. He attacked Draymond in transition and drew FTs, he made both. He threw a pass away and stood in to draw a charge on the other end. Another off-the-mark pass next time down. He lobbed to Howard while still in the air for the dunk. He iso’d in the post when no one cut and he scored on the fade in the lane. He sank another elbow turnaround doing the same thing next time down. He posted up again and fed KCP for three next time down. He drew FTs on iso, he made one. He drained a deep three when the D got hung up on a screen. He missed another next time down. He broke his man down, attacked and flipped in a layup around the help D. Second Half: He pushed out the break, went around his back on the finish and drew FTs, he made both. He fed Bradley for an open three. He was stripped on a turnaround. He looked like Magic pushing out the break, getting to the rim and throwing the off-hand no-looker over his head to Green for the wide open corner three.

Davis -- -- “It starts with me and LeBron,” AD said after the two combined for 19 assists. Despite the issue with the thumb, he practiced before the last game and got the minutes tonight. He didn’t seem to have any issues with it. Although, his perimeter shot didn’t fall, but it’s been like that all preseason. At some point, that’s going to kick in, too. He was playing triple-double ball tonight. He and LeBron were creating for teammates all night. Put defenders and shooters around them and the game looks easy sometimes. “He’s recognizing help and where the extra pass is,” Vogel said of AD’s growth in his passing game. I’m really curious to see the small ball lineups with him and Kuz out there. They can really get up and down the floor. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-9 shooting (0-2 from three, 2-3 from the line) to go with 10 boards, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 28 minutes. He was a +19. The Action: He made a tech FT after drawing an illegal D in the post. He attacked and threw it away. Two-man game with LeBron led to AD lobbing to McGee. Dunk as the offense flowed into a two-man game with LeBron and AD. Fouled on the offensive glass to regain possession. He cleaned up a missed Green layup with a putback dunk. He tracked down the other Green and swatted his shot. He found Bradley wide open for a three in transition. He missed an elbow turnaround. He missed a forced drive. He iso’d, crossed over, spun and fed AC under the hoop for a layup, crazy. Fouled on the perimeter, he made one. He had 6 points, 5 boards and 4 assists in the first half. Second Half: He found McGee jumping out of the crowd under the hoop for a dunk. He missed a quick-fire wing three. He attacked and hit a leaner in the paint before falling down. He stripped Green in the paint. He blocked a jumper and tracked down the loose ball while getting fouled. He attacked baseline, drew the D and fed McGee for the dunk. He faced up and missed the long corner jumper. He found Cook for a three. He missed an off-balance fade. He threw a pass away trying to find a man under the hoop.

Green -- -- He didn’t stray much from what we want from him. Space the floor, move the ball if you don’t have the shot and play D. Good to see the three ball starting to drop. Shake off that rust. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-6 shooting (2-4 from three) to go with 1 board, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 foul in 22 minutes. He was a +23. The Action: He stripped a ball off DLo to get the stop. He attacked a closeout and scored a layup with the shotclock low. He missed a three in transition. He couldn’t finish a layup off a pass LeBron threaded in traffic but AD cleaned it up. Nice help D reach on LeBron’s man to knock a ball loose. Second Half: He missed a three (I think...broadcast was glitching out). He curled to the elbow and bounced to McGee rolling for the dunk. He drained a three in transition next time down. He attacked and kicked to Bradley for three. LeBron hit him with a no-looker on the break for the corner three (highlight play of the game, you better knock it down).

McGee -- -- That McGee/AD combo has so many good things going for it. They cover a lot of ground defensively and if one isn’t challenging a shot at the rim, the other is. They make it tough in the paint. It’s a second and third line of defense on some stands. Additionally, teams are in trouble when we put pressure on the rim as they crash the glass. When they hold teams to one-and-out possessions and then crash the glass on the other end, those extra possessions and points are killer. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 6-8 shooting to go with 6 boards, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 18 minutes. He was a +23. The Action: He dunked off the two-man game with LeBron. Good screen on one end to setup LeBron, a block on the other to get the stop (doing the little things on both ends). He threw down a lob from AD who came off the short roll with LeBron. He missed a jumphook in the post. He cleaned up LeBron’s dribble penetration with a putback dunk. Second Half: He jumped back on court as the D got lost on a double team and dunked when AD found him. Moving screen, turnover. He hammered down a massive dunk when Green found him rolling. He dunked off the drive and dish from AD.

Bradley -- -- The starting unit looked fine with him out there...and great when he was draining threes. Games like this are backbreakers. He sank 4 threes, missed only a couple of shots. Like Green, he didn’t stray from his role and played off his stars. As long as we aren’t asking him to do too much, he can focus on D and hitting shots. Let LeBron and AD set the table and work off it. More of this, please. The Stats: He scored 18 points on 7-9 shooting (4-5 from three) to go with 1 turnover and 4 fouls in 25 minutes. He was a +8. The Action: He swished a 20-footer off the two-man game. He stepped on the sideline, turnover. Wide open in transition and he knocked down the sideline three. He forced his man into a bad pass under the hoop, turnover. He slipped a screen and LeBron found him for the layup (nice off ball sequence off an inbounds). He missed a baseline jumper. He couldn’t hold a pass under the hoop. Way short on an open three off the kickout. Second Half: He sank a wing three on a swing pass. He swished a sideline three on the kickout from LeBron. He attacked off the three line and scored a layup.

Howard -- -- He and Cook showed a little chemistry. Dwight making for a target when Cook got into the paint or spotted him rolling. Second-unit production when both LeBron/AD sit is going to be vital. He looked a bit shaky from the line tonight, but still found a way to be productive. These are the easy challenges for him with smaller lineups where he can throw his body around. The Stats: He scored 13 points on 5-7 shooting (3-5 from the line) to go with 7 boards (3 offensive), 3 turnovers and 4 fouls in 15 minutes. He was a +14. The Action: He scored an And-1 layup off the interior feed from Cook, he banked in the FT. He dunked when Caruso one-handed a loose ball to him. He stepped out of bounds trying to get to a lob pass. More FTs off a setup from Cook, he missed both. He threw down an And-1 dunk off the bounce pass from Cook, he made the FT. He threw down a lob pass from LeBron (who was still in the air when he tossed it to him). He crashed the glass and putback in an And-1 on a LeBron missed three, he made the FT. Second Half: Offensive foul, pushing to get a pass as he rolled.

Caldwell-Pope -- -- Solid. Hit your threes, play D and don’t take stupid shots. He let the game come to him and is really looking much more comfortable out there than this time last year. We might see a big game from him sooner rather than later. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 3-6 shooting (2-4 from three) to go with 2 boards, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a +12. The Action: He threw a pass away off a kickout. He swiped a ball in the backcourt and it led to a Laker three. He sank an open corner three when Cook found him. He sank a wing three on a kickout. He missed a pull-up at the top of the key. Second Half: He had to create with the shotclock low and hit the running, baseline leaner. He missed a corner three. He missed a corner three. Hard challenge on Poole trying to dunk to take a foul.

Caruso -- -- Offensively, the struggles continue. It seems like his confidence is a little low and he’s second guessing things. He could have flushed on someone in the first half, but instead missed a layup. Nothing is coming easy right now on that end except for the occasion off-ball cut (more please). On the defensive end, he continues to be feisty, getting his hands on the ball, deflecting passes and making good reads. He’s got one more game to shake the rust off and get ready for the regular season. It would be great to start the see the ball go through the hoop. The last three have been miserable. The Stats: He scored 3 points on 1-4 shooting (0-2 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 2 assists,1 steal, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 17 minutes. He was a +16. The Action: He scored a layup off AD’s iso, spin and feed. His pass was deflected back to him so he one-handed it to Dwight for the dunk. He missed a three straight away. He hit Cook for a sideline three. He drew a charge on Poole on the perimeter. He deflected a pass to get a stop. He missed a layup he should have tried to dunk. He threw a pass away on the two-man game. Second Half: He missed a tough three at the buzzer. He switched and the pass was thrown right to him. He crossed over and missed the finger-roll And-1 attempt at the front of the rim, he made one FT. Turnover when Cacok fumbled a pass away and Caruso lost the handle.

Dudley -- -- “I definitely think we can be a top five defense,” he said. He came in at PF with under 4 minutes left in the first for McGee. That will likely be the Kuzma rotation at PF. They did that again in the third quarter. He sank a couple of threes on his only attempts. He probably over passed a little but that’s a good thing this time of year. Defensively, we’re definitely small when we go with him and Howard. He said this was technically his second practice. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-2 shooting from three to go with 2 boards, 1 assist, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 16 minutes. He was a -2. The Action: Nothing to report. Second Half: He swished a wing three trailing the break. Bad read trying to force a pass in the post, turnover. He swished a wing three on a kickout next time down. He attacked and threw it away.

Cook -- -- You expect the shot to fall everytime he fires it. That was certainly the case tonight as he made his Laker debut in the first half. Everything was dropping. He combined that, as well, with some nice feeds to set up his bigman, Dwight. Whether we can keep him on the floor defensively will be the challenge. Good to see him on the floor for the first time tonight. He was cleared a while ago but just needed to practice with the team before getting cleared for actual run in a game. Give me more of these games, please. The Stats: He scored 16 points on 6-9 shooting (4-5 from three) to go with 2 boards, 3 assists, 1 turnover and no fouls in 15 minutes. He was a +6. The Action: He swished a pull-up at the FT line working off a screen. He drained another three next time down when Draymond flew by him and couldn’t recover. He got deep in the paint and found Dwight for the And-1. He swished a wing three pulling up after a handoff. He worked the two-man game and found Dwight for FTs under the hoop. He drained a sideline three in transition. Another setup for a Dwight And-1 dunk as he hit him cutting. Short on a midrange pull-up. Hesitation on the dribble at the three line, then he attacked strong and scored the layup. He missed a wing three, got it back and found KCP in the corner for three. Second Half: He couldn’t finish at the rim off a hesitation and wanted the foul. He was wide open for a wing three and AD hit him to knock it down. He curled off the dribble and hit Dudley for the open three.

Norvell -- -- He came in for the fourth and was a bit foul prone. From the high of his previous outing to the low of this one. Not good minutes, but it was well into garbage time. The Stats: He had 2 points on 0-3 shooting from three (2-2 from the line) to go with 4 boards, 2 assists, 3 turnovers and 3 fouls in 11 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He was called for a foul for kicking his leg out on a shot (Kerr used his challenge to overturn a foul). He missed a deep three. He was called for a travel. He missed a wing three. He drew FTs late in garbage time. He crossed over and missed the wing three.

Cacok -- -- He was out of the rotation as we went to Dudley at the backup PF. He got minutes later in garbage time. Some very nice attacks from the elbow, showing a little bit of craftiness. Good job going hard when the game was out of hand. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 3-3 shooting (0-1 from the line) to go with 1 board, 1 block and 1 foul in 8 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: Nice fake on the handoff and he attacked for the layup. He surveyed the floor, attacked from the elbow, changed directions and scored the And-1 layup, he missed the FT. He swatted a drive on one end and dunked on the other.

Jackson -- -- We rested Rondo tonight and the team won every quarter. Jackson ran point for just 7 minutes to close the blowout. Some ball pounding and the execution wasn’t the greatest, but he was able to get to the rim for scores. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 3-5 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 1 board, 2 assists, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 7 minutes. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He attacked for a layup. He was called for a travel. He missed a three straight away. Ahead of the pack on a Laker steal and he finished the layup. He pounded the dribble, attacked and missed, not a good possession. He rejected the screen, attacked and scored the layup. He found Hearn on the break for the layup.

K. Antetokounmpo -- -- He had a couple moments defensively with that length out there. He’s struggled to get in the flow, but that length led to some moments on D tonight. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-1 shooting to go with 4 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 foul in 8 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He missed a jumphook. He swatted a shot from behind. Nice reach to thwart a drive and ignite a break.

Hearn -- -- We dropped Stockton, who was a late add to the roster, for Hearn. He got in some garbage time and tried to feel his way around. He mixed it up a little on D and is kind of built like a Rick Fox body type. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-1 shooting to go with 1 board, 1 steal and 1 foul in 6 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He reached on help D to swipe a pass. In transition off that, Jackson found him for the layup.

Vogel -- -- Possible opening night starting lineup for the Lakers tonight… Lakers up 11-2 with their front court dominating early… After a small run by the Warriors, the Lakers pulled out to an 18-9 lead and forced a timeout midway through the quarter… Dudley in at PF for McGee, Lakers up 15… Up 12 with 2 minutes left when Cook came in for LeBron… AD, Dudley, Caruso, KCP, Cook lineup up 7… The Lakers led 33-20 after the first… He started a Howard, Dudley, KCP, Caruso, Cook lineup… Cook just destroying the Warriors lineup with scores and passes, forcing a timeout up 18. Lakers need those sparks off the bench. Not sure how that goes with Rondo in the mix… LeBron in for Dudley with 7:26 left... Lakers up 61-37 when AD came in with 4 minutes left for Caruso and Green for Cook… McGee in for Dwight in the final minute. Caruso in for LeBron… The Lakers led 71-45 at the half. The Lakers shot 62% in the half (and 7-12 from three)... Same starters for the second half… Up 35, he went to AD, Dudley, KCP, Bradley and Cook with under 4 minutes left… Howard and Caruso in for the final possession… The Lakers led 104-74 heading into the fourth… Howard, Dudley, KCP, Caruso, Cook lineup… Norvell in after a minute for Cook… Cacok and Kostas in with under 8 minutes left...

[mhan00]

Nice.

[governator]

Lookin like Magic-Pau showtime part deux

[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".

[wolfpaclaker]

The screen and rolling today was really well spaced out, clean and effective. This is going to be the bread and butter offense for this ball club with Lebron running point guard.

I felt McGee is a really good target on lobs. AD and McGee have good chemistry as does Lebron with those two. I really like the combination of McGee first bringing length and athleticism. Then Dwight bringing power and some physical play. Both are a handful for teams that are leaving players to help on guards or Lebron-AD. What we need is Vogel to find a death lineup with AD at the 5 that works on offense and defense. This way teams are having to defend first McGee, then adjust to Dwight and finally Davis. That's a lot of adjusting your opponents will need to do.

Cook showed why when we signed him I suggested he could start for the team. This was before we signed Bradley. He is easily the best fit at PG on offense for this team. He does all the little things we need on offense. It's a shame he is not a capable good defender, otherwise he would be our starting point. Perhaps the coaching staff can work with him on his defense. If so, IMO, he easily beats Bradley, Rondo for PG minutes.

Dwight - I was saying after his first game. I think he needed game rhythm. He is a different player today than he was two weeks ago. He is much more confident and looks like he has that feel again for the game. It was a long, long layoff. He is showing impact. All you want from Dwight at 34 years old is to play physical and get to the basket off the ball. Make his presence known. He is doing that. The touch and timing is coming.

KCP - This is the KCP we want. A guy that does not try to do too much. He is the most athletic player on the team after AD. He and AD, their athleticism strikes you, sticks out. We need that because we are an older team. So if KCP can give us 20 minutes a night like this, it would be great.

I felt Vogel showed his hand the first preseason game in what he wanted to do, and after that it was all experimentation. We are likely looking at a rotation of

McGee/Howard/Davis
Davis/Lebron
Lebron/Kuzma (Dudley until Kuzma returns)
Green/KCP (Daniels when KCP plays outside his limits, which is often)
Bradley/Rondo/Cook

When we get a healthy Kuzma back, this team could be the best team in the league. I am looking forward to a Davis/James/Kuzma/Green/Cook lineup that I think may not be great defensively, but could be incredible on O.

[RhodyRay]

Thanks DB. Very nice all-around game by the entire team both offensively and defensively. But it is only a banged up GS team. The real season is just around the corner.
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Let them HATE so long as they FEAR!

[Texas_Pete]

Thanks DB. I think this frontline of Bron, AD, Javelle and Dwight is better than our 2008 frontline of Pau, Baby Drew and LO. They should have the size advantage over most frontlines in the league except for maybe Philly. Even then, if they stay healthy, I'll take our frontline over theirs too.

Bring on the Clippers!

[RI Laker]

Thanks DB! "If" we get this kind of play from Bradley/Cook, we will not only be hoisting another banner up this year, but our future would look much brighter.

[LakerSD]

[LakerSD]

[Dr. Funkbot]

Man!! Correct, if Cook and or Bradley can play like that for the season, we will be very good. I am sold on DH now, wow, who is that our there? Passing, boxing out so others can grab the board, cutting hard! This un-selfish DH is a good player. I pray his back holds up.
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R.I.P. Doc Buss

[jodeke]

I was pleasantly surprised how well the team played as a unit. To me there was unexpected smoothness. A great mix of Vets and Youth. There was a willingness to share the ball. As yet I won't attribute the unity to anyone. It may be the staff or it may be LBJ and AD. Those two fit as well as Stefano Ricci's.
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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

[waterman40]

Would love to see us blow out 10 games or so this year, and play lots of reserves to rest our key guys.
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LAKERS 2019-2020: NBA World Champions!

[Lakers#1Team]

Thanks DB!

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks again DB! We've obviously got a banged-up Golden State's number, but it's very encouraging seeing how well LBJ, AD, McGee and, lately, Howard, are all fitting together out there. Dwight Howard. Never seen him play this good, in spite of him losing a lot of his lift. I like this version of DH.

I look forward to Kuzma coming back, but I do wonder a bit how he'll fit in to the rotation, defensively.

The guards - looks like we have Green, Bradley, and 5 more guards at least who can contribute on any given night.

One more preseason game, then the games start counting!