Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

Lake Show: 103
Cowbell Crew: 99

In SAC, two days after we beat them in the same arena. Whoa! It's Opposite Year when it comes to us and the Kings. Last year, as you all recall, was dire. Only one more against these guys, in LA, one week from tonight, and then we're done with these guys until we sweep them in the playoffs in May.

Just kidding: Excremento won't even make the playoffs!

Lakers up 3-0 now in the season series against SAC in one of the most thrilling games of the year. Felt like a damned PLAYOFF game.

There were moments in this one when I would've stolen the Xanax straight from your mom's purse if she turned her head, and I knew she had some, or knew your mom.

Neither team could hit from outside. Our starters were 4/22 from deep; theirs were 7/24. D-Lo hit 3 of 'em off the bench; Fox was 3/5 for the Cowpies.

In 2 games over 72 hours in Cow-Town, Gabe was 6 for 8 from downtown against Skankramento.

What went Right: We continue to play a little thing called DEFENSE. And it makes all the difference. It's everything.

What went Wrong: Up 10 late, there were some mental lapses - esp. on D and a couple of stagnant offensive trips - that allowed SAC to think they might steal it from us.

AD: 10/15/5 with 3 blocks, and he activated my PTSD from the late-game loss against ORL when he couldn't hit FTs to ice it. Rui - who started off the game hot and then cooled - tapped AD's second miss back to AD, who - in the wisest move he could've made - dumped it to AR, 'cuz he knew SAC needed to foul. And AD does NOT have the Mamba Mentality when it comes to FTs in crunch. Austin DOES have it. And thus, we won.

AD, after the game:
“And my wife even called me and said ‘Rui saved you.’ So … that made me feel like worse. ‘Whose side you on?’ But at the end of the day, Rui got the tip out, AR knocked two down and we were able to get a victory.” (source)

Sabonis went 19/19 and, to me, the AD-Sabonis matchup is getting pretty dramatic. Any hardcore NBA fan should tune in to these games if only to watch THAT.

You saw it: this was intense. Is this team continuing to play DEFENSE? It's starting to look like it, and therefore, thanks, Santa: an early xmas gift that I had wished for. I'd make a Mall Santa crude sexual innuendo joke, but I'm too euphoric over this win.

 

Love the win, but can we stop jacking threes all night when they aren’t going in?
I thought for sure we were going to choke it after losing that 8 point lead.
Anyway, game ball to Rui for that tap out to seal the win!

 

Wins are great! Nothing to complain about when you win. Keep it up boys!

 

The defense has really picked up, love to see it. I think the offense will come. Good game by DLo, we need him.

Just like what JJ did in terms of building this team's competitiveness. This game was extremely physical and we didn't budge. The players are playing with demeaning and wins start to come more regularly.

It starts with AD and Bron. They are the igniters. But then it's up to DLo, Rui and Reaves to match it. When they do, Bron and AD can sustain it longer because they don't have to do it all. Then, from Max, Cam and Gabe we have to get it every game. Hustle, defense and grit. It's not a contender group, but is top6 as we envisioned. And we are missing Vando.

Knecht fell out of the rotation because of this. We are playing with much more aggression and toughness. He'll eventually grow his physicality and bring a different gear to our offense. I think this can be good to his growth

 

The defense has really picked up, love to see it. I think the offense will come. Good game by DLo, we need him.

Just like what JJ did in terms of building this team's competitiveness. This game was extremely physical and we didn't budge. The players are playing with demeaning and wins start to come more regularly.

It starts with AD and Bron. They are the igniters. But then it's up to DLo, Rui and Reaves to match it. When they do, Bron and AD can sustain it longer because they don't have to do it all. Then, from Max, Cam and Gabe we have to get it every game. Hustle, defense and grit. It's not a contender group, but is top6 as we envisioned. And we are missing Vando.

Knecht fell out of the rotation because of this. We are playing with much more aggression and toughness. He'll eventually grow his physicality and bring a different gear to our offense. I think this can be good to his growth

 

Yeah I wish we played the Queens every day ! We be 82-0 JJ is building up hell of a resume thanks to the Sacramento Queens