Optimism Discussion: The Laker's Sky Is Not Falling

While the win against the Wolves might be considered one of those "lucky" wins, I'm not so sure. I saw some keys in that game that are things which could easily translate over time.

1. Russell/Randle growing chemistry: Their connection in the pick and roll is growing in leaps and bounds. Not only is Randle setting far, far more effective screens than he was a month or two ago, but Russell is finding the right angles to pass to Randle where it puts Randle in positions to succeed. More than that, the two of them are getting really good at fake screens and flares where Russell will step back behind the line and Randle fires a pass to him for a good look. There's also the ones where Russell fakes a cut towards the rim and instead comes back to a direct hand off behind a giant Randle screen for an open three. That chemistry has really been cooking the last few games especially.

2. I saw attention to detail down the stretch! Box outs from Russell! Defensive rotations from Randle! I mean honestly it was incredible in that overtime stretch seeing the effort on display. There was a play where Randle's little Trump sized hands fumbled a ball out of bounds, but boy was he and Russell working hard to close that game. It was great to see.

3. There was a read made late in the game where the offense was sort of stuck. Randle had the ball at the three point line and the ball was stopped. Russell tried to come get it but couldn't so he cut towards the rim. Clarkson read the cut and relocated to the three point line where he took a wide open three. What a play! That's the sort of easy looks and cuts this offense was built to provide! It only took 70 games for them to learn the importance of cutting with purpose!

 

Some very faint silver linings?

Last season: 17-65
This season: 22-55
Minimum Improvement +5 wins

Last season PPG: 97.3 (30th)
This season: 104.7 (16th)
Improvement: +7.4

Now, you might suggest that that increase is the result of a Pace increase. It may be.

Last season Pace: 95.6 (18th)
This season: 98.5 (6th)
Change: +2.9

But then you have to look at this:
Last season PPG Allowed: 106.9 (27th)
This season: 113.7 (30th)
Change: -6.7

So, even adjusted for Pace, we've still improved by about 0.7 points per game. It ain't much, but it is what it is.

BTW, since the ASB, our differential is:
-13.7 through games 59-64
-13.0 through games 65-71
-6.2 through games 71-77

Mind you: none of these are good, but, as I've suggested, it might be a very faint silver lining. Are we getting better?

 

Shouldn't be for us either, mind you. We need some upgrades - and I think we can do it. But we might have to give to make significant improvements.

 

I think it's easier than we make it out to be. I really think that JR, JC, and Houston's 1st gets us Paul George. And he stays. That probably pushes us to 31-32 wins. I've outlined the rest of my suggestions. Landing a quality stretch 4 is easy enough. Moving Mozgov is a bit harder, but if we keep the 1, that's how I move him. Finances would be in good shape, and we'd be a playoff team.

 

I really don't know where else to post this. The Magic ACCIDENTALLY posted their trade targets on twitter. If you look closely you'll see Tobias Harris, Markeiff Morris, and... LUOL DENG!!!

Also there's a potential trade near the bottom where they'll trade Aaron Gordon for Dario Saric. I'm sure Aaron Gordon's people will love that leak.

But more importantly there's at least ONE team that is maybe interested in trading for Deng. It's a miracle!

 

Deng is actually fairly high on the list too! Right after Thaddeus Young. Sort of an interesting actually...