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Buba Touray wrote a new post
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Tom, I truly appreciate the kind words — means a lot coming from you. And you’re spot‑on about how this game played out. Detroit didn’t just show up; they came at us like a team with something to prove. In a weird way, that’s the ultimate compliment. When every opponent treats you like their Super Bowl, it tells you exactly where you stand in this league.
And man, that second‑half fight was everything. Luka had that dagger look in his eyes on that late possession — nine times out of ten he buries that shot and we’re all celebrating. But credit to the Pistons for making every inch a battle. Like you said, they were tougher than the Spurs, and that’s saying something.
I loved your point about the young guys too. Jake finally seeing one drop felt like a weight lifting off the whole bench. And Adou getting real minutes? That’s how you build a playoff‑ready roster — not just stars, but a second unit that’s confident, tested, and ready when their number is called. Kleber’s return was another quiet but important boost. And Hayes and Ayton holding down the center spot the way they did… that’s the kind of depth that wins you games in April and May.
What I keep coming back to is this: even on nights where the rhythm is off, the legs are heavy, or the shots aren’t falling, this team still shows you something real. They compete. They adjust. They refuse to fold. That’s not luck — that’s identity.
If we keep stacking performances like this, even in tough losses, the rest of the league is going to have a real problem on their hands. Winning out the season isn’t just a dream — it’s a statement waiting to be made.
Here’s to the Lakers finishing strong.
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Can’t take their foot off the gas. Three tanking teams are next on schedule. Run them out of the gym and rest the Big Three in fourth quarters. Just don’t take foot off gas.
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Buba Touray wrote a new post
Dennis Rodman never needed to score to change a game. His value lived in the grit, the relentlessness, the way he turned defense and hustle into momentum. That same spirit is exactly what Jarred Vanderbilt brings to this Lakers team. He may not light up the scoreboard, but on defense he is pure chaos — a disruptor, a tone‑setter, a modern‑day Rodman in purple and gold.
And right now, the Lakers are playing like a team that finally understands who they are. Nine straight wins. Nine. A month ago, they looked lost. Today, they look like a problem — the kind of team nobody wants to see in a seven‑game series. This is the version of the Lakers LeBron James has been waiting for, the version he’s fought to keep alive.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future… but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.” That partnership, that trust, that shared belief — it’s showing on the court.
And Luka Doncic? He made his expectations clear from day one. He didn’t come to Los Angeles to wait around. He came to win. As CBS Sports’ Jasmyn Wimbish wrote, Luka told Pelinka and Redick last May that he wasn’t interested in a slow rebuild. He wanted a contender now — and the Lakers are finally playing like one.
But here’s the twist: one of the most important pieces for a deep playoff run hasn’t even been unleashed yet.
Jarred Vanderbilt.
JJ Redick has tightened the rotation, and it’s worked beautifully. But as Tyler Watts pointed out, the playoffs demand more. More bodies. More energy. More defensive versatility. And that’s where Vanderbilt becomes essential. He’s the kind of defender who can swing a series — the guy you throw at elite scorers when everything is on the line.
The Lakers’ defense is already strong, but adding Vanderbilt back into the mix could elevate it from “dangerous” to “elite.” Every contender needs that one player who doesn’t care about touches, who just wants to wreck the other team’s rhythm. Vanderbilt is that guy.
And what makes it even better? He’s stayed locked in. No complaints. No ego. Just work. Just commitment. Just a player who understands that when his number is called, he has the power to change everything.
If Redick gives him that chance in the playoffs — and he should — Vanderbilt will be ready. Ready to defend. Ready to disrupt. Ready to make winning plays that don’t show up in the box score but echo through a series.
This Lakers team is rising at the perfect time. And Jarred Vanderbilt might be the spark that pushes them from “contender” to “nightmare matchup.”
The fire is already burning. Vanderbilt can make it roar.
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Great post, Buba. Loved how we fought back in the second half. Luka missed that shot that would have sealed win. Great close by the Pistons. I thought they were the toughest team we have faced, even tougher than Spurs.
I also loved how Jake finally hit a three and Adou finally got a chance to get his feet wet in a real game. Good to see Kleber return. Hayes and Ayton did a fine job at center. Team still showed they are for real. Let’s win out the season.