Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

chicago's got trap game written all over it. hope we just take care of business...

 

Hayes, Smart and Kleber are out with LeBron still questionable.

 

Good win,

But yet another game where they could have given Thiero some minutes and JJ just doesn't do it even though Giddey was going off on folks. Smart out, Hayes out - try another defender man

 

Lakers jump out to a 14-7 lead, Bulls tie it up, Lakers go up 22, Bulls get back in it...or Lakers relax on D and let them back in. A bit of both.

Lakers go into halftime up 67-62, score 75 in the 2nd half to beat a pesky young CHI team 142-130.

Luka Doncic - that one who wears #77: 51/10/9 with 3 steals and a block. 51 in 37 mins.
AR: 13 for 20: 30 points.

Ayton: 10 for 13 from field: 23 and 10.

The defensive effort we've seen from the Lakers against the Knicks and Wolves recently was only seen when CHI cut the lead to single digits. This did not have the feel of a playoff game. Not even close. Why wear yourself out playing D when you know you can outscore these guys?

 

Luka and AR combine for 81

After the Bam fiasco is this a sign

Kobe still watching and sending a message

 

Rui

How do you play 40 minutes and only have 1 rebound?

You have to try hard to do this

Bizarre

 

I get it, but I think everyone needs to just accept Thiero isn't playing any meaningful minutes this season. Teams barely gameplan for individual games during the regular season, let alone make personnel adjustments mid game. JJ said it the other day - Thiero is a 2nd round rookie who missed all of the pre-draft process, all of the summer and then training camp with an injury. Then he came back, played a little bit and then got hurt again. It is entirely normal for someone of that description to not be playing. This is a redshirt year, he is not an NBA player right now.

 

Meh I get the rationale - I just think it's stupid and other coaches don't follow this methodologyI
It's particulary rich coming from JJ who decided in a make or break playoff game that he was going to play all 5 of his starters an entire half of a playoff game including a 40 yo.