Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

He's going to earn it Wednesday. I want DS picking Curry up full court and then as soon as he crosses halfcourt, you blitz/trap him with a dose of KCP, AC, and then Wes if needed. No McLemore in this one.

 

Watch tape of the Toronto series. They wore him out when Klay and KD were hurt. Yes, Poole can hit open shots, Wiggins too, but we have to pick our poison.

Again, I think the key is Draymond. Have AD and Drum battle him in the post, KCP and Dennis and Alex sell fouls on his moving screens, when he runs out to contest a 3 put a dribble down and draw the foul, and then have Trez attack him. Get him in early foul trouble and that helps limit Steph immensely.

 

That seriously, after all the injuries and games missed by our two horses and key role players ..... blows my mind.

 

hell yes. and vogel needs some credit. we all wish we could be better offensively, but the team and organization has committed on the defensive end. that's a good philosophy.

i like watching good defense as much as good offense, too. i know i'm in the minority, but seeing a third or fourth rotation lead to a shot clock violation is pretty awesome.

 

AC and KCP are just winning players. They both come out and go balls out on defense, fill the lanes on the fastbreak, and just get into the right spots on offense.
Just the opposite of guys like Drummond and Schroeder who get by on physical talent but then get exposed to playoff caliber defenses.

That GS defense was tough: credit to Kerr and Draymond

 

Two bits of optimism from this play in. From a selfish perspective, I love that this team offered a thriller in the play-in as a low seed. I'm sure they never wanted to play it, but that game was electric and a real treat to watch.

From the team perspective, this might be a boon the Lakers needed to find some chemistry between all these new pieces. What other contender has essentially had an elimination game (or half the urgency of one) to use as a tune-up game for the playoffs? This game is one to grow on. They look good.

 

gs scorched from three, and we still won. and a lot of that was because we limited their attempts. they shot 5 fewer than normal when i'm guessing their hope was too shoot a few more than normal.

we also got into the right bracket. maybe i'll kick myself for jinxing it, but i'd much rather go phx/den or dal then utah/por or lac in the first two rounds. gives us the best chance to round into form by the conference finals.

 

right; i'm still not bullish, but this is the best we could hope for given how the season had gone so far.

 

Hey, for those that have been back in Staples since opened up again partially, what’s the vibe and energy and crowd noise like from such a limited and spread out audience? What are they doing with row of private suites .... every other one or what?

We’re finally back with these playoffs, somewhat, to home and away crowds.

 

Of course. Was curious about the crowd level noise ambience with low capacity ( granted if we were getting our butts kicked not much to cheer about) and if you could see how much of the private suites were occupied?

 

And we all know how the Slips pucker up in Game 7s.

But I’m still torn. I always get uncharacteristically giddy whenever the slips lose, always, but I really really want to face them, even if it takes them finally beating their boogie man, and reaching their promised land of the WCF.

 

They always play us too tough for me to “want” to see them. Would much rather mock them and be giddy like @IE Lakers if they flame out again early prior to meeting us.

 

With the injuries to our stars we’re trying to get past, having 4 1/2 days between game s 2 and 3 doesn’t suck.