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LAKERS TO WEAR NEW ‘BLUE’ JERSEYS TONIGHT!

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Iztok Franko: Game Preview: Game 9 vs Spurs

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No question Lakers need to start Marcus Smart and move Rui Hachimura to the bench to get better D with starters and better O with bench. Marcus’ performance last night sealed the change. Now it’s just up to JJ to understand the need for the change and to make it when we return to court.

Timing wise, how we lost two of the last three games should end any question whether the Laker need a blockbuster trade for an elite 3&D starting small forward and shot blocking defensive center. The combination of poor point of attack defense and poor rim protection cannot survive the playoffs. Time to see what a Mark Walter Lakers trade looks like.

Good to have the break right now. JJ can work Smart into the starting lineup and Rui into the bench lineups. Those stats for the Big Three that are negative are bothersome, especially since the stats for any 2 of the Lakers Big 3 on the court are elite. The harsh reality is the expected juggernaut when all three play has not emerged.

These games raise serious questions about the success of the Lakers Big Three. It’s a lot harder to cover for deficiencies of three star players when you only have two role playrers. Much easier to find three great role players to cover weaknesses of just two stars.

Mark Walter and his team are analytics true believers. JJ needs to figure out how to make the Big Three work, especially with a center who is not a great rim protector. That leaves you with just one and a half starters to upgrade the defense. Only thing we can do now is start Marcus for Rui to balance the O and D of the starters and bench until Rob pulls off a trade.

And it could get messy waiting another entire month for Herb Jones to become trade eligible.

Lakers Challenge Spurs For Second Best Team In West Tomorrow Night

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It may only be their 9th game of the season but the #3 Los Angeles Lakers face the #2 San Antonio Spurs tomorrow night at Crypto.Com Arena in a key head-to-head battle that will test their championship aspirations.

Redick’s decision to save Doncic and Reaves for tomorrow night’s big game against Wembanyama and the Spurs paid off huge as the undermanned Lakers once again rode their ‘next-man-up’ mentality to another upset win. Last night’s win means the Lakers head into tomorrow night’s big game against the Spurs with a healthy and rested Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves looking to win their 5th straight game and take over #2 seed in the West.

Last night was the third time in the eight games played that the Lakers turned a ‘scheduled injury loss’ into a win. They won last night without LeBron, Luka, and Austin and twice earlier without LeBron and Luka.
LeBron’s injury serendipitously opened the door for Luka’s and Austin’s breakout and gave the Lakers a championship blueprint where Doncic and Reaves on-ball attacks unleash James’ off-ball jack-of-all-trades magic.

Redick has the Lakers buying into his championship culture, playing championship basketball, and proving that playing hard is still the ultimate cheat code as almost every player on the roster is exceeding expectations.
And don’t forget the Lakers are still missing LeBron James, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and Adou Thiero plus have matching salary and draft capital to trade for a 3&D starting small forward and backup defensive center.

Were it not for the ‘play hard’ culture JJ got the team to buy into, the Lakers would be 3–5 right now, not 6–2 and seeking their sixth win in a row and #2 seed in the West. Lakers have now raised their ceiling to NBA champions.

Its impossible not to get excited!

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