LAKERS -at- SPURS - 12-11-15 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

[DancingBarry]

3-20… This was an L from the moment the Spurs signed Aldridge and we didn’t.

The Lakers played a spirited first half, staying with the Spurs behind some strong scoring from both D’Angelo Russell (who finished with a career high 24 points) and Lou Williams. Both now in the starting lineup with Clarkson’s ankle still healing.

The Spurs separated themselves in the second half, tightening up the D on L.A. The other L.A., LaMarcus Aldridge, would score 24 to lead the Spurs, but it was probably Patty Mills’ 22 points off the bench that completely buried the Lakers.

Two opposite directions for these organizations right now. The Spurs are thinking about the playoffs, about to win their 20th game and perfecting their system. Meanwhile, the Lakers just dropped their 20th game with their patchwork offense and bottom-of-the-league D.

The Lakers are looking for quality minutes from their youth. They got a great game from Russell in that regard once again.

“It looks like he’s playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Scott said.

The kid is figuring things out.


Kobe -- -- Another strong start from Kobe, hitting several jumpers in the first quarter. Then, he faded away. Again, you start to wonder about the body tightening up or tiring down as the game goes on. I liked that he didn’t force it and moved the ball. Kobe on playing the Spurs over the years: “They forced us to be at our absolute best,” he said. A lot of games here and a lot Laker jerseys in the coming to see him one last time. Being out there with Russell, who was in the starting lineup, on the very next game after the good Kobe coaching job was nice to see. They were talking quite a bit. Kobe has a lot of confidence in him. “He’s starting to look much more comfortable in terms of controlling the pace of the game, being aggressive and taking shots where he has them,” Kobe said. The Stats: He scored 12 points on 5-12 shooting (1-5 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 4 assists, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 29 minutes. He was a -18. The Action: He swished a wing jumper in early offense. He drained a sideline three on the kickout from Russell. He attacked, spun at the elbow and hit the jumper. He swished a baseline pull-up jumper. He missed a three on a kickout. He missed a tough, twisting jumper off an inbounds sequence. He attacked the lane and kicked to Russell for the three. He tried to force a pass in a crowd, turnover. He threw a pass away in transition. He missed an elbow pull-up jumper. He had 9 points on 4-7 shooting. Second Half: He picked up a tech for complaining after getting slapped on the arm on a three with no call. He attacked in early offense, drew the D and dumped it to Nance for the dunk. He missed a wing three on the split paly. Quick attack off the inbounds, he pumped and drew FTs, he made one. He iso’d out of the timeout and kicked to Russell for the three. He swished a pull-up from the top of the key, while working off the screen. He missed a turnaround backing his man down. He was tied up and won the jumpball (might be the first time he’s jumped on that this season, lol).

Russell -- -- No Clarkson tonight with the ankle injury, so Russell was back in the starting lineup. He was aggressive in the first quarter with several buckets. He actually missed a bunch of shots in garbage time, making most of his points up against the real Spurs D. (I think he was 1-8 during that stretch, so you can see how much more efficient he was up until then.) He’s showing everything they drafted him for. The range, the passing, taking advantage of the length, the leadership. It was all there, and only 19. He led the team in scoring, assists and was one rebound shy of leading them there, as well. That’s what we want to see, filling that stat sheet with a nice balance of scoring and passing. He’s been edging up his game every week since really the summer league. Bit by bit fighting his way through everything and starting to return to the form we saw in college. It’s fun watching it translate. Another career high in scoring and tied his career high in assists. “You see a 19-year-old posting up and you’re feeding it to him at 19 against the Spurs, that shows a lot of confidence in him,” Young said of Russell. Horry on Russell’s postgame and size: “In the offseason, he’s going to get that base a little bit stronger so he can dominate guys like that.” His passing out of that post if defenders collapse will be trouble for teams in a few years. “It’s a lot to take in at a very early age,” Scott said. “Right now, I’m happy with the progress he’s making and I want him to get better.” The Stats: He scored 24 points on 9-23 shooting (5-10 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 6 boards, 6 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers and 1 foul in 36 minutes. He was a -9. The Action: Quick attack to his left and he used his length well to score the layup. He missed a three on a kickout. He sank a three on the kickout from Williams, no hesitation on either shot. He swiped a pass trying to backdoor him (good job opening up and using that length), but he threw it away in transition. He probed baseline instead of shooting a pull-up and kicked out to Kobe for the three. He was picked from behind pushing the ball up court. He pushed up court in a hurry, posted his man up and hit the turnaround. He drained the wing three on the Kobe kickout. He missed a wing three from behind a screen. He missed a pull-up on the sideline. He missed a wing three on a back and forth passing sequence with Williams. He hit Lou for the wing three. He stepped on the baseline on a probe. He got a switch, his man sagged off and he drained the wing three. He scored 15 points on 6-10 shooting (3-6 from three) to go with 5 assists, 3 boards and 2 steals. Second Half: He muscled his man under the rim, took the inbounds over the D and tried to shoot while in the air and was fouled, he made one FT. He missed a chuck from three in early offense. He missed an elbow pull-up jumper. He missed a pull-up at the FT line. He sank the wing three on the Kobe kickout. He buried another three next time down taking the handoff from Hibbert, who then caught Russell’s defender with a screen. He missed a wing jumper next time down when Hibbert couldn’t pindown his man to set up the three. He took a high entry pass over a fronting defender and tried to shoot while still in air, he missed and then missed the follow tip. They cleared out for him next time down, he backed his man down, attacked across the lane and hit the jumphook. He tried it again next time down and got tapped (loved how easily he is moving guys despite his light frame). He missed a floater cutting off ball. He missed a three up against the shotclock. He probed back and forth on the baseline (good job keeping the dribble alive) and he fed Bass for the dunk. He airballed, double clutching and expecting a foul on a pull-up.

Williams -- -- Good first half from Lou with 15 points (he and Russell combining for 30 in the first half). He played in control and looked for opportunities as they presented themselves. Defensively, was not good. One of the funnier sequences I’ve seen a while in this game. Final play of the first half, a Spur and the ref were standing next to each other as Lou was defending the Spur off ball. Lou’s man cut backdoor as he ball watched, but the ref stayed and the Spurs tried to hit the ref for a three (turnover). And, of course, Lou still with no idea where his man went, turned to guard the ref. Shaqtin’ a Fool sequence. That wasn’t the last time he’d ball watch in the game. The Stats: He scored 19 points on 7-12 shooting (2-5 from three, 3-3 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in 34 minutes. He was a -26. The Action: He hit a runner in the lane. He drained a three on the Kobe kickout. He kicked out to Russell for three. He sank a 17-footer pulling up off the high screen. He swished a pull-up wing jumper off the Russell handoff. He missed a wing three. He missed a wing three in early offense. Nice change of pace in early offense and he scored the And-1 layup, he made the FT. He probed and threw a pass away. He missed a corner three. He swished the wing three, flaring to the left for Russell to find him. He missed a sideline three. He scooped up a loose ball and took it for the uncontested layup. He had 15 points on 6-10 shooting and 2 steals. Second Half: He was blocked on a runner in early offense. Ball watching and his man threw a putback dunk down. He drew FTs on the wing jumper, he made both. He swished a pull-up, fading to his left.

Hibbert -- -- He wasn’t close on several attempts offensively early on. He needs to be very deliberate in his post move and set in his jumper, otherwise, it’s an instant miss. There is not a lot of chemistry with Roy and the guards that makes him a threat and something the defense has to worry about. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-8 shooting to go with 6 boards (3 offensive), 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 30 minutes. He was a -25. The Action: He missed an off-balance hook shot. Not close on a wing jumper. Not close on a hook in the post. He grabbed an offensive board, spun and dunked (more, please). He missed a jumper in the paint. He finally hit a hook in the post, a little more deliberate on that one. Second Half: He choked a layup on the pick and roll. He was called for a moving pick. He missed a one-hander in the paint, thinking about passing before shooting on the screen-roll. Off-ball foul as Randle was attacking.

Nance -- -- He was getting lit up in the first few minutes. Aldridge, not an easy cover for a rook. He “took advantage of him,” Scott said. For sure. Junior was in foul trouble in the first half. He just generally seemed lost on the defensive end. Offensively, he didn’t have any confidence, overpassing too much, as well. No rebounds in his 19 minutes, either. Not good. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-3 shooting to go with 3 steals, 2 turnovers and 3 fouls in 19 minutes. He was a -18. The Action: He was stripped in the paint. He didn’t shoot the open jumper and threw the pass away for an uncontested layup. He swiped a post entry pass after a nice trap by teammates on the sideline. Good job getting back in transition and he swiped a bounce pass. Second Half: He missed a wing jumper. He dunked off the drive, draw and dish from Kobe. He went for a steal on a front and his man dunked when he came up empty. He overpassed in the paint instead of trying to dunk, turnover.

Randle -- -- “He just didn’t look like he was ready to play,” Scott said, pointing to his transition D and turnovers. “Mentally, he just didn’t seem like he was focused tonight.” He didn’t score his first bucket until late into the third quarter. When he has to face some length, that’s where he really needs the jumper. He tried taking it tonight, but it was brick city. They’ll break it down and rebuild it this offseason. In the next couple years, when he can knock down the shot from the perimeter, these will be different games. The youth at the PF position tonight was going against some heavy vet knowledge on the other end and they didn’t allow Randle to play to his strengths. His per 36 in his first two games on the bench was 23.4 points and 15.4 boards. Just 4 points tonight. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-9 shooting to go with 7 boards, 1 block, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a -8. The Action: He attacked baseline and was blocked. He missed a baseline fade on a choppy offensive sequence. He attacked, spun and missed the lefty jumphook, then fouled. He missed a fade in the lane on iso. He pushed out the rebound and was called for a travel on a Euro step reverse around a defender (hmmm, not sure about that one). He missed an 18-footer on the step-back. He rejected Aldridge in the post and controlled it. Second Half: He clanked a wing jumper. He attacked down the lane, spun and scored to his left. He took an interior pass, bumped, elevated and scored. He was stripped trying to iso and spin on Diaw.

Young -- -- “We just got to play two halves,” Nick said. He barely played the first. He was a little more aggressive in the second half and helped cut a lead at one play with a 4-point play. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-6 shooting (1-3 form three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 1 foul in 19 minutes. He was a -19. The Action: He missed a wing three on a swing pass. Second Half: He got a nice bounce on the jumper coming off the floppy. He came off the screen, took the pass and swished the sideline three. He then made a tech off that play, 4-point trip to cut it to 8. He broke his man off on the pull-back dribble, but missed the jumper. He missed a three. He missed a reverse in transition.

Bass -- -- Pretty funny watching him in garbage time trying to defend the 7-3 Boban Marjanovic. Just weird seeing how much smaller Bass could look at the C spot. We could have used more vet experience in this one against Aldridge at PF. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 3-3 shooting to go with 1 board and 1 foul in 5 minutes. He was a -1. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He dunked off the Russell baseline probe and set up. He reversed off the drive and dish from Kelly. He slapped at an offensive board and got it to drop in.

Huertas -- -- Patty Mills was lighting him up. This was actually a big part of the loss, the Lakers inability to contain Mills (along with our woes at the PF spot). Mills had 22 points in 22 minutes on 9-11 shooting. That was deadly PG work off the bench. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-4 shooting (0-2 from three) to go with 5 assists and 3 fouls in 20 minutes. He was a -8. The Action: He set up Sacre for the dunk off the screen-roll. He reversed when Sacre found him under the hoop off an offensive board. He scored a scooping layup attacking to his right. Second Half: He missed a rushed three on a two-for-one. He missed a wing three on a kickout.

Kelly -- -- Man, some bad passing to Bass. He fired one to his feet and then fired another over his head, both out of bounds. Bass had no chance. He did find him for a dunk on one for what it’s worth. The Stats: He scored 4 points on 2-2 shooting to go with 4 boards, 1 assist, 2 turnovers in 9 minutes. He was a -6. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: Diaw backed him down for an easy score. He pushed out a rebound and scored a layup. He fired a pass at Bass’s feet, turnover. He attacked and fed Bass for the score. He sank a baseline pull-up jumper. He threw a pass over Bass’s head this time.

Brown -- -- He got some very late garbage-time run and missed a long jumper. That was about it for him tonight. Good to see him on the active roster, though. Perhaps, a sign of Scott starting to think about the young guys. The Stats: He didn’t score on 0-1 shooting and had 1 foul in 5 minutes. He was a -1. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: He missed a long jumper at the top of the arc.

Sacre -- -- The only Lakers with a positive in the +/-. Some good effort on the offensive glass to help regain possessions. He and Hibbert tonight scored 6 points on 3-13 shooting. Not good. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-5 shooting (0-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 foul in 12 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: He ball-faked and missed the elbow jumper. He dunked off the screen-roll with Huertas. He took an offensive board away from Manu and hit Huertas for the layup. Second Half: Nick kicked it to him for a three at the end of the quarter and Sacre was like, nope, not taking it. Good challenge on Simmons on the dunk attempt at the buzzer to get a stop. He missed a short one off the two-man game. He airballed a baseline jumper. He missed a short one, but was fouled on the follow attempt, he missed both FTs, however.

Scott -- -- The Lakers kept it close in the first half… The Lakers had a 19-15 lead when the timeout came midway through the quarter. Russell with 7 points early, Kobe playing controlled… Russell, Kobe and Lou all connecting with consistency… Up 6 and Scott sends three players to the bench at once, Kobe, Russell and Nance for Huertas, Young and Randle with 2 minutes left… They lost the lead on a 12-0 run just trying to warm up… The Lakers trailed 31-27 after the first quarter… Sacre in for Hibbert, Lou still in… They are finally getting warmed up… Kobe in for Young just a couple minutes in… Tied up 36-36 when Russell came in for Lou… Hibbert in for Sacre… Kobe out for Young, down 5 with 3:38 left… Lakers down 7 when Nance sat for Randle… The Lakers trailed 51-49 at the half. Great half by Russell and Williams with 15 points each… The Lakers faded early with some poor offensive sequences… Down 11, he sat Nance for Randle at the 6-minute mark… Williams out for Huertas, Lakers down 15 with 5 minutes left… Lakers 1-11 shooting… Sacre in for Hibbert, Lakers down 13 with 2 minutes left. Young in for Kobe, as well (much better subs this time, getting both Randle and Huertas in a little earlier to get warmed up before bringing in the rest of the bench)… A 4-point trip down court for Nick and they cut it to 8… The Lakers trailed 79-71 heading into the fourth… He started the same unit with Lou back in while Russell rested… Kobe in for Young a minute and half in… Mills lighting up Huertas… The Lakers trailed by 16 when Scott called a timeout… Kelly in for Randle… Russell in for Huertas… We are just taking turns iso’ing right now… Bass in now to cover a 7-3 Boban. Young back in for Kobe… Brown in finally… The Lakers scored just 8 points of 13 Spurs turnovers. The Spurs had 26 points on 16 Laker turnovers...

[Omar Little]

Heyo

[Megaton]

Russell you stud you.
_________________
Darvin Scam: https://media.tenor.com/images/3c15249955860a4b16b59e8ae035fb75/tenor.gif

[JamezAmp]

Thanks DB

[OregonLakerGuy]

Thanks DB

[tox]

Only caught the 2nd half (boy I am like a bad luck charm on this team), and I really didn't like how Russell played in the 4th. I know he's coming off that Wolves performance (which incidentally I missed) where he took over, but he just seemed to be forcing things and playing really selfishly.

Happy to see him try to assert his presence on the game, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.

[H0B0]

THX DB. GO LAKERS

[A Mad Chinaman]

Great Job, DB

[TooMuchMajicBuss]

Thanks DB. Excellent recap as always.

[A Mad Chinaman]

Today's Lesson

Thou must limit thy TOs and have PFs/Cs that get rebounds while being legitimate threats on offense.

Hurerta was getting getting lit by Patty Mills (starting PG) when he was closely pressuring the ball once it past the half court time but was taken out by a high screen since the decision to not switch was made

On the Lakers post game program, an interesting comments made was that DLO and Randle together was placed on the 2nd team - seemingly to quicken and solidified their chemistry

Interesting that it is felt that high draft choices should be given their starting position without proving anything

[forzaCOREA]

I been out of the loop this year.. busy work schedule and all but I was able to catch the ending of last nights game.. is Tarik Black hurt or something? Has Sacre passed him up in the order? Tarik Black looked like an upcoming talent last year when I saw him.. oh well..

[DancingBarry]

[Lakers#1Team]

Thanks DB!