Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

I could buy Magic, Bird, mini-Bird, mini-Kareem, and mini-Cooper.

 

Also pretty crazy that we have 4 Brons out there: old Bron, white Bron, white mini Bron, and short bad Bron.

 

@KareemtheGreat33 pointed Ayton is more like Parrish. AR Comp is still Manu imo.

 

I've never liked the Manu comparison for AR. Manu was way more athletic and more of a natural playmaker that could also score, while AR is more of a pure scorer that is getting better and better as a playmaker. Manu is a pretty unique player tbh, I can't really think of another guy that has played like him.

One comp that I've seen and kind of like is a smaller Gordon Hayward. Started as a glue-guy, do everything offensive player and morphed into more of an on-ball creator. Maybe Dragic too. I really try to not only compare white guys to white guys lol but I really can't think of other good comps for Austin. Maybe Brunson, but Brunson is more methodical.

 

Manu was definitely more athletic but AR has always been a playmaker. I mean we've been complementing on his passing for years in his threa.

I like the comparison because they play a herky jerky style with finishes from weird angles and footwork that is unorthodox

 

I think AR's playmaking is similar to someone like Shai's. They can get the defense in rotation and then make the right pass to the open man. But then there are the Luka, Jokic, LeBron types that can create their own passing lanes through anticipation and frankly just more passing talent. I think Manu is closer to those guys than AR. He could hit those cross-court skip passes with velocity. I remember one where he was in the left corner and threw like a curved pass along the baseline to the other corner to Danny Green. AR physically cannot do that, guys like Jokic and Luka can. I think Manu was at that level as a passer but in his prime played within the confines of a plodding, 2000s post-oriented offense.

Anyways, Austin has become more than good enough as playmaker. But I'd still like to see LeBron in with him when Luka is off.

 

I still get the feeling this is a very nice offensive team, but for the playoffs, we'll need another defensive specialist like DFS that can help defend 3 to 5. LaRavia is pretty good, but he's just not that guy.

 

That was way closer than it should’ve been but a win is a win.

4 day rest seemed to have worked against us honestly as guys looked rusty. Defense was lackluster and LeBron looked like a guy who hasn’t played only played one game this season.

I’ll take it but we tried to give that one away several times but the Jazz are just that bad.

 

Ugly, ugly, ugly win.
I would like to see JJ draw more up in the way of player movement when Luka and AR can’t hit a three.
The fourth quarter was awful coaching.
Thank God Maxi was in for that dunk.
LeBron had some nice assists but missed all of his jumpers too.
I blame the four days off.

 

Not having Ayton at full strength he was sick supposedly and then put with knee contusion really messed up the Lakers game plan

Hope it's minor injury

 

It's tough the process was good at times Gabe, AR had great looks to ice the game

 

I didn’t love that closing group. Most of them haven’t really played with each other due to injury.

 

One of the many things I don’t like about playing Kleber or Rui or anyone besides Ayton/Hayes at the 5 is it encourages lazy offense IMO. Every possession down the stretch was just mismatch hunt, then iso.

 

We missed Ayton, his screen game has been excellent for us, the consistent board work and scoring are big too. I hope he's OK.

We shot 44% from the field, and 26% from 3 as a team, lost a key rotation player, and our big 3 were a combined 25/69 from the field, and 4/24 from deep. We stumbled a bit to close this one out, but we still won..on the road. I'll take it.

 

How do I embed a youtube video?

I used the embed button and it says you can embed a youtube video on it, yet it says I cannot embed that video here when I try????

 

I have found you cannot embed reels, but other videos are ok.

 

Gabe attempts his first shot of the game and hits a 3 with 3:33 left in the game to put the Lakers up 11, and then that trademark inability to step on a team's throat: Markkanen brings them back to w/in 1, then he misses the potential game-winner.

Team looked rusty (for good reason), Ayton's injury seemed to throw us off, and we were lucky to get out of Salt Lake with the win, 108-106.

Luka and AR a combined 4 for 20 from the arc, which usually...will not git it done.

Play of the game was in the first half, with 4:47 left in the 2nd Q: Luka picks off a pass in the backcourt, and on the break throws the ball between Kevin Love's moving legs (???), grabs the ball, drives up court and lobs to Hayes for a dunk. Ace Bailey had a put-back slam that was pretty spectacular too, but I have no idea how Luka - or anyone - has the confidence to throw the ball between a defender's legs to himself on a fast break. I have no idea how he pulled that off.

 

Pts differential has been the indication for a team’s strength, we have + 2.7 because of the inability to hold big leads