Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

You beat me by a minute just coming to post same thing but you’ve got the visual up.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/60...me-viewership-nba/?source=user_shared_articleLakers-Warriors Christmas thriller draws most viewers for NBA regular-season game in 5 years

Great day for AR and his family for him to be HIM

 

That last play was for LeBron

 

I get it, LeBron has been in tons of clutch situations before, but he no longer has the ability to drive by anyone and everyone anymore. It’s really easy to have a secondary defender step in front of his bully ball path, in order to cut him off.
LeBron’s no longer the best option, on this team, to get a look for himself, or for a teammate.

 

Bron and Rui are sick. AD is hobbled. We ain't getting the sweep against Sac Town

 

How did AD get hurt ? Walking to his car ?

 

Oh you’re a funny one.

 

Happy new yr homeslice

 

Next week. No AD bashing this week.

 

SIR YES SIR

 

At ease soldier and don't salute or call me sir! You trying to get me killed out here?

 

How so ?

 

Snipers

 

that literally won the game

 

AD totally outplayed Sabonis and also got him 5 fouls with 3 mins left in the 3rd. Lakers sweep SAC in season series and ruined Dog Crispy's first game as HC.

LAL 132
SAC 122

Got up 20, let 'em cut it to 6, then Max and AR put them out of their misery. Sweet to sweep.

AD monstrous: 36/15/8 on 12 of 16 from the field!

Imagine what he'd do w/o plantar fasciitis.

Lakers shootin' groovin': 59% from the field, 53.8% from 3, 26 of 33 FTs hit.

Lebron out with, feeling blah: AR steps up with 16 dimes.

Nothin' really to complain about. Rui was really good. I still think he's so damned cool.

Cavs are gonna be rough. They're so gooood this year. Seriously.

 

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/los-a...inst-kings-anthony-davis-with-mvp-performance

Grading Lakers Players After 132-122 Victory Against Kings: Anthony Davis With MVP Performance
Anthony Davis performed spectacularly as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the struggling Kings 132-122 on Saturday night.

• EDDIE BITAR
• UPDATED:
  7 HOURS AGO
  ORIGINAL:
  7 HOURS AGO

AUSTIN REAVES
RUI HACHIMURA
ANTHONY DAVIS
SACRAMENTO KINGS ARCHIVE
LOS ANGELES LAKERS ARCHIVE

• START CONVERSATION

Anthony Davis delivered a commanding performance with 36 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists to propel the Los Angeles Lakers to a 132-122 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night. The Lakers, playing without LeBron James due to illness, leaned on a balanced offensive effort to compensate for his absence.

Austin Reaves stepped up with 26 points and a career-high 16 assists, while Rui Hachimura added 21 points. Max Christie and Dalton Knecht contributed 16 and 18 points, respectively, off the bench.

The game marked the Kings' first under interim coach Doug Christie following the controversial firing of Mike Brown on Friday. De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 29 points and 12 assists, and DeMar DeRozan added 25 points. However, the Kings’ defensive struggles were evident as the Lakers frequently attacked the paint and earned 33 free-throw attempts.

Los Angeles broke the game open with a 12-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters, building a 20-point lead. Although Sacramento cut the deficit to 123-117 with less than four minutes remaining, clutch plays from Reaves and Christie helped the Lakers secure the win.

A pivotal moment came late in the third quarter when Domantas Sabonis picked up his fifth foul, forcing him to the bench as the Lakers capitalized by dominating inside. Sabonis eventually fouled out with 5:20 left in the game.

The victory improved the Lakers’ record to 2-1 without James this season, with Hachimura playing a key role in both wins, including a 23-point performance against Portland earlier this month. With an impressive victory that had the offense flowing on Saturday night, let's grade the Lakers players.

Anthony Davis: A+
Stats: 36 PTS, 15 REB, 8 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 12-16 FG, 1-1 3PT, 11-13 FT, +21, 39 MIN

Anthony Davis dominated in every aspect of the game, delivering 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting a phenomenal 12-of-16 from the field. He carried the Lakers in the absence of LeBron James, consistently exploiting the Kings' interior defense and earning 11 free throws. His ability to anchor both the offense and defense while maintaining a +21 plus/minus showcased his MVP-level impact.

Austin Reaves: A+
Stats: 26 PTS, 6 REB, 16 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 5 TO, 3 PF, 9-16 FG, 3-4 3PT, 5-8 FT, +15, 43 MIN

Austin Reaves had a career-best night, tallying 26 points and an impressive 16 assists. His playmaking was instrumental in orchestrating the Lakers’ offense, especially in the absence of James. He was efficient from the field, shooting 9-of-16, and delivered clutch plays late in the game to stave off a Kings' comeback. Reaves’ ability to handle extended minutes and pressure situations highlighted his growth as a primary playmaker.

Rui Hachimura: B+
Stats: 21 PTS, 4 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 7-11 FG, 4-5 3PT, 3-3 FT, -1, 34 MIN

Rui Hachimura provided a strong scoring spark with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. His efficient scoring and defensive presence, including 2 blocks, were key contributions. However, his -1 plus/minus suggests he was slightly less impactful during his minutes compared to his teammates.

Dalton Knecht: B+
Stats: 18 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 6-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 4-4 FT, +9, 33 MIN

Rookie Dalton Knecht impressed with his offense, scoring 18 points efficiently on 6-of-10 shooting. He provided a reliable offensive option and converted all four of his free-throw attempts. While his overall impact (+9) was positive, his contributions were limited to scoring, with only 2 rebounds and 1 assist.

Max Christie: B+
Stats: 16 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 5 PF, 5-8 FG, 3-5 3PT, 3-3 FT, -7, 32 MIN

Christie continued to impress with his energy and scoring efficiency, contributing 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3 triples. He added 2 steals and a block, showcasing his defensive potential. However, his 5 personal fouls limited his ability to stay on the floor and maximize his impact.

D'Angelo Russell: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 4-10 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 28 MIN

Russell had a quieter game offensively, scoring just 9 points on 4-of-10 shooting. While he contributed 4 assists, his lack of aggression and limited scoring output were underwhelming for a player of his caliber. His +4 plus/minus indicates he wasn’t detrimental but failed to leave a significant mark.

Cam Reddish: C
Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-2 FT, +4, 19 MIN

Reddish had a minimal impact, scoring just 2 points in 19 minutes. While he contributed a steal and 2 assists, he struggled to find his rhythm offensively, shooting 1-of-3 from the field. His +4 plus/minus suggests he was neutral in his time on the court.

Christian Koloko: N/A
Stats: 4 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 5 MIN

Koloko played just 5 minutes, logging 4 points on perfect shooting. While efficient in his limited time, his brief stint didn’t allow him to significantly influence the game.

Gabe Vincent: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +9, 7 MIN

Vincent also saw limited action, playing 7 minutes and recording no points. While he grabbed 1 rebound and posted a +9 plus/minus, his limited involvement makes it difficult to assess his performance comprehensively.

 

Well! There you have it! Le buzz kill has spoken! See y’all next yr

 

Context matters

 

…. and of course you seized the out of context few words only. LOL seeya if you’re that desperate to look for the negative while good news is happening? Smack him Claire.

 

Gonna be interesting to see how we activate AD offensively with the bench groups. DLo did a good job of getting him the ball.