I thought we were putting our best foot forward but just weren't getting results until we got back into shape. The professionalism across the current squad means we actually got better over time whereas the other teams who had some hot form earlier in the bubble are already in Cancun.
I know he's not a Rodman when it comes to rebounding, but come on AD. 2 rebounds?! Neither coming till midway through the 4th. I get he might not be in position for offensive rebounds because he's not under the rim, but only 2 boards from the best big on the floor won't cut it. Anything less than a double double won't get it done.
Hope his ankle is ok. Good sign that he was able to play but it didnt look like a tweak. Might compromise him for a few games.
With how he got going in that first, hitting his first 7. thought he was going for 45. Not complaining about 34 on 15 shots and 14 FTs. Much more aggressive. Needs to keep it up. Got to get after the rebounds though. It was fine when Dwight was in the gobbling everything up, but after that?... Hopefully all those injuries he had during then game are OK when the adrenaline stops pumping.
In two games, AD has played 84 minutes and only logged 7 rebounds. I can't hate on him too much because he's been very good offensively but he definitely needs to be dominating the glass. I also can't remember the last time he blocked a shot. Seems like he was blocking 3-4 shots every game and now, he's barely getting any of them. AD has a positive +/- in every game this series. I hope we can close it out the next game and get him so much needed rest. We will need him to destroy Bam.
I don't give a damn if AD is not rebounding so much as previously... so long as he is beasting on offence, and our other dudes are getting boards.
The one issue for him is that despite him probably seeing a million of these thru the years he does not handle double teams very well. Particularly the hard double when he starts dribbling from that mid post area where he is unguardable one on one. He played PG, he's got obvious height and length but he's just slow and decisive when that hard double hits. You could see how the hard double made him go from offensive focal point in the first quarter to being more of a finisher than a creator. The fact he can't be the initiator then is another reason why that packed paint Denver defense continues to cause the Lakers problems
yeah, it's basically the only hole in his game. doubles can take him out. he'll eventually figure out how to beat them. it doesn't help that our team has been such a bad shooting team all year that paint-packing is a sensible strategy for any opponent, though.
Tough crow for A.D . We would be down 3-1 if it wasn't for his incredible shooting and scoring in this series .
AD came out red hot and we needed every bit of that 7 for his first 7 as he carried us in that first quarter. Rock solid game by him though I also would like to see him grab more boards. But regardless he was essential and helped get that third win with 10 of 15 shooting and hitting almost all of his free throws.
He's a great player (just like guys like Pipper, Worthy, Wade/bosh, etc) but you can totally see why a guy like him who does so many things so well and make it look effortless at the same has trouble at times. You throw the hard double on him and suddenly it's hard to run your offense thru him as the initiator. He's probably the best finisher in the game right now in terms of inside/outside ability but hes' not like a guy like Duncan who would do a better job holding his position against the double and then quick pass to the open cutter
He needs to rebound better but also understand that he's guarding primarily perimeter guys this series - even JOkic likes to roam out there...so he's not close to the basket to ge tthose rebounds like usual. and as I say that...jus realized houston was our opponent last round...lol \ AD DID start reboudning when it mattered in the 4th...so I'll take it. But please rebound more. It will win us this series!
Individual rebounders don't bother me UNLESS the team is getting killed on the glass. For example: Brook Lopez is not a great individual rebounder but because he's huge and knows how to box out, the team consistently outrebounds opponents when he's in the game. The Dwight/AD combo on the glass was dominant and I'm hoping that continues. The attention AD gets allows Dwight to just feast on one on one rebounding oppurtunities
AD is 26. He is 2 years away from PRIME PRIME for star players. He has something to work on during the off season. Work on the double team defense and work on any weakness until you win MVP.