How can the Lakers hide IT on defense?

mookielala · Star Player Joined: 29 Jul 2012 Posts: 3026

I'm no expert, but it seems obvious we can't switch all the time like we do when IT is out there. He can only (barely) defend small guards. Even then, he's going to look tiny.

dao · Star Player Joined: 02 Jan 2013 Posts: 5572

I'd rather see our young core getting those touches and minutes tbh.

FreakofNature · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:11 pm Post subject:

If only he could be at least average on defense......He is so very tiny!

CHRISTYLE70 · Star Player Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 3113

Play zone for stretches when hes on the floor to disrupt the repeated attacking of him by picks.

Jesusdelonla · Franchise Player Joined: 24 Jan 2018 Posts: 15430

ITs life as a lakers should be remaining games & thats it

FreakofNature · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:12 pm Post subject:

pio2u · Retired Number Joined: 26 Dec 2012 Posts: 54573

Either way we need better rim protection. We also need to develop Zubac more for the rest of the season until we can do better.

lakez34 · Star Player Joined: 24 Apr 2001 Posts: 6077

Definitely need more rim protection.

Treble Clef · Franchise Player Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 23903

I think it's just a coincidence that the other team shot well in his first game. There have been about 5 games like this throughout the year where the other team simply made their shots.

MJST · Retired Number Joined: 06 Jul 2014 Posts: 26318

You keep him as a 6th man
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adkindo · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:24 pm Post subject:

if we waive him, he will not longer be a problem on defense

adkindo · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:26 pm Post subject:

rdxxx · Rookie Joined: 08 Nov 2017 Posts: 11

"Sure his offense is nice"..

His offense is above average, it's not nice. I'm sick of people calling IT a great offensive player. James Harden is a great offensive player, he can score 30 by playing on any nba team. In today's nba you can't touch anyone, so IT can basically just run behind screens and shoot open 3 point shots.

Even worse though, his offense doesn't help or fit within the flow of the Laker team, he makes them worst on both ends.

But but he can score 20 ++!! This is nonsense.

lakez34 · Star Player Joined: 24 Apr 2001 Posts: 6077

Practice · Star Player Joined: 14 Apr 2015 Posts: 4551

FreakofNature · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:32 pm Post subject:

He is tiny....

MJST · Retired Number Joined: 06 Jul 2014 Posts: 26318

SocalDevin · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:08 pm Post subject:

I was really interested in hearing what you guys would come up with when I saw this forum topic.. I was actually stumped watching the game as to how they could minimize his defensive deficiency..

So far..

Use him as a sixth man..

Implement Boston's defensive scheme..

Anything else?

Omar Little · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:28 pm Post subject:

He’s five eight. Just stand in front of him and voila.
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adkindo · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:42 pm Post subject:

DancingBarry · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:49 pm Post subject:

It will be tough.

You can't switch with him. That's a last resort.

You have to have a big plugging the paint so that you can give up the midrange or protect the rim. So if that's Lopez, then you hope Lopez isn't going up against a guy like Dirk who is a knock down three shooter at the C spot when he's out there.

If you don't have Lopez out there, then you should probably be more aggressive trapping off the screens. Or you hope you can find players that allow IT to go under screens.

Ice the screens whenever you can. IT was expecting that a couple times tonight and we weren't, so those were straight line drives.

You've got to always stick him on the small guys out there or any non-threat players.

If he's not tagging the roll man, then sit him.

Occasional zone to mix things up and get teams out of their comfort zone. Especially off deadballs/timeouts. Got to be more unpredictable.

Bring in DFish to teach him how to fall down and draw charges. He should have picked this up from Marcus Smart.

Voodoo.

I'm tapped...

SocalDevin · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:52 pm Post subject:

Goldenwest · Star Player Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 2801

Keep him on guys like barea. Barea can’t be more than a couple inches taller than Thomas. Also we had tye lue on the roster once, he did ok in certain matchups, like on AI. Bring Thomas off the bench and play matchups, I’m sure (hope) the coach will figure it out.

jonnybravo · Retired Number Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 30680