Game Debrief: What Went Right And What Went Wrong?

26/28 FTs, 93%. 13 turnovers. Won. DK got some burn. Trey got some burn.

Lakers have 5 games remaining, and if they lose even just a couple, they can possibly be in the play-in. Insane how close it is in the west year after year.

 

On yet another BTB the Lakers beat hapless Pels 124-108.

Pels won the 1st Q and a lot of us were bracing for a dismal loss, 'cuz tired. Even though Pels had already shut down CJ and Zion for the season.

Then we came out and blitzed the 2nd Q, winning it by 14.

3rd Q: even, and the Lakers took a 9 pt lead into the 4th. Lakers outscored NO by 7. When AR dished to Bron for a dunk with 4:09 left we were up 15.

Luka shot much better than he had the last 2 games: in 36 mins: 35/6/6. Hit 4 of 10 3s. Hit all 11 FTs.

Our A.Reaves was way better than their A. Reeves and won the game. AR balled out again: 6 for 9 from the suburbs, 30/3/7 with a steal. 8 for 13 shooting.

Memorable play: Lakers up 112-99, Pels miss a shot and there's a scramble for the board, it gets tipped out and AR grabs it for a break, is met by the defensive player around midcourt, evades him by dribbling behind his back, then hooks a lob to a streaking Lebron James from the arc for a dunk. Brought down the house, Showtime-style:


Pels were w/o their top 5 guys. Lakers looked like they were playing to conserve energy. Understandably. They did enough to beat New Orleans one day after a rough loss to GSW.

Can we get one of the two in OKC? I mean...I don't see it. Wanna be surprised. Maybe OKC dogs it mentally after running away with the West by, what? Jan 10th? HOU dealt OKC their 13th loss of the season tonight, winning by 11, even though Chet hit a buncha 3s.

 

I called my wife in to look at that replay of AR to Lebron. Great play. It is nice to see my wife get excited for good Laker plays.

 

She's a keeper

 

This team is coasting when the Dubbs, directly behind us aren’t.

 

Dubs got healthy at the same time as their trade, and their trade didn’t disrupt their system as much.

they were desperate and made a good short term move that I don’t think will matter/forestall the inevitable.

we’ve been patient and are in a good position long and short term.

I’ll add that I’m bummed about how we look right now; just keeping perspective.

 

Just tuned in. Did OKC rest their starters?

 

No. We put them to rest.

 

Well looks like if DFS and Gabe hits shots they can beat anyone, if they don't they can lose to anyone
I don't know why anyone would want to to play this Lakers team though - hard to go against a team that has 3 guys who can outplay the MVP of league on any single game decisively

 

Great game

 

Statement mother f***ing win against "the best team in the West." JJ, Luka and Bron all had a point to make today.

You could tell me this was the most 3s the Lakers have made in franchise history and I wouldn't fact check you. We buried them in the first half with a barrage of 3s.

But if you do want to get into some facts. We did put up our season high of 22 threes. We did put up a season high 78 (tie) in the first half. We did shoot 64% in the first half and 68% from 3 in that half against the top rated defense in the league

If you want to see Luka highlights from this one, here you go


Zero grift allowed by SGA. 0 FTAs.

Great coaching. Great rotations. Had everyone bought in, playing high level basketball on both ends nearly the entire game. Some lazy flat passes, Jax had a bumpy defensive road early, Rui got at least 3 death stares from Bron. But to complain in this one you're really really having to dig deep.

 

Heavy D did work.
Skinny Soften's foul baiting failed.
You love to see it.

 

Lakers won every quarter
OKC - KFC - UFC...Lakers in 5!

 

Keep these kinds of wins coming guys

 

When DFS and Gabe score double digits we’re not losing.

 

Shai took 0 free throws today.

His first game with 0 free throws since 2021.

 

Lakers play their defensive game, box out, move the ball, and shoot the effing lights out against the best team in the league, who had their core guys healthy and trying. This is the benchmark game against which all further games the Lakers play this season: we can't EXPECT them to play anyone this well, but if we play even close to how well we played this game?...we got a chance, ladies 'n germs.

Word!

Lakers: 126
OKC: 99

Luka made up for his lousy game against GSW here. 11 for 20, 30/7/6 with 2 steals.

At one point in the 1st half we were 10 for 12 from the 'burbs. Couple that with tight D and even the team with 64 wins so far can't compete. 22 of 40 from deep for Lakers. Enjoy it, 'cuz it's a freak. Not likely to hit 20 3s again this season, much less 15 in a half (Today: an all-time Laker record?). It's the defense you live with, live for. I do.

Everyone who guarded SGA deserves to take a bow. 12 for 23, 26 pts in 30 mins of play, and his offense is crazy good. But ZERO trips to the line for SGA. You never thought you'd see that. Never.

I had the misfortune of being out of the LA area so had to watch the OKC feed. Their PBP guy is pretty good, but their color dude, Michael Cage, is insufferable. Early in the 1st Q, Jalen Williams is in the paint and D F-S went for the ball, got him in the upper chest: foul: trip to the line. J-Will wasn't really complaining. No one seemed to be worked up over the play...except Cage, who wondered why it wasn't being reviewed as a flagrant, and that D F-S was "dispensing Biblical justice." Later, when J-Will mugged Vando under the basket and it was called a flagrant he was mystified, "I don't see a foul there," and went back to the 1st Q play in which D F-S used a "karate chop to the throat" on J-Will. It was like this all game.

Luka and Lebron close in on SGA for a contest, SGA misses at the rim, Cage pulls his favorite "My goodness!" Meaning: the refs are in the Lakers' pocket! He tells us Luka has the gall to act like HE got hit in the face! Camera cuts to Luka having a cut on his face attended to. Etc, etc, etc. Michael Cage is a whiny dip****! (But nowheres near the crying whiny über-homer horribleness that is GSW's play-by-play guy, Bob Fitzgerald.)

OKC is really really good, very young, well-coached, they're 64-14 now, and that small market dipshittery is to be expected. After it looked like OKC couldn't make a comeback, we were all reminded how many wins they have this year, how they're gonna get another crack at this Doncic-Lebron-led team on Tue night...about 15 times.

Here's the thing: I thought OKC's defense was really great.I mean: wow. Speechless.

I admit it: I was nervous with 9:02 left in the 2nd Q: Lebron puts up a 28 footer by the sideline and I said, "Noooo...yes!" as it hit nuthin' but net. Up 20, timeout OKC. Why? It was too good, ya know? And OKC can come back.

When I realized this is our day and NOT OKC's: Chet comes out to contest Luka on a 3, it still went in: 73-44 Lakers with 2:44 left in the 2nd Q. I thought: better play a good 3rd Q!

We won the 3rd by 4 and only allowed 21 pts. Took a 26 point lead into the 4th! DAMN! this is quality play by the Lakers!

I don't expect a win Tue night, but I will say this - and this is just me - last night when I went to bed I thought, "If we win tomorrow there's no way, no matter what happens the rest of the regular season, that we're in the play-in." Statistically, we can still drop into the play-in. But a game like this makes every guy on the team realize what they're capable of as a team if they just play all-out DEFENSE! I think the chemistry for this team is finally starting to gel.

Favorite play: Luka has Caruso on him, gets by him and into the paint, is met by a help defender, who fouls him, Luka puts up a high spinning shot that drops through for the and-one. Classic Luka "circus shot."

Okay, another one (of about 43): OKC looks like they could make a quick run and get back in this game, but our contests are too good, our rebounding, boxing out are too good, and Luka ends up with the board on a missed OKC shot, hits Lebron on the break. Lebron dishes to Gabe in the corner. It's a high pass and OKC's defender is closing in on him. Gabe doesn't bring the ball back down but just puts it up after catching it high: swish! Dagger! 101-74 Lakers. Time for the hicks to go back to the sticks.

Okay, just one more and I'm outta here: Luka down low, draws a heavy coverage. He dishes behind his head to Gabe when D F-S is setting a screen for Gabe? Gabe hits the 3: this, my friends, is sheer wizardry! Screw it: it's not wizardry: it's sorcery! It's breath-taking, and almost sorta scary, ya know? You wonder, after seeing a guy make this sort of pass...did he sell his soul to Beelzebub or sumpin' like dat?:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIHmTAESKsn/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

 

Not all that without the grift, eh?

 

BEAT DOWN.
Focus was there from the tip off.
Yeah, we were on fire from three, but our defensive intensity was top notch.

 

What was our biggest win of the season? The one in Denver on 02/22 when we beat them by 23 on the road, or this one?!

Just an incredible win.

LeBron had a pep in his step, the way he was moving, getting lift on his shots, that steal and jam was nice.

Luka made some amazing shots (that we know are normal for him), and he shot well overall.

Austin shot well, continues to be very consistent.

As others have said, Gabe and Dodo chipped in. When they do, it seems like they put our offense into another dimension.

Vando defense was stellar.

Their focus, effort, intensity, attention to detail were an absolute sight to see. It’s why I expect so much from them bc I know they can play like this when they want to.

Nothing bad to say from me, just all positives, DO IT AGAIN TUES!!! MOAR