Unlike their original run: this is the an area the Lakers can exploit. In the past they had a bunch of two way guys in Klay, Iggy, Livingston, Durant, even Draymond outside of Curry who was awesome on both ends. Now this team seems more one sided: Poole, Curry, Klay at various levels are awesome on offense but generally suck on defense. GP2, Draymond, Looney, while having some nice facets on offense really are not floor spacers. Wiggins is the only really solid two way guy. Divencencio seems about average on both sides. Add in the collective age, I think it will be interesting to see how the Lakers will fair on defense. They have the individual defenders to bother the Laker's two biggest starts but this Lakers team is far better on the perimeter than I think people realize because somehow the Lakers beating Memphis was them not having Adams and not the Lakers overcoming JJJ who was a ridiculous rim protector. Lakers can stay in their base defensive personnel and attack the rim like crazy which they weren't able to do in the past. Throw in outside of Lebron, this Lakers team is actually younger than the Warriors, the Lakers despite a hobbled Lebron are being discounted way too much here. The Lakers blew out a good offensive and defensive team in Memphis and the Warriors barely got by the Kings (barnes missed 3, generational game from Curry). Feel like people are using the past with GS and what they think they are versus what the team are actually been doing since the All star break. The Lakers have 3 guards who attack off the dribble like the Kings did but a much better frontcourt in terms of skills, size, and athleticism than the Kings. Yeah Fox is better than the 3 Lakers guards but I watched Monk all of last year - Dlo, Reaves, DS can certainly match he was able to do in terms of attacking the paint.
only caveat for me is that gs struggled most when they didn't have wiggins or green. but they have everyone now, so i think they're a little better than what the bulk of the data suggest. just like we're not a typical 43-win team. we're a 55-win team now. gs with wiggins is the defending champion, almost fully intact.
Yeah they had the #1 defense last year with GP and Wiggins so pretty fair to make them the favorites. I just wasn't impressed with them in the Kings series all that much and the Lakers have pretty similar ability to what Kings could do best (monk, fox attacking off the dribble) and none of the weaknesses of Sac (Lakers are much bigger, athletic upfront).
He will definitely be on Vando. Wiggins will be on Lebron. Curry will need to defend Russell or Reaves.
Klay pretty consistently has the team's best +/- when he plays. He's a very solid team defender even if injuries have affected his man defense. Definitely an underrated glue guy on that team. Even if he isn't scoring big they can win. But to have a guy that can go red hot and you don't need him to is a huge luxury.
I would say, underestimate Klay at your own peril. He has lost a step for sure, but he had one to spare in the first place. He can still have a dominant game if you disrespect him!!
Klay avg 36 minutes a game and 21 pts against Sacramento. He's not to be considered, as some kind of afterthought here. He and Wiggins are going to be a challenge for Austin, on both ends of the floor. That's okay, they are higher level players. I think he can hold his own on defense, but the ball security on offense, is where he really needs to be solid against those two guys.
Klay on offense you definitely can't underestimate and he's the second-leading scorer. On defense though I think he's regressed though. Even on offense, the drives to the basket just aren't as frequent. Interestingly The Lakers have much more balanced scoring vs the very top heavy Warriors.
It's like he didn't know he was allowed to shoot until DLO started raining buckets in the 3rd. I know it's a tough task, but he has to stick to Klay better on D. Can't give him separation.
not shut down but AR clearly cannot hang with klay and those 3 O reb he gave up to wiggins were bad too
He was bad in the 1st half nad settled down in the 3rd. Solid defense as usual Need to draw up some plays for him when GS has poole out there or the zone is up. AR needs to get super aggressive when Poole is out there. Crush him
Do you not realize how big and athletic Wiggins is? Expecting AR to outrebound him, or even to box him out consistenly is crazy.
Klay stopped making some of these ridiculous shots: AR was fine on defense. The only problem I had with his game is he needed to be more aggressive like Dlo in attacking the rim. Shoot more AR
He needs to win a game by himself because the Warriors will adjust and let Reaves, DLo, Dennis and Hachimura beat them.
