SUNS -at- LAKERS – 3-18-16 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings
Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
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 Mar 18, 2016 9:59 pm    Post subject: SUNS -at- LAKERS – 3-18-16 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

Tank Battles… A meaningless game for the rest of the NBA. For the Lakers, the only thing that was on the line was lottery position and pride – and pride left the building sometime in November.

The second unit coughed up a double-digit lead early in the second quarter (sorry James Worthy, the starters did not handoff a big deficit to the second unit in this one). Meanwhile, the starters combined for just 15 points on 5-25 shooting in the first half. That put them down by 15 at the half to the Suns.

The Suns were able to plug the paint and sag off our non-shooters -- think Randle, Peace, Nance, whom we often ran with at least two on the floor with another bigman. This made life difficult for everyone.

“Our first unit is just not playing well, period. They’re going to have to figure it out.” Scott said. Awful coaching. Awful awareness of what is going on. He blamed it on the youth and said they didn’t trust each other.

It was no surprise that the Lakers made a run when they had just one of those three on the floor in the fourth quarter. Even though, they dug the Lakers in the hole in the first half, the second unit had space to work, and the Suns eventually showed enough of their soft side for the Lakers to key in on. Lou Williams sparked the offense, going off for 30 points, able to get into the paint and hit from the perimeter again and again. Huertas had room to work the two-man game and the Lakers chipped a once 19-point lead down to 1.

The Lakers had a chance to take the lead twice, but Ryan Kelly missed two FTs and was called for an offensive interference on plays in crunch time. They fell 95-90. Big loss in the tank column.



Clarkson -- -- Ugly chuckfest in the first half, shooting just 1-9, including five threes. Some were up against the shotclock, but others were open bricks. You could see the D collapse all over him on drives. The threes were just way off. That’s something he needs to continue to work on. No starter would score in double digits. Defensively, some poor moments of miscommunication or bad angles at times. He mentioned the communication issues on D. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 2-13 shooting (1-5 form three, 3-3 from the line) to go with 1 board, 2 assists, 1 turnover and no fouls in 25 minutes. He was a -14. The Action: Turnover on the perimeter on the first possession. He swished a wing three for the Lakers first points. He missed a three, not quite squared up. He missed a tough baseline jumper up against the shotclock. He missed a long three up against the shotclock. He missed an open corner three. He missed a layup on a drive. Horrible D giving up a layup on a poor angle and reach. He spotted Lou on a dive for a layup. He attacked, missed the layup, bounced back up and missed the follow attempt. He clanked a three in early offense. Quick attack on the catch down the middle of the lane and he drew FTs, he made both. He had 5 points on 1-9 shooting (1-5 from three). Second Half: He iso’d, attacked left down the lane and scored the And-1 layup, he made the FT. He attacked and no-looked to Russell cutting baseline for the reverse. He threw a pass away attacking the lane (Randle’s man just clogging the paint). He missed an elbow pull-up. He was blocked on a reverse.

Russell -- -- He led the starters with 9 points and 4 assists. A good job getting to the line. There was a moment early in the first half where a defender tried to challenge him with some physical D, so Russell just began backing him down and was fouled hard for his physical response. Still, I liked seeing that. He’s going to be a bigger handful the stronger he gets. Offensively, the lineups Russell was in were torpedoed with a lack of shooting. That made the spaces tight, plays going deep into the shotclock…welcome to having to deal with Metta/Randle in the lineup together. Worthy picked on Clarkson and Russell after the game for individual play. Maybe Clarkson, but Russell was moving the ball. It still wasn’t the main problem because Metta wasn’t running the sets properly and Randle’s man was sagging deep into the paint. Throw in Hibbert’s big immobile body and you’ve got issues before the game even starts. The Stats: He scored 9 points on 2-10 shooting (0-2 from three, 5-6 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 4 assists, 2 turnovers and 1 foul in 21 minutes. He was a -6. The Action: He missed a tough step-back jumper on the Lakers first shot of the game. He was called for an off-ball shove. He got bumped, attacked his man with some physicality and was fouled hard in return, he bounced up and made both FTs (love it). He missed a step-back three on the wing in transition, could have taken a little more time. He missed an elbow pull-up jumper. He set up Julius for the layup off the two-man game. He found Hibbert for the open jumper off the two-man game. He probed and banked in early offense next time down. He missed a pull-up wing three. He spun to get into the lane and missed the rushed floater. He couldn’t finish a layup after Price went for a steal. He had 4 points on 1-7 shooting and 4 assists. Second Half: He drew FTs on a foul from behind when he pulled up trying to create late in the shotclock, he made one. Nice baseline cut off ball, Clarkson found him and Russell reversed. Bad kickout right to a Sun, turnover. Way short on a FT line floater. He posted up and drew FTs, he made both. He ballwatched and got backdoored by his man. He missed a backhand layup in early offense, then got benched.

Randle -- -- He and Metta are a very bad combo offensively. It’s an easy game plan: Pack the paint and make life difficult on everyone. Just watch what Randle’s defender was doing this game. It was almost illegal how much he could sag and park in the middle of the paint without paying the price. This bottled things up inside for the guards. He’s obviously got to work on the jumper to not allow the D to cheat. It will take time. Randle said they need to not let the offensive end affect what they do on the defensive end. That seems to happen a bit with the young guys. The Stats: He scored 2 points on 1-9 shooting to go with 9 boards, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 26 minutes. He was a -8. The Action: He missed a wing jumper. He attacked on a busted sequence and missed the runner. He missed a layup attempt in traffic. He powered in a layup over a couple defenders off the two-man game. Wild up and under that didn’t hit rim. He missed a flat wing jumper, left open. He had 2 points on 1-6 shooting and 5 boards. Second Half: He didn’t keep an eye on the ball and gave up a layup when a pass was thrown over him. Way short on a perimeter jumper. He missed a layup trying to power over a man. He couldn’t finish a layup over the help. He threw a perimeter pass away.

Hibbert -- -- Barely an impact in the first half. He’s faded badly this season. He picked it up in the second half to make an appearance in the game. At the end of the night, the Lakers have their highest paid player in street clothes and their second highest in Roy barely imposing himself on the game. No return on investment translating to the floor on all that cash this season. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-2 shooting (2-2 from the line) to go with 8 boards, 1 steal, 1 block and 3 fouls in 18 minutes. He was a -3. The Action: He swished a 17-footer off the two-man game with Russell. Second Half: He swatted Chandler from behind. Good perimeter challenge on one end and he drew FTs on the rim run on the other end, he made both. He swished an 18-footer trailing the break.

World Peace -- -- He was messing up sets early on. The starters have zero chemistry with him on the floor and are pretty easy to guard when you can pack the paint and sag off Randle and Metta. For whatever reason, Nick Young is in the dog house. Perhaps, with this key loss, that changes a little. Who knows? I like in the postgame interviews, the question repeatedly asked, “What’s changed in the last few games?” The Stats: He scored 6 points on 2-6 shooting (1-4 from three, 1-2 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover and 2 fouls in 22 minutes. He was a -7. The Action: He missed a wing three behind a screen. He hopped into a wing foot-on-the-three-line jumper and swished. Second Half: He couldn’t finish a layup in the post. He drew FTs and made one. He lost a dribble in the backcourt. He sank a corner three on a kickout. He swiped a ball from behind his man. He missed an open wing three.

Williams -- -- He nearly had as many points as the entire starting lineup (30 vs. 31). He was on fire and credited Marcelo with helping set him up for a number of his makes as he got it going. Lou was the only guard to be able to score with consistency. Some of that was his ability to draw the whistle, of course. But he also sank a few threes, some of those going to his left and fading which are tough to cover. The Lakers D in the fourth quarter also allowed him for some early offense strikes changing ends and attacking before the D can get set. That’s what you’d like to see more of from the first unit, being able to have the D spark some of the O. The Stats: He scored 30 points on 10-17 shooting (4-9 from three, 6-6 form the line) to go with 3 boards, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover and 6 fouls in 29 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: He swished a wing three. He drew the reach-and-chuck foul, he made both FTs. He rejected a shot in the post. He chucked from three trying to draw a whistle that didn’t come. He missed a wing three. He cut from the wing and Clarkson found him for the layup. He hit a short floater in early offense. He led the Lakers with 9 points on 3-5 shooting in the first half. Second Half: He missed a three at the top of the arc. He swished a tough drifting sideline three off a handoff. He attacked from the wing and scored the layup. Quick attack in early offense before the D could set and he hit the And-1 floater, he made the FT. Huertas found him with a pass over the top of the D for the layup. He attacked next time down and rattled in the floater. He was blocked on a wing fade. He hit Nance for the open wing jumper. He baited Booker into a foul on a three, he made all three. He missed a baseline fade. He popped free and drained a wing three to cut it to 1. He kicked to Bass for the open jumper. Bad outlet in transition, turnover with 2 minutes left. He drained another wing three quickly next time down to make up for it. He missed a tough fading three. He missed a three, then had to take a foul shortly later with 7 seconds left and fouled out.

Nance -- -- “We had a bunch of good opportunities. It wasn’t our night,” Nance said. We ran him at SF a lot in the game, but not when we were making our run. I thought the reason the Nance-at-SF unit looked better in the last game was because of Sacre’s ability to knock down the open perimeter jumpers. We went with Black more in this one. Black doesn’t have that ability. Offensively, he at least looked more confident in taking the perimeter shot. No hesitation, anyway. He had a couple of clutch plays in crunch time, but he did miss a big shot on that play Kelly got called for the tip-in. The Stats: He scored 6 points on 3-8 shooting (0-1 from three) to go with 5 boards, 3 blocks, 2 turnovers and 4 fouls in 28 minutes. He was a +2. The Action: He missed a quick-fire wing three on an inbounds return pass. He missed a baseline jumper. He fumbled a pass away in the lane. He missed a jumphook. Second Half: He had to chuck up a wing heave up against the shotclock and bricked badly. Left open in transition and he dunked. He was called for a bogus illegal screen that erased a three. He rejected a layup under the hoop to ignite a break. He sank the open wing jumper off the two-man game with Lou. Another bogus foul, standing into to take a charge on Booker that was called a block. He grabbed a miss by Lou and quickly bounced up for the short one. He missed an open sideline jumper. Nice job blocking a layup with 1:18 left down 1 (reaching back after going straight up). He missed a short one in transition (Kelly interfered but I think it wasn’t going to go).

Bass -- -- Some Bass/Nance duo to close the game. The team is doing a much better job with those two on the floor in than earlier in the season when they were getting out-rebounded badly. (Give some credit to Kelly in this one for 9 defensive boards). There were still some possessions where they struggled to go one and out, but nowhere like the beginning of the year. One of the reasons you have the second unit closing is because they have Bass out there vs. Hibbert. He’s been so much more effective with his mobility and a surprising shotblocker. The Stats: He scored 10 points on 5-11 shooting to go with 6 boards (4 offensive), 1 block and 1 foul in 24 minutes. He had a +/- of 0. The Action: Huertas spotted him running the floor with a 50-foot pass over defenders and Bass scored the layup. He tipped a rebound to himself and scored the reverse. He backed his man down and missed the short jumphook. He missed a layup and follow tip after overpowering a man. He rejected a layup on help D. Second Half: He dunked off the two-man game with Huertas. He missed a tip in. He gathered a kickout and sank the wide open 16-footer. He dunked off the drive and dish from Huertas. He missed an FT jumper.

Huertas -- -- “We got our confidence back, especially on the defensive side,” Huertas said afterward. The Lakers had a 20-16 advantage on the break as they were able to change ends better in that second half (even Huertas had a steal he took the distance for a layup). A career-high 10 assists, some nice passes over the top of the D for layups (I think he had three of his assists on those). He was able to run the two-man game with space (unlike with the starters). Defensively, Scott had him on Booker for a few possessions in the first half and that was abused badly. Thankfully, they made a change there in the second half because that was a little too easy. The Stats: He scored 5 points on 2-5 shooting (0-1 from three, 1-1 from the line) to go with 3 boards, 10 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers and 1 foul in 21 minutes. He was a +4. The Action: Great 50-foot pass to Bass in stride for the layup. He over-passed on the two-man sequence and threw it away for an And-1 on the other end. Nice sideline out-of-bounds play to throw a pass over the D to Kelly for the catch and layup. He gave up an easy layup to Booker in the post. Not close on a runner. He got caught in the air and was called for the travel coming back down. More easy points for Booker in the post on the foul by Huertas. Second Half: He sank a tech FT. He spotted Nance open in transition for a dunk. Sweet feed over the top of the D next time down to Lou for the layup. He missed a wide open three. He jumped a passing lane on the D end and took the steal for a layup. He sank an open elbow pull-up working off the high screen. He worked off the screen and hit Bass for the slam. He missed a runner off the high screen. He tracked down the offensive board, attacked and hit Bass for a dunk.

Black -- -- Brief stint with one of those lineups that didn’t space the floor if I recall, so that plugged up the paint and Black had little impact. The Stats: He didn’t shoot or score and had 1 assist and 1 foul in 5 minutes. He was a -3. The Action: He did not play in the first half. Second Half: Nothing to report.

Kelly -- -- Kelly was in on some key plays in the tankathon. He had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth, but missed both FTs. He was then called for offensive interference on another chance to take the lead. Those were clutch for the tank side of things…painful if you were cheering for a win. The W was in his grasp tonight and it slipped away. Otherwise, he had some pretty good minutes, hitting the boards and scrapping on both ends. The Stats: He scored 8 points on 2-5 shooting (0-1 from three, 4-6 from the line) to go with 9 boards, 1 turnover and 1 foul in 21 minutes. He was a +1. The Action: He up-faked, moved in closer and rattled in the wing jumper. He sealed his man into an oncoming screen, then took the inbounds from Huertas for a layup. He missed an off-balance wing chuck trying to draw a whistle. He attacked, spun and bricked. Second Half: He missed an open corner three and then gave up an easy score on the other end. He missed an And-1 layup off a jumpstep, he made both FTs. He attacked from the wing to his right and drew FTs, he made both. He drew a charge in transition D. He was fouled on a loose ball on D and missed both FTs down 1 with 1:18 left. He was then called for offensive interference on a tip-in attempt shortly later, still down 1.

Scott -- -- Scott is trying to win games and is just an awful coach at times. Awful, awful, awful. Despite the challenges with the lineup being too young or too old, it has some major obstacles coming from the coaching side. If the front office can’t see that this offseason, then the Lakers have some serious problems… Man, the spacing was bad tonight. The poor perimeter shooting lineups made it easy for the Suns to sag and take away drives… Off to a slow start with the offensive execution floundering with Metta out there. Lots of shots up against the shotclock early on. The Lakers trailed 11-5 on 1-10 shooting when the timeout came midway through the quarter… He sat Clarkson and Metta for Nance and Lou… They came back to trail 16-14 when the timeout came… With 2:30 left, Huertas, Kelly and Bass in for Russell, Randle and Hibbert… The Lakers trailed 26-22 after the first quarter… He started a Bass, Nance, Kelly, Williams, Huertas lineup… Huertas defending Booker, yikes, easy post scores… He sat Huertas for Clarkson shortly after that with 3 minutes into the second quarter… The lead grew to 10 points and Scott called a timeout… Randle in for Kelly… Russell back in for Lou midway through the quarter, down 12… Nance out for Metta, Lakers down 14… The Lakers trailed 47-32 at the half. Awful 10-point second quarter… A little energy out of Russell and Clarkson and they forced a timeout, down 9… Down 16, he sat Russell for Lou midway through the quarter… Down 16, he went with Bass, Nance, Metta, Lou and Huertas with 3 minutes left… Kelly in for Metta… The Lakers trailed 68-54 heading into the fourth… Bass, Nance, Kelly, Williams, Huertas to start… They cut it to 8 behind Lou’s offense… The Lakers trailed by 10 when the timeout came midway through the quarter… They trimmed it to 4 and forced a timeout… They had a chance to go up twice, but Kelly missed two FTs and was called for an offensive interference… Down 3 with 30 seconds left, he called a timeout. Lou couldn’t connect on a three… Another timeout down 5 with 15 seconds left…
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: Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:00 pm    Post subject:

Thanks DB.
It was ugly all right
_________________
“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
Shaber
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 12 Mar 2006
Posts: 3731
Location: The other side

PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:15 pm    Post subject:

Ugly, ugly, ugly.



I was all against when Lakers signed Metta. Then I was so happpy when he had a good start of the season. Please prove me wrong. And he did not. So sad.


How can any coach be such an idiot when it comes to rotations?

Can't wait for the season to end.
_________________
.

Lakers depth chart

PG Johnson / Goodrich
SG Bryant / West / Scott
SF Baylor / Worthy / Cooper
PF Mikkelsen / Hairston / McAdoo / Gasol
C Chamberlain / Abdul-Jabbar / O'Neal / Mikan
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
PLATNUM
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 17 Dec 2002
Posts: 7111
Location: L.A.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:20 pm    Post subject:

Laker games used to be so fun. Seems like such a long time ago.
_________________
"Dread it, run from it... destiny arrives all the same."
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
MFF0RD8
Starting Rotation
Starting Rotation


Joined: 15 Apr 2008
Posts: 309
Location: Los Angeles

PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:30 pm    Post subject:

so much wrong. i can't see why any free agent would want to come to LA after kobe retires unless byron is gone.

one more game for us 4/3 vs. celtics. the way kobe's been referencing the 2010 finals as the most fulfilling one, he's got to play that day, right?
_________________
Final moments 2010 NBA Finals Game 7:


"I don't know if we'd won this game without these fans. Thank you!" - Phil Jackson after Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, 6/17/10
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Reply with quote
mhan00
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 13 Apr 2001
Posts: 32025

PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:34 pm    Post subject:

So what, exactly, has Tracy Murray done to improve Randle's shot?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message ICQ Number Reply with quote
City_Dawg
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 14 Jul 2006
Posts: 46878
Location: Coming soon and striking at your borders.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 11:06 pm    Post subject:

mhan00 wrote:
So what, exactly, has Tracy Murray done to improve Randle's shot?


Thats a project for the offseason.

Thanks DB. Were almost there fam.
_________________
*sighs*

!...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Laker's Fan
Franchise Player
Franchise Player


Joined: 27 Jun 2002
Posts: 12812

PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 11:46 pm    Post subject:

I think the players are in some way playing to limit the chances Byron returns, especially when Bryant isn't out there. As soon as the talk started surfacing that he could be back, the effort took a conspicuous nosedive.
_________________
Austin Reaves keeps his game tight, like Kobe Bryant on game night.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
MJST
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 06 Jul 2014
Posts: 26085

PostPosted: Fri Mar 18, 2016 11:54 pm    Post subject:

What's changed? Metta is starting instead of Young.

Change that and the defense can't guard the 3,4,5 so easily.
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 Mar 18, 2016 11:56 pm    Post subject:

City_Dawg wrote:
mhan00 wrote:
So what, exactly, has Tracy Murray done to improve Randle's shot?
Thats a project for the offseason.

Thanks DB. Were almost there fam.
One cannot improve one's skills during the season.

Funny that the second team was much more effective in the second half than the starters running the same offensive sets

Kudos to Bass and Huertsas for providing energy and effectiveness.

Read an interesting story regarding transition defense. The dialogue on NBATV talked about how most of the shots are being taken by DLO and JC, then after their shots - they are crashing boards and not getting them resulting in nobody stopping the ball on the opposing team's fast breaks. Their funny comments was to have the bigs just start running to the opposing team's side and forgetting about getting offensive rebounds.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
fiendishoc
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 8488
Location: The (real) short corner

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 12:33 am    Post subject:

A Mad Chinaman wrote:
City_Dawg wrote:
mhan00 wrote:
So what, exactly, has Tracy Murray done to improve Randle's shot?
Thats a project for the offseason.

Thanks DB. Were almost there fam.
One cannot improve one's skills during the season.

Funny that the second team was much more effective in the second half than the starters running the same offensive sets

Kudos to Bass and Huertsas for providing energy and effectiveness.

Read an interesting story regarding transition defense. The dialogue on NBATV talked about how most of the shots are being taken by DLO and JC, then after their shots - they are crashing boards and not getting them resulting in nobody stopping the ball on the opposing team's fast breaks. Their funny comments was to have the bigs just start running to the opposing team's side and forgetting about getting offensive rebounds.


The bench is not running the same offensive sets as the starters. The starters are playing two guys who have no business getting major minutes anymore. And it's safe to say that offensive sets are kind of irrelevant to someone like Lou who was 9-12 on contested shots and 1-5 on uncontested ones.

You know who was running the same offense sets as the starters? Phoenix. You know the team thats also a mismatch of inexperienced and old players, a roster wracked by injuries, and who fired the majority of their coaching staff. And they looked 100x smoother running the same sets while our players had five guys pointing in different directions while the shot clock is running down. Just a terrible terrible job by Byron and his staff.

Regarding transition defense and the guards crashing. This was a problem we talked about during summer league and they still have not done anything about it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
KeepItRealOrElse
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 11 Oct 2012
Posts: 32767

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 1:05 am    Post subject:

Funny how you mentioned DB, that Randle's man sags off him so much that it's almost illegal Lol - i thought the same thing - his man could have been called for defensive 3 seconds if the ref wanted to be a jerk. Randle was at 20feet and his man had a foot below the FT line.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
fiendishoc
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 23 Jun 2005
Posts: 8488
Location: The (real) short corner

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 1:11 am    Post subject:

KeepItRealOrElse wrote:
Funny how you mentioned DB, that Randle's man sags off him so much that it's almost illegal Lol - i thought the same thing - his man could have been called for defensive 3 seconds if the ref wanted to be a jerk. Randle was at 20feet and his man had a foot below the FT line.


It's hilarious that on the 45 double ball screen, Byron has Randle pop and Hibbert roll.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
KeepItRealOrElse
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 11 Oct 2012
Posts: 32767

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 1:37 am    Post subject:

fiendishoc wrote:
KeepItRealOrElse wrote:
Funny how you mentioned DB, that Randle's man sags off him so much that it's almost illegal Lol - i thought the same thing - his man could have been called for defensive 3 seconds if the ref wanted to be a jerk. Randle was at 20feet and his man had a foot below the FT line.


It's hilarious that on the 45 double ball screen, Byron has Randle pop and Hibbert roll.


it makes the play impossible to succeed. our guards have to ignore Randle on the backside, and the paint is clogged cuz Randle's defender is sagging so much. play's doomed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
angrypuppy
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 13 Apr 2001
Posts: 32730

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:53 am    Post subject: Re: SUNS -at- LAKERS – 3-18-16 - Thoughts and :-(( Ratings

DancingBarry wrote:
Tank Battles… A meaningless game for the rest of the NBA. For the Lakers, the only thing that was on the line was lottery position and pride – and pride left the building sometime in November.





Excellent opening line, DB. That was truly Jim Murray-esque.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
angrypuppy
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 13 Apr 2001
Posts: 32730

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:56 am    Post subject:

Laker's Fan wrote:
I think the players are in some way playing to limit the chances Byron returns, especially when Bryant isn't out there. As soon as the talk started surfacing that he could be back, the effort took a conspicuous nosedive.



When fans first opined on that theory, I thought it was hogwash. Now I'm beginning to wonder if there is a grain of truth in it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
LakerEric
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 7193
Location: Vegas

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:57 am    Post subject:

I cannot STAND Lou Williams!! I hate him as much as Byron Scott!!!
_________________
Do you believe it now, Trinity? - Morpheous
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
LakerEric
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 7193
Location: Vegas

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:58 am    Post subject:

Laker's Fan wrote:
I think the players are in some way playing to limit the chances Byron returns, especially when Bryant isn't out there. As soon as the talk started surfacing that he could be back, the effort took a conspicuous nosedive.


I hope it's true!!
_________________
Do you believe it now, Trinity? - Morpheous
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
LakerEric
Star Player
Star Player


Joined: 03 May 2002
Posts: 7193
Location: Vegas

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 5:00 am    Post subject:


_________________
Do you believe it now, Trinity? - Morpheous
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 Mar 19, 2016 7:50 am    Post subject:

You know you are an awful team when MWP is your starting SF.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
DancingBarry
Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief


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

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 8:09 am    Post subject:

KeepItRealOrElse wrote:
fiendishoc wrote:
KeepItRealOrElse wrote:
Funny how you mentioned DB, that Randle's man sags off him so much that it's almost illegal Lol - i thought the same thing - his man could have been called for defensive 3 seconds if the ref wanted to be a jerk. Randle was at 20feet and his man had a foot below the FT line.


It's hilarious that on the 45 double ball screen, Byron has Randle pop and Hibbert roll.


it makes the play impossible to succeed. our guards have to ignore Randle on the backside, and the paint is clogged cuz Randle's defender is sagging so much. play's doomed.


Yep. It's pure idiocy at times. Your watching the X's and O's of these games going WTH? Roy's imobility destroys plays on its own. It has all season. Put Randle in positions that require him not to space the floor or the D can just essentially zone up and again destroy the play. He needs to be on the move after setting screens properly (hello, can we coach this more?) Make him stand there on the perimeter on a play and your set is in trouble, especially if when he gets the ball we just sent Roy and someone else to clog the paint.

Then throw in Metta out there who is mucking things up, not running the sets properly at times (this is a vet, people, and we blame the young guys) and then even when he does it's a bit of a joke of futility. I swear watching him come to the top of the arc off the pin down on the motion weak made my cry a little inside. What's he going to do when he gets the ball? You don't have to stay in his jersey on D. The set is doomed on its first series of cuts and screens. And now you've got our guys having to iso or scramble yet again against the shotclock.
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: Sat Mar 19, 2016 9:11 am    Post subject:

Thanks DB. There was an ever-so-brief moment this season where the Lakers actually looked like a team with a promising young core. Good enough to even get some respect from analysts. DLO and Clarkson were playing great ball, ball movement was actually there, Randle was starting to actually set picks and roll, and we were starting to beat a few teams now and then, including the mighty GSW. When he let Russell and Clarkson loose so they could play together in a motion offense we started looking competitive. Almost good enough to perhaps allow a free agent to think there's some merit to coming here.

Ever since Lou Williams returned and Scott inserted MWP of all players into the starting lineup, this team is absolutely unwatchable. We all knew Metta was poison to any semblance of an organized offense 4 years ago. It's also painfully obvious that Hibbert is a glacier out there. And even after Scott kills all team momentum with his latest lineup changes, Scott blames the rookies - that's outright trolling the Laker fan base and organization. How can he possibly not know?

I can't picture ANY free agent wanting to come to LA until Scott's gone. Even then, the sales pitch is going to be a very tough sell - highlighting the 5 or so games where Scott didn't actively intervene to kill anything that started working well.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
Dylandogg
Starting Rotation
Starting Rotation


Joined: 13 Apr 2001
Posts: 680

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:04 am    Post subject:

I only saw 2 'effective' off the ball screens in the second half. All the others were half-hearted attempts that did not impede the movement of the opposing player in any way whatsoever. And those 2 effective screens were both set by MWP.
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 Mar 19, 2016 10:18 am    Post subject:

thanx DB
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Reply with quote
KeepItRealOrElse
Retired Number
Retired Number


Joined: 11 Oct 2012
Posts: 32767

PostPosted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:31 am    Post subject:

DancingBarry wrote:
KeepItRealOrElse wrote:
fiendishoc wrote:
KeepItRealOrElse wrote:
Funny how you mentioned DB, that Randle's man sags off him so much that it's almost illegal Lol - i thought the same thing - his man could have been called for defensive 3 seconds if the ref wanted to be a jerk. Randle was at 20feet and his man had a foot below the FT line.


It's hilarious that on the 45 double ball screen, Byron has Randle pop and Hibbert roll.


it makes the play impossible to succeed. our guards have to ignore Randle on the backside, and the paint is clogged cuz Randle's defender is sagging so much. play's doomed.


Yep. It's pure idiocy at times. Your watching the X's and O's of these games going WTH? Roy's imobility destroys plays on its own. It has all season. Put Randle in positions that require him not to space the floor or the D can just essentially zone up and again destroy the play. He needs to be on the move after setting screens properly (hello, can we coach this more?) Make him stand there on the perimeter on a play and your set is in trouble, especially if when he gets the ball we just sent Roy and someone else to clog the paint.

Then throw in Metta out there who is mucking things up, not running the sets properly at times (this is a vet, people, and we blame the young guys) and then even when he does it's a bit of a joke of futility. I swear watching him come to the top of the arc off the pin down on the motion weak made my cry a little inside. What's he going to do when he gets the ball? You don't have to stay in his jersey on D. The set is doomed on its first series of cuts and screens. And now you've got our guys having to iso or scramble yet again against the shotclock.


yes yes and yes. There's a chance Randle could be completely non detrimental and decent, right now - if we ran motion weak well, and he set screens well - only if we had a good coach. Randle wouldn't be so frustrating at all. Can't wait to see our capable penetrators attacking on the move.

It's so inexcusable for MWP to come in and mess up sets.
I think he's been coping with not playing, oddly (as expected, right). He gleefully claps as the players walk off the court after losses, like he's almost jumping up and down happily. It's really weird. He said before the season that he wasn't sure if he wanted to be on a team (presumably because he wasn't sure if he wanted to go through a season not playing) , and he's been dealing with it in his own ways. The Lakers hoped Metta would be an adult, mentor figure for this team - and maybe he has, but, you can never count on Metta to be an adult. Maybe he has really helped the guys mentally, but, he's gotta not be a detriment to them on the court.
Putting KFT-Kobe, Metta, and Lou in Scott's hands has proven to be a risky move by the front office - too risky with these youngters, you want them to grow absolutely optimally.
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
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2
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