Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

Yeah. I agree. I’m honestly not worried about the team which is a nice feeling to have again. Not sure how far we will actually get this season but we have a clear direction and a good roster that the front office believes in and is willing to build around.

I honestly feel like everyone should be pretty content right now. We seem to be truly turning the corner and most of our gambles are working out.

 

I really like that about Luka, he's a smiling assassin. But he wants to rip your throat out when playing.

 

AMAZING team effort!!!!

But we need another serviceable center to stand a chance in the playoffs. Jemison is horrible/too many boneheaded plays, as is Len

 

Knecht replaced AR’s production

another game we FAFO’d but it’s fine

 

It's really tough to beat a team playing over .500 ball, twice, back to back. Like really tough.

We did it with Kawhi going off for 33/10. We did it missing our 3rd and 4th starters in AR and Rui and another rotational piece in Goodwin. We did it with Lebron having a poor game. But most of all we did it to the damn clippers. And as a result, now we're #2 in the west.

It kind of hit me during the game. Both Lebron and Luka have had to carry their teams for the last number of years offensively with some positive contributions from a secondary ball handler in Reaves and Kyrie. But when push came to shove, they had to create offence for 30-40 mins a game.

It must feel so much easier only having to do half of that and it must be a huge relief knowing if you're off, you got a top 10 playmaker of all time to take up the slack. There was one moment where Luka checked out in the 3rd a little tired and his replacement was Lebron James. That must be so demoralising for a team, thinking; "Ok, now we can try to make a run." Only to have the other guy, come in and step on your neck even harder.

If we can stay healthy, it's going to take something special to knock us out of the playoffs.

 

Both Bron and Luka should get in the post at times .. They're too big to always operate this far from the basket

 

Lakers, missing AR and Rui, still jumped out to a 15-4 lead and that new Slovenian guy's shot looked way better. Lakers play Clips for 2nd time in 3 days, at the Crypt, and win yet again, 108-102. We're 18-4 over our last 22, now in 2nd in the West, and I hardly know how to act on this sudden turnaround. I mean...remember that game in MIA where we just stopped playing/didn't care and Herro had 7 3s in one quarter? It was effing dismal. That feels like years ago now.

What went Right: Basically everything. Despite two key guys hurt, we still beat Ballmer's team. Again. And Kawhi in 40 mins had 33/10. Not enough.
With AR and Rui out, it would have helped if a shooter stepped up. DK did: 19 points in 25 mins, 5 for 8 from 3 (it's November again!), 2 steals. Great game from the kid.

What went Wrong: Hold on...lemme dig and try to find something...Ah! Okay: with 2:20 left in the 3rd, we're up 86-66. Luka takes a breather. Clips go on a 22-7 run. Not sure if it had a lot to do with Luka being out (it had to have some effect), but...that's all I got. We won.

102 points allowed: that's our limit to other teams lately. DFS/Vando/Gabe...everybody plays D!

Luka did a lot of talking to Clips's bench and at one point punked them by joining their huddle on the sidelines.

As I wrote: I'm not sure how to react to how good we're playing after being in such disarray earlier this year. Clearly, it's a different team. Not just in personnel but in mindset.

Coming up: Zion/CJ and Pels come in for what could be a tough game to get up for mentally. Then: Knicks. Then: the road and Bags/Nets/Bucks/Nugs.

We need AR and Rui healthy. And: all this winning is kinda crazy, eh?

 

Having two A+ playmakers is hard for any team to deal with. I didn't think we were really going to be better than we were when AD was healthy but replacing him with a playmaker who is a volume scorer has been a major improvement. Count me as impressed and fairly shocked.

 

The rightful order of things has been fully restored. We have another group of guys who take these kinds of games seriously and I love it.

 

Also love to see guys rushing back to play against the Lakers only for their team to still get packed up and sent home with a loss.

More please....

 

Yeah, it's insane. A really huge advantage, unmatched in the league right now. Bron is still a top10 player, it's crazy.

I can only see a very special OKC team eliminating us. If they beat us, it's because they are legit title contenders (assuming full health from both sides). It's the only team capable of stopping us from the Finals, as of right now, but they'll need to earn it.
Can't wait for the postseason

 

I'm not saying we're going to beat OKC, but I do like how Bron matches up with them. I also question their ability to generate offense. If they want to get in a foul merchant free throw contest with SGA, I counter that with the same from Luka and AR. *Can't rely on the refs to give Bron a consistent fair whistle.

Luka also beat them last year. So there's that.

 

Yeah, I was very confident against them last year, they couldn't handle AD. Now it's a different proposition, we are different and they got perfect role players on Caruso and Hartenstein. Which makes me less confident.
But as we are playing right now, I don't fear them. Our team is playing amazing basketball and we can only get better. Teams will start to find ways to counter us, but we do have an head start that we should be able to capitalize this year

 

Glass half full: it's encouraging that they get high double digit leads on all these teams.
Glass half empty: Discouraging that these leads all dwindle away

Probably many reasons for this. AR/Rui got hurt, defensive effort taking away the legs from guys like Lebron, Luka getting into shape, Luka and the team getting used to each other, JJ not really calling any offensive plays while Luka gets adjusted.

That being said, the Lakers do seem pretty much in control in all these games. In other words they do look like the better team not just one whose getting inordinately lucky with clutch time possessions. Once AR comes back will be disappointed if can't convert some of these leads to true blowouts particularly with how tough the schedule is going to get

 

eh, one thing we're seeing is that we play with more urgency when we're a quart low. started when AD went out before the trade. wish we could bottle it for when we're full strength, but i won't trust that until i see it.

second thing is that building 20 point leads in some of these upcoming games will be unlikely.

i still think that if we play this level of defense every night, we have a chance against anyone. if you're a top defense and employ lebron OR luka, you're a contender.

 

We were at full strength against Denver and started and finished that game with ferocious intensity. I honestly think we’ll be fine.

The last few games (barring the last one), Luka wasn’t firing and it was his minutes where we let the other team back in. The last game Lebron had a terrible outing.

When they both fire in the first three quarters, I believe we’ll blow teams out more regularly.