LAKERS -at- JAZZ - 4-14-14 - Thoughts and :-)) Ratings

[DancingBarry]

Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Worse?… Wow, that was ugly.

The Lakers fell back by double digits in the first half, looking awful, only to suddenly go on a 19-2 run in the final 3 minutes of the half and take a lead.

The Jazz passing was horrid tonight -- unforced errors and bad decisions. The Lakers capitalized on the ones that weren’t tossed straight out of bounds, 29 points off 18 Jazz turnovers.

Meanwhile, Nick Young nearly had a career high night. Who drops 41 off the bench? SwaggyP.

“I hope you all know SwaggyP can play a little bit,” SwaggyP said about SwaggyP.

With Jodie Meeks and Jordan Hill dropping 20+ each, the Lakers cruised to the win after killing the Jazz in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter.

In Tankerville, this game had big ramifications in the pingpong ball count. The Lakers fell back behind both the Jazz and the Celtics with the win.


Meeks -- -- An efficient, Meeks-like game, getting out on the break for scores, sinking threes, curling into the lane and scoring layups, and drawing FTs. Nick will get all the press, but Meeks and Hill were quiet assassins tonight. Some good D on Hayward as the game went along. The Stats: He scored 23 points on 8-13 shooting (2-3 from three, 5-6 from the line) to go with 2 boards, 3 steals, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 35 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: He drained a long sideline jumper in early offense. He curled into the lane, took the pass and scored the layup. He missed a short floater on a drive. He missed a wing jumper. He drained an open three off the Kelly kickout. He missed a long wing jumper, not getting squared up. He cut baseline, took the pass and scored the layup. He pushed out a turnover with speed, blew past defenders and drew FTs at the rim, he made both. He scored a layup filling the lane on the break. He swished a wing three next time down. He had 16 points on 6-9 shooting. Second Half: He missed an open wing three. He was blocked on a layup. He drew FTs on the perimeter, he made both. Another bad Jazz pass and he took it the length for a layup. He attacked down the lane and flipped in a layup off the glass. He was fouled on a reverse layup and drew FTs, he made one.

Hill -- -- He had the jumper splashing for him most of the night. He kept it in that medium-range, 12- to 16-foot distance and not out farther at 20-feet. He was wide open so it was just shooting practice all night. The Stats: He scored 21 points on 10-13 shooting (1-1 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 1 block, 1 turnover and 3 fouls in 24 minutes. He was a +7. The Action: He scored a layup off the screen-roll for the Lakers first points. He posted up and easily scored a layup around his man. He attacked to his left, stopped on a dime, spun back around and flipped in a layup around his man. He was blocked on a drive. Marshall found him rolling for the uncontested layup. He missed a short putback off a FT miss. He sank a flat-footed jumper from the top of the key. He blocked a layup attempt. He had 10 points at the half. Second Half: He sank a 16-footer on the two-man game. He was blocked on a layup. He grabbed a missed shot and powered back in an And-1, he made the FT. He swished an elbow jumper. He nailed another a step back a little farther back next time down. He swished another one from the same area off the two-man game with Marshall.

Kelly -- -- Awful game from Kelly for the most part. He was one of the reasons the Lakers were down in the first half. He just didn’t do anything right in that half. He led the team with 4 turnovers and couldn’t connect on any of the four three’s he took. He probably drew a few fouls had he not been a rookie. Just wasn’t getting any whistles, but played through it. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-9 shooting (0-4 from three) to go with 5 boards (3 offensive), 3 assists, 1 block, 4 turnovers and 2 fouls in 32 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He up-faked to lose a man, attacked to draw another defender and hit Meeks for the open three. He missed a wing three next time down. Nice block at the rim to save a sure layup, but we couldn’t control it and the Jazz scored. He missed a layup on iso. He posted up and was stripped. He missed a wing three in semi-transition. He missed a pull-up FT jumper, way short. He drew a charge in the middle of the lane. He missed a sideline three on a kickout. Second Half: He took a pass on the break and one too many steps to erase a dunk. He grabbed an offensive board, pumped and banked in the short one. He up-faked, attacked off the three line and scored a layup. He gave up a layup on the other end, getting over powered. He missed an open wing three. Great move to lose his man on the baseline drive, then he airballed the floater expecting a whistle that didn’t come.

Marshall -- -- He and Hill teamed up for a number of scores on the two-man game. The Jazz just never adjusted to it, so we milked it. Nice to see the big assist numbers again. The Jazz should have made him more of a scorer, of course. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-4 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 4 boards, 15 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 24 minutes. He was a +12. The Action: He attacked and missed a layup. He missed a wing three. He curled into the lane, kept his man on his hip and scored the layup. He swiped a ball in transition. He had Sacre wide open and threw the pass away. He hit Hill for the uncontested layup off the two-man game. Completely lost on D and his man took it for the easy layup. He hit Meeks cutting baseline for a layup. He pushed out the break and hit Meeks for the layup. Second Half: He hit Hill for the FT jumper on the two-man game. He missed a baseline jumper. He threw an outlet away. He missed a pull-up jumper. He found Hill again with the pick-and-pop pass for the jumper. He threw a bounce pass away on the break.

Johnson -- -- Some excellent D from Wes tonight with the 5 steals and 3 blocks. He was reading the passing lanes extremely well right from the start and coming up with steals. That’s how you want him to play. Use that athleticism and length to be disruptive, gamble on occasion. That length and athleticism is his strength, but he doesn’t play to that enough. Offensively, he had much better shot selection and his stroked looked good tonight. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 3-6 shooting (2-3 from three, 4-4 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 4 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks, a turnover and 3 fouls in 38 minutes. He was a +21. The Action: He deflected a pass and controlled it. He jumped a passing lane and swiped another one on the next possession. He missed a wing three. He missed a long sideline jumper. He snagged another kickout getting into the passing lane. He sank a forced wing jumper on the other end. He drew FTs out on the break, he made both. He drew FTs on the break and made both again. Second Half: He challenged a layup on the break and got a piece of it. He swished a wing three on the handoff. He swiped a lob pass in transition. He drew FTs in transition, he made both. He blocked a man on a double team. He swished a catch-and-shoot three. He blocked and controlled another drive. He deflected another pass, this one out of bounds.

Young -- -- “SwaggyP was in a zone tonight,” Nick said. “I hope y’all seen that.” Nick was lighting it up. The Jazz had no answer for him. He started off in control and taking good shots and steamrolled the Jazz from there. When he’s this efficient, that spells trouble for opponents. His iso and the Hill/Marshall two-man game was the Lakers halfcourt offense. The Lakers were scoring with ease off Jazz turnovers the rest of the time it seemed. Later in the game, he got a little wild feeling like he was in the zone and trying to get the career high number. Pressed a little too hard to do that and came up short. On the Lakers play tonight: “We don’t want to be in last place,” Nick said. The Stats: He scored 41 points on 14-23 shooting (6-11 from three, 7-9 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 3 assists, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 34 minutes. He was a +22. The Action: He missed a corner jumper. He swished a step-back 20-footer from the wing. He attacked to his left and hit he step-back midrange jumper from the wing. He missed a midrange jumper. He missed a wing three. He sank a long pull-up wing jumper out of a timeout. He knocked down an open wing three off the two-man game. He swished an easy floating jumper in the middle of the lane coming off the screen. He drew FTs out on the break, he made one. He scored a layup filling the lane on the break. He swished a three from the top of the key. He had 17 points on 7-10 shooting. Second Half: He drew three FTs getting hit on a wing three with the shotclock low, he made two. He hit a pull-up bank off the dribble. He swished a three against a couple of defenders with 3 seconds left in the quarter. He attacked an open lane and scored the layup. He missed a pull-up elbow jumper. He iso’d, blew past his man on baseline and scored the layup. A kind bounce on a three from the wing and it dropped in. He attacked the paint and got clobbered for FTs, he made both. He drained a wing three. He missed a falling down jumper in the paint. After Farmar broke his man’s ankles he found Young for the three. He missed back-to-back threes trying to get the career high on one possession. He missed a three on the break, trying to get the career high again.

Farmar -- -- Pretty lousy first half and the Jazz thrived while he was on the floor. In the second half, Jordan was making sure SwaggyP got the ball and the Lakers second unit started to beat up on the Jazz. The highlight play of the night was Farmar going behind his back, then crossing over to make his man fall straight back to the floor, then he pushed it out and it led to a three from Nick. Peanut Butter Jelly Time right there. Not too many other highlights for Farmar tonight. Our PGs combined for just 6 points on 2-10 shooting, but 21 assists. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 1-6 shooting (0-2 from three, 2-2 from the line) to go with 1 board, 6 assists, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 22 minutes. He was a +8. The Action: He curled into the lane and threw a wild bounce pass away, dunk the other way. He attacked from the wing and couldn’t finish the layup. He drew FTs on a drive down the lane, he made both. He missed an open three. He couldn’t finish a layup off the bounce pass from Kelly. Second Half: He found Sacre for the easy score under the hoop. He swished a wing jumper on the catch and shoot. He posted up and missed the fallaway. He missed a three on iso. He went behind his back, then crossed over to put his man on his butt, then he found Nick for the three.

Sacre -- -- Sacre’s offense was pretty smooth looking tonight. Everything looked like it was automatic for him. Much better job on the boards, nearly getting the double-double. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 6-8 shooting to go with 9 boards, 1 steal, 1 block and 2 fouls in 29 minutes. He was a +3. The Action: He swished the short floater in the lane. Nice lateral speed to cut off a guard and hit the deck to draw an offensive foul. He missed a pull-up FT jumper. He faced up and hit a short jumper from the left side. Second Half: He took a bounce pass cutting to the hoop and hit the short jumphook. He missed an open baseline jumper. He sank a short jumphook in the low post. He hit a jumphook in the post again with ease. He swished a baseline turnaround.

Brooks -- -- In with 2:25 left tonight with the Lakers up by 20. No notes. The Stats: He didn’t shoot or score in 2 minutes. He was a -5. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: Nothing to report.

D’Antoni -- -- No extra pingpong balls for you!... The score was tied 15-15 when the timeout came after 7 minutes. This was going to be a battle it appeared… He brought in Sacre and Young for Kelly and Johnson… Down 2, he brought in Farmar a minute later… D’Antoni called a timeout shortly later down by 6… He brought back in Kelly for Hill… The Lakers trailed 30-25 after the first quarter… D’Antoni called a timeout as they trailed by 13, the offense clanking away… He sat Farmar for Marshall. Hayward hitting wide open jumpers all half… Hill in for Sacre, same Jazz lead… The Lakers chipped away at the lead and cut it to 4 with a 9-2 run… They took a lead with a minute left… A 19-2 run by the Lakers in the last 3 minutes of the quarter to take a halftime lead. That was a quick turnaround… The Lakers led 57-51 at the half. The Lakers scored 16 points off 12 Jazz turnovers… The Jazz took a 1-point lead midway through the quarter… He brought in Sacre and Young for Kelly and Wes shortly later… Up 1, he brought in Farmar for Marshall… The Lakers were tied 86-86 heading into the fourth… Sacre, Kelly, Johnson, Young, Farmar to start the quarter… The Lakers stretched out to a 6-point lead when the timeout came after 3 minutes… The Lakers extended to their biggest lead, 11-points, shortly later… The Lakers were up by 15 when the timeout came midway through the quarter. The game well in command for the Lakers now…

[K28]

That was quick.

[SweetP]

We can't even tank efficiently.
_________________
“There is always light if only we're brave enough to see it, if only we're brave enough to be it.” --Amanda Gorman

[Lakersneuron]

Ugh. What the (bleep) guys?

Thanks DB. Rejoice that this season is almost done.
_________________
"I don’t give a [expletive] what you say. If I go out there and miss game winners, and people say, 'Kobe choked, or Kobe is seven for whatever in pressure situations.' Well, [expletive] you. Because I don’t play for your [expletive] approval."

[DancingBarry]

[Laker_Town]

[waterman40]

Thanks for all of your effort in a dismal season.

[leor_77]

Embid, Wiggins, Parker, Exum, and even Randle were like, "ahh fu**" after this game. You know they all wanted to be here.

[TDRock]

Yes MEM is a better team but emotionally I can't help but feel where was any of that on Sunday for the final HOME game?!?!? Ugh! Oh well. Since I'm not on team t*nk I'm glad to see them show a little fight (even if it was at the wrong game ).

Thanks DB for the write-up. 1 more to go...

[OregonLakerGuy]

Thanks DB

[LakerEric]

Hate that nickname Swaggy P and his moronic effort to win a MEANINGLESS GAME! The short term future (lotto pick) was on the line!! I'M SO ANGRY AT THIS STUPID, FREAKING WIN!!! I HATE THESE MISFIT TOYS!!!

[LakersInFour]

[yinoma2001]

Can't blame the players I suppose. They go out to play and maintain their livelihood. Just a messed up season altogether. If the Lakers are firmly at the 6th position, would be nice for Lakers nation to unite for one last game and cheer for a win against the Spurs.
_________________
From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[Omar Little]

I cant hate on anyone. Sports was always supposed to be about honest, fair, hard competition. It was never intended to be a contest of draft odds.
_________________
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel

[yinoma2001]

[The Laker Link 2.0]

Man, it was weird watching Kelly last night. He's lengthy, but then because of that, he seems to lose where he has the ball and thus he gets it stolen so easily. It's really weird to watch him drive and dribble with what looks like a long wingspan.

[The Laker Link 2.0]

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Or perhaps we get an unlucky ping pong ball bounce, wind up picking 8th or so, and wind up with a player who thrives in the NBA, more so than all of the 'instant franchise' players listed at the top of everyone's draft boards. It's all a game of chance in the draft no matter how much of a sure thing these guys appear to be right now.

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks DB for sticking with it through the most dismal season in Laker history. Better times to come!

[LakersMDGurl]

They had no business winning this game.. messing up the dam draft!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
_________________
New Beginings

[foshowtime]

[LakersMDGurl]

[CandyCanes]

UGH LOSE ON PURPOSE...
_________________
Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:

[LakerEric]

[ThreePointBomber]

Nick Young just wants to get paid at this point
_________________
The most important shot in basketball.