Lebron is running the point, Schroeder has to hit the open jumper and attack the paint off the dribble. That's why we brought him here, not to run the team at the point instead of Lebron. AD had all the shots he wanted, he just missed most of them. The jumper has always been AD'S preferred shot, he didn't get as many lobs or put back dunks this season because he had lower leg issues. It is hard to be explosive dealing with that. I could see Gasol playing more than Montrez in tonight. To give him a look, but Drummond isn't going anywhere in the rotation. Davis has put up some of his biggest scoring games of the season playing with Drummond, including the 42 point game he had in the previous game against Phoenix. The biggest issue I see with Drummond, Gasol and Harrell, is actually due to Vogel's defensive strategy. He requires the 5 to come out of the post to show past the free throw line on the pick and roll action. It's the same as last season. Just like last season, teams take advantage of everyone not named Anthony Davis with that. Yeah they did it to Dwight and Javale too. Most bigs get caught worrying about sagging back into the post on that action. This gives the guards clean looks at the basket. If they try to press up more on the guard, we get punished by cutters to the post. This was usually why Javale or Dwight got pulled when they played. It's the same thing going on with the guys we have now. It's not some fatal flaw, because Davis is going to be at the 5 more than anyone else.Davis at the 5 is so effective because he is unique defensively. He has the ability to show on the pick and roll, while still being able to get back to contest shots in the paint. His defensive instincts are excellent, coupled with his length, he is able to contest the jumper from the guards, while still sagging just enough to deal with cutters. That's why he is a superstar caliber player, it's not just his offensive game. If Davis hits his shots, this is an easy series, we are still a bad matchup for Phoenix. As bad as he played, and as many good looks from three that we missed, it was still a close game. Phoenix did nothing special on defense in that game. They might not win another game.
no lebron in that game. i think AD sometimes looks to lebron to take the lead, which is understandable. team also went 13-30 from three, which probably wins us game 1 (and opens up the floor for AD to work as well).
Good win, Suns will be a tough out. Theres a lot we need to tighten up but there's a lot to like in game 2. We were more engaged defensively which I liked. What I didn't like was that we were too passive offensively. Even if you're cold you shoot that open shot.
It may be our toughest series to go to the Finals the way the other side of the bracket is going . DO NOT RELAX in Game 3
This’ll be everyone’s first Laker playoff game in front of the home crowd at Staples. The place is gonna be electric. Bring that energy and keep the foot on the gas. Do not let up. Win the series and rest up.
Anyone see Bridges talking smack to Bron after the game? Right before Bron was interviewed. Bridges walked to the tunnel and said something to Bron like “one lucky game.” Talk about bulletin material... He and Booker are way too cocky.
yes, they did have one of those. man, if we make any threes, they won't even be in it. they better hope we stay cold for the entirety. and bridges better hope lebron's ankle doesn't improve, because he'll walk his skinny a** under the basket and feast.
I don’t know where the tweet is but this will be the first playoff game that Bron, AD or any Lakers has played in Staples Center wearing the purple and gold.
Anyone read anything about what % capacity Staples will be for our home games against Phoenix? Is 1st round 2-3-2 or are they all now 2-2-1-1-1? Hope we can get up to at least 1/2 capacity this round and it goes up from there. LeBron without that most untimely ankle injury and then re-tweak .... we’d be dominating these guys. Of course CP2 injured too on contact with his own player that didn’t even look all that severe.
Here’s an article with all the NBA teams capacity. The Lakers had 33% capacity for the GSW play in game at 6,022. The Clippers had 6,117 for game 1 and 6,885 for game 2. I read somewhere the Lakers are bumping the number of fans up to 6,600 for game 3.The Suns had 11,824 for game 1 and will be up to 16,000 for game 5. https://www.nba.com/news/where-nba-teams-stand-on-in-arena-attendance
Bridges, Booker, Crowder (especially), and CP2 like to talk. Paul is the only one who can back it up with actual meaningful basketball.
