Most teams are past the 1/4 pole mark, including the Lakers, so instead of a 5 Things about the awful game between the Lilliputians, er, Lakers and Cavs I thought I’d go into what’s worked and what hasn’t as we head towards the halfway point of the NBA season. Let’s dig right in.

1. The defense…for the most part. Given the guys on the team, the offense it needs to protect and the way we played last season (giving up late leads, unable to stop penetration and sieving paint points, etc.) this is a total turnaround. We’re 14th in defensive efficiency, 25th in steals (not the be-all-end-all of defensive stats), 10th in blocked shots (neither is this of the utmost importance but nice), and 26th in opponent points in the paint. All of that shows improvement if not a level of elite that we would hope to see with guys like AD and Patrick Beverley playing big minutes. This has as much to do with who is committed to defense and who isn’t at this point in the season. I would list the following players as highly committed: AD, PatBev, Reaves, and Wenyan Gabriel. Committed: Russ, Bryant, Lonnie Walker 4, Schroder, and Troy Brown Jr. Indifferent: Nunn, James, D-Jones. The last one of those (Jones) has been a disappointment in pretty much every facet of the game. While I can understand why LeBron is playing defense the way he is on this team it really isn’t going to work. He needs to be more present and at least do things like close out on the only wide open shooter on his side of the floor. Nunn…just gotta go, no hope for him on this team. Don’t know what the deal is there but Kendrick might have earned the distinction of worst MLE signing ever, at least for the Lakers.
2. Anthony Davis at the center position. Took some time, several hints dropped via the media he’d really, really, really like to play at the 4 but AD has decided to be the best center he can be. Turns out he’s pretty good at it. Fewer jumpers, more offensive rebounds and points at the rim and you have a recipe for the kind of success that is both sustainable and something the team can build on. We don’t need to get into the specific numbers of how much AD is dominating because the true measure is that he’s being discussed for the loftiest NBA awards: MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. If he wins either/both of those it would mean we won a lot more games than predicted, that he elevated the team around him and not just putting up gaudy stats in a vacuum, and that we actually made the playoffs and not the playin.
3. Russell Westbrook off the bench. Despite everything the Lakers and Russ have found a way to coexist and be productive together. While the trade market is the dominant topic in all things Westbrookian I am of the opinion that the Lakers will not be trading Russ unless it’s for a player that is a true upgrade over Russ and not just some nice role-players. The FRPs required to move a contract of his size for a player you may or may not retain just does not make sense. The fact that you likely won’t win the talent side of the trade, either should make one question why the trade be made in the first place. AD playing more in the paint has opened up Westbrook’s game more than anything else. He, once again, has an elite roll man to find for open dunks with crafty wrap-around passes or kicks out to shooters…that last one often coming with mixed results not of his creation. I think that, in the end, Russell ends the season with LA. They need his expiring cap space if they want to retain Reaves, Lonnie Walker IV and possibly make a run at other free agents who could come on the market. So, unless the trade is for expiring deals, brings back a different FRP, or is for a knock-me-down-and-call-me-surprised caliber player I just don’t see it happening. They’ve said as much, done as much and there it is.
4. Not working #1: Patrick Beverley. Just for kicks I took a peek at THT’s stats since that’s who we gave up to acquire PatBev. Hate to say it but Talen is balling harder than his counterpart in the surprise trade of the summer, at least for the Lakers. Here’s a rough comparison:
   -MPG: PatBev 26.8, THT 16.8
   -PPG: PB 4.2, THT 7.2
   -FGA: PB 4.7, THT 6.9
   -FG%: PB 27.1%, THT 39%
   -3P%: PB 22%, THT 25%
   -2P%: PB 38.5%, THT 48.5%
   -TRB: PB 3.8, THT 2.6
   -AST: PB 2.5, THT 2.5 (not a typo)
   Neither is averaging over 1 for blocks or steals, PatBev turns the ball over a little less but fouls a lot more. None of that is to say that THT is the better player, the Lakers didn’t need another youthful player to develop that they would have to choose not to sign because of cheapness reasons. What that does illustrate that in 10 more MPG PatBev isn’t bringing much buy brave words and some nice looking hair on a nightly basis. For the money we need more. Only Nunn produces less/dollar from the role-player pool (Russell is the worst Laker guard sharing the cellar with the likes of Klay Thompson, Paul George and Ben Simmons (link here: https://www.spotrac.com/nba/valuation/guard/ ). Not sure what level of player we can expect in a Beverley trade, hopefully one that would include Nunn, but it has to be better than this.
5. Not working #2: Reaves off the bench. This needs to change ASAP. Reaves with the starting five brings it all together. He brings the right amount of shooting, defense and energy that nobody else on the team has. His Hoops IQ is really high which means he sees the game happening and where he needs to be to help a play develop on both ends. Moving Reaves to the starting five would push PatBev or Schroder to the bench, so no issues on that one. There are fewer and fewer justifications to playing Beverley at all, Schroder should get the backup point guard minutes, and Max Christie should fill in the gaps. That’s just how it is, man. No offense to PB or DS but they just don’t bring the same level of skill, talent, and smarts Reaves does. My starting five would look like this: AD, LBJ, LW4, Reaves, and Schroder. Second unit would be Bryant, Wenyan Gabriel, TB Jr., Nunn and Russ. Max Christie and Jones are “break glass in case of foul trouble” players and PatBev can sit. That’s just me though.

Anyhow, since the Lakers have chosen to beat teams they can beat and not roll over and die in advance of playing marquee teams we’ve reversed course on our 2-10 start. Recent rough outings aside (no AD and a disengaged LBJ in Cleveland) this team should still make the playin. While I’m sure Jeannie would like to see a better showing from her investment this mess is on her and Rob as anyone else. Your last coach took the fall for your overall organizational ineptitude and cheapness, that won’t be an excuse this time around. The Lakers need to make some kind of move before the trade deadline if they want to truly have a shot at competing in the playoffs. Since I don’t see a deal out there that will improve the team enough to come down off their “only 1 FRP…maybe” stance I long ago shifted sights to PatBev and Nunn who, if packaged together, could net a really decent player.

It’s funny how things can change in life. Sport mirrors life in many ways and so most of the same rules apply. Cheat and there are consequences (well, not for the Houston Astros but for most teams…). Consistently get hurt, you’re injury-prone. Miss the playoffs with three superstars on your team? You’re a bust. And so on. Some of these are fair, others are not and there’s nothing to do but shoulder the load and move forward. That’s life. The narrative is derived from the experience and it’s that exact thing that has changed drastically for the Lakers in a few, short weeks.

1. The Anthony Davis narrative. Injury prone, disengaged, unable to take the next step from ‘really good’ to ‘truly great’. All of those are the, to this point, career defining narrative surrounding AD. Last season we heard a lot of the same things from AD that we did this season when it began: “I’m in the best shape I can be.” or “I feel good.” Things like that. Then the games mattered and the player wilted, got hurt and became an after-thought in many ways. Hard to see how a nigh 7′ tall man with a 7’6″ wingspan can be overlooked but that’s what happened. Then this season began and AD sat out a couple games with a sore back, pined to play power forward in an interview, and missed a lot of jump shots. The narrative was confirmed, again. Until Davis made a choice, a choice our own mongoslade gave an excellent TED Talk on, he chose to be a center. He plays in the paint now for almost the entire game. Fewer 15′-20′ step back jumpers and more offensive rebounds. Paint points upon paint points and that’s because few other centers, or big men in general, can account for his size, strength and speed. It’s that last one that has returned in full and is the difference maker in our season. We stopped playing AD in the “easy to guard” spots. Those are the three point line and mid-range jump shot zones. When he is in the paint the paint isn’t clogged, it’s controlled. Are there open runways for LeBron to waltz in and throw down epic dunks? No. There won’t be even if we clone Ray Allen 4 times and sign them all to vet minimum deals. Teams will let someone else beat them before they let LeBron waltz into the paint. AD in the paint negates that issue, he’s the controlling force down low, not the opposing defense.
2. The LeBron narrative. The march to claim another #1 spot on an NBA record continues on a nightly basis for LeBron. But he’s too old to lead a team into the playoffs, anymore. He’ll break some records but his title days, at least in the purple and gold, are done. This has been the recent narrative surrounding LeBron since we won the Bubble title. It’s not too hard to see why. He’s missed about a quarter of possible games played as a Laker due to injuries he never suffered anywhere else. He’s ancient by pro sport standards. He’s veered away from the most efficient shots in favor of long threes and at volume. He often looked like he would rather be attending a speech on public decorum than play basketball a lot last season as the losses piled up. We started the season 2-10 and the expectation was that LeBron would demand some kind of change the way he has in so many other places. It didn’t happen. All that happened is The King allowing AD to bloom and Russ to drive the ball into the paint. He’s taking more threes almost by design as it preserves his body for the later part of the season. He still hammers dunks home on the break. He’s still putting up his numbers but with a lot less iso ball, which kills the team momentum. All of these are why we’re winning more but his stats look the same.
3. The Russell Westbrook narrative. There isn’t a player in the game more scrutinized. Not even Miles Bridges who was arrested on domestic violence charges has faced the scrutiny, derision and media coverage that Russ and his fit on the Lakers has. The man must be made of cold-forged steel because it does not seem to faze him in the least. Westbrook has sacrificed his game the most out of LeBron, AD and himself. It’s also Russell’s game that has unlocked True Beast mode for AD. When Russ is driving into the paint he’s the best Laker equipped to get AD the ball to finish the play. LeBron doesn’t want to leave his feet, not driving into the paint if it’s full of players from any team. Russ careens wildly towards the rim and is either getting layups or, more often and preferred, finding an open Anthony Davis as the center closes on him. While Russell isn’t an elite finisher anymore you still want to guard against giving him an open layup or dunk. It’s this simple logic the Lakers are exploiting expertly these days. Westbrook is perhaps the best PG the Lakers could have right now because he’s laser-focused on getting AD the kind of looks he used to get for Steven Adams. The Russ or LeBron AD pick and roll has long been an oft-discussed weapon. Now, with AD playing a more traditional role and LeBron as the three point release valve, it’s working.
4. The Lakers narrative. Was there a team that navigated more sewage this summer than the Lakers? Maybe the Tom Brady/Giselle saga garnered more coverage…but I doubt it. From January of this year to today one thing has driven the conversation around the Lakers: they have to trade Russell Westbrook to compete. LeBron wanted him gone. He didn’t even talk to or elaborately high-five Russell Westbrook at a Summer League game and the world nearly crapped it’s pants in response. The Lakers would have to tear it all down to appease the King to stay. Russell fired his agent and will demand a trade away so he can be the best Russ he can be on another team. Westbrook would never come off the bench, especially for a rookie coach who hasn’t won squat. We could go on but I think that’s enough. The common assumption (and we know where those lead us) was that Russ wouldn’t start the season as a Laker. Except he did. Then the common assumption was that he would dig in and push back on any attempt to morph his game to better fit in. Except he didn’t. Then there was the assumption that he would never come off the bench to better balance out how the overall roster talent was distributed throughout the game. Even I had it at 20 games before I thought it might happen. Except I was wrong. Russ came off the bench by game 10 and the Lakers really haven’t looked back since. The Lakers still might trade Russ, all those draft picks and anyone else on the roster who is not on a vet minimum deal. They’ve also expertly navigated this early part of this rough season which actually makes a trade less likely as Rob Pelinka has shown himself to be loathe to make mid-season trades. In that it has never happened.
5. The game. Oh yeah, we let a huge lead slip away, took our foot off the gas and were in danger of losing the game. We didn’t. Another switch from last season when that was our MO for the entire season. Lakers up 20? You got ’em right where you want ’em! We have coughed up leads a couple times but we’ve also stemmed the bleeding and pulled a couple out. We just need to keep improving that big lead/play hard to the end focus and we’ll be OK. The west, for a litany of reasons, is wide open and the unthinkable is suddenly possible. That the Lakers could actually straight make the playoffs. While it’s still a long shot it’s certainly worth celebrating the way this team has responded to adversity and criticism. As a fan all I ever want is for us to play hard and consistently. I can live with whatever result that begets. I think this team has found something that’s working and now we w3ait for the Association to scout it and adapt. Once that happens (and it will) we get to see what Coach Ham’s chops truly are. How does he adapt to the league when it starts sitting on Russell’s interior passing or leaving one of TB Jr., PatBev or even LW4 wide open to make sure LeBron is covered? That’s the simplest adjustment I see coming and, frankly, it’s easier typed than accomplished. We’ve already seen more in-play cuts from a guy on the perimeter than we saw all last season. While we’ll never be accused of running a motion offense we have added enough motion to it to generate easy buckets. Those kind of things are harder to defend and so, if we can keep it up, should be a foundation for whatever success we build.

Two solid wins against two solid teams. Let’s keep the train rolling! Go Lakers.

There were two ways this road trip go to start. The Lakers made sure, although it took all the way into the final seconds to solidify, it started with a win. Behind an exemplary game from AD, a historic night by LeBron and a $47 million dollar floor dive by Russ the Lakers Best the Milwaukee Bucks on their home floor.

1. Davis continues his “Have You Seen Me Lately, Though” tour. While outside shots are starting to find their way back into AD’s ‘every game’ shot selection his true home this season has in the paint. Davis was 2-3 from three, a sign that he’s getting more and more confident in his outside shot. That’s not what’s defining his season. Anthony is the bes inside player the Lakers have, leading a series of body blows every game that weakens the opponent for easy buckets and put-backs. While he didn’t amass a silly good amount of rebounds he secured the biggest one of the night just over the out-stretched fingers of Giannis, the one off Jrue’s miss that led to his game sealing free throws.
2. LeBron making more history. Last night he made history in two categories. He passed Earvin “Magic” Johnson into sole possession of 6th on the All-Time assists category. Magic did it in 906, The King in 1381 which only highlights how much of an impact Magic had passing the ball in his 14 year career. LeBron also passed Cliff Robinson to move to 13th in All Time games played. We had another well-balanced game from LeBron last night as once again he allowed and encouraged AD to be the focal point.
3. Patrick Beverley’s best game yet. While he didn’t have a positive +/- Patrick did make the most shits we’ve seen in awhile. While I have my doubts he’ll end his season in LA it was nice to see him make some solid contributions in a win.
4. Zero. The number of turnovers LeBRon and Russell Westbrook had to go with their mirrored 11 assists. While certainly unsustainable it was a key stat that helped us win the ball game against the best ranked defense in the NBA.
5. Welcome back Darvin Ham? I’m sure Coach savored this one a bit. I am liking Coach Ham more and more as the season has wore on. Gone are the celebrations from the team after a dunk or spectacular play as if such a thing had never been conceived of let alone executed. Last season our team seemed to lead the league in meaningless celebrations in the face of disheartening losses, maybe they had to just to through it. We’re a little more professional this season, I think Ham has more than a little to do with it.

Sunday we can keep this baby rolling if we bring the same level of focus and intensity to the contest. We’re more than in the hunt for decent seeding since the west is still a mess, we can take advantage of that if we play well and win.

The under-manned Blazers came to Crypto to face the under-manned Lakers and the Lakers took the note from the heart-breaking loss to Indy and didn’t let up at any point in the game. LeBron was better from the floor, Russ hit some magical shots and AD was solid as the Lakers won easily against a team on the down-swing. Let’s dig in.

1. The Lakers certainly didn’t fool around in this one. They tightened the defensive screws, rebounded better and stayed focused on scoring efficiently rather than casting up lazy shots. This is the kind of focus and intensity the Lakers need to bring every single night to even have a shot at winning. They just don’t have the luxury of losing focus for a quarter or to let a no-name player shake loose and get hot. For a game, at least, they did right by the Basketball Gods and treated the game seriously for 48.
2. LeBron was on fire. LeBron was solid all night long but went off in the second quarter hitting shots from everywhere. After a sluggish start he ramped it up before the half, eased into the 3rd quarter and picked it back up again in the 4th. I thought this was the kind of well-balanced game we need to see from James on the regular. I’m not talking about the shots he made, it’s not really feasible to hit 6-8 from three or 12-18 overall every night, but how he got his shots and when. There were fewer early/mid-shot clock flings for the heck of it and more shots from the flow of the offense. I don’t know what it feels like to be close to breaking the NBA All Time scoring record, I don’t know what it feels like to score a point in the NBA, but it must be hard not to over-search for your shot in his case. I though The King played one of his better games this season last night.
3. AD featured correctly. While he didn’t get to his 20 FGA I’d like to see him average for the season, Anthony Davis was used the way we need him to be for success to be possible. Hampered a bit by early foul trouble AD took over in the 4th quarter when we need him, even hit a three in that frame. No player attempted more than 18 field goals (LeBron) but no other Laker forced the defense to account for them like AD did as he, again, worked his way to the foul line more than any other player on the court and continued to show excellence from the stripe. We can’t go away from AD in late game situations, he needs to be the focus of the offense both by design and by the strength of his will to demand the ball.
4. Russ didn’t make many but the ones he did were straight ridiculous. Westbrook was not on his offensive game like he was against Indy (4-14 overall, 2-6 from three). But the shots he made were all huge. The three at the half was crucial to bring us into the break in action on a positive note (and with a 4 point lead instead of 1) and the 3 he made from half court to end the 3rd was ridiculous. Russ is loving his new role, at least on the court in front of the fans, and Crypto is showing him what LA love can feel like. We love a guy who sacrifices his overall game for the betterment of the team. It’s why Derek Fisher, Lamar Odom, Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma are beloved Lakers for all time. Rus has a chance to join that pantheon this season. The best part of Westbrook’s game last night? Zero turnovers.
5. Thomas Bryant fitting in. This was the player Coach Scott didn’t really expect much from or utilize, the one who made a name for himself in Washington. Not a stalwart defender but quick and strong enough to have a positive impact on that end. Active on the glass and in the half court flashing for easy hooks in the lane, not afraid to hit the open man with the pass, and a solid ‘do-it-all’ kinda guy off the bench. Bryant has found a nice niche backing up AD, leading the second unit with Russ and bringing a nice mix of energy and skill that is invaluable to this Laker team right now.

Adios to Matt Ryan who was waived today. Not too sure why, trade in the works maybe? Probably not, maybe his agent sees an opportunity to get him more of a role in Charlotte with Gordon hayward back on the IL? Dunno but I’m bummed to see him go. I literally just watched the Backstage Lakers episode on him that had a lovely story to go along with his ridiculous buzzer beater that helped jump start the team a couple weeks back. Good luck, Matt, we thank you for your minutes. All 129 of them.

This one will sting. At the end of the season there are, to date, two games that should have absolutely been wins but ended up losses. Sacramento and last night. Coincidentally both games had stellar performances from Russell Westbrook and a late 4th quarter collapse fueled by too much iso ball after the team had built a sizable lead. This pattern is one that should be squashed but, as I will elaborate on down yonder, may prove impossible to do so.

1. LeBron “taking over”. The team was rolling, Russ was either scoring or assisting on easy buckets and had just completed a Crypto.com rousing over-the-head-no-look pass to a wide open Wenyan Gabriel as Russ drew three defenders for an easy dunk. Time out Pacers, 9:59 seconds left in the game, score 101-84 good for a 17 point Laker lead. From that point? The Pacers outscored us 32-14. All of their 4th quarter points came after the 9:59 mark. LeBron went 2-8 in that span accounting for 66% of our field goal attempts. We went completely away from what was working both in past games (AD) and that night (Russ in the 4th) and instead relied on LeBron James iso ball. Poor choice, again.
2. Taking the foot off the gas on defense. It was perfectly captured on the last inbounds play. AD totally lost track of his man (Myles Turner) resulting in a scramble on defense that left LeBron James guarding…nobody within 10 feet of him. He stood near the paint drifting closer to the rim instead of getting a step or two closer to the wide open shooter standing 12 feet away. Too late to close out, three pointer goes in, game over. That wasn’t the only bad defensive possession in the 4th but it showed what happens when a team takes it’s foot off the gas. This Lakers team can’t afford to do that in any game on any night.
3. Too few FGAs for AD. The man needs 20+ FGAs/game or our chances of losing get higher. Last night he shot 9-15 (which was enough for a game-high 25 points) compared to 8-22 for LeBron (21 points on 22 shots is bad however you frame it) and 10-18 (24 points) for Russ. Yes, Davis needs to step up and take the torch or carry the team or whatever saying you choose to deploy. The team also needs to make getting him the ball a priority and I don’t mean at the three point line. This one is as much on the coaches as the players.
4. Can’t keep losing games where we outshoot the opponent 2-1 on free throws. We won the rebounding battle, too. Despite our 14 turnovers (6 by Russ which is too many for him to get to 6 dimes) the Pacers only scored 9 points to our 10 off of turnovers; we won that battle, too. Where we lost the game was giving up too many threes and awful transition D and those are both hustle stats. LeBron and his late close out to lose the game was but one of many, many examples of the Lakers playing defense for 3/4s-4/5s of a possession only to come up short on a final close out. Again, that’s a heart stat and a coaching challenge to rectify.
5. Ham is wrong on this one. In his post game he thought the Lakers were over-relying on Russ down the stretch and wanted to take the ball out of his hands. Which seemingly meant putting it in LeBron’s. There’s a reason the saying “go with the hot hand” reverberates across time and space. That’s because it’s true. LeBron was certainly not the hot hand and once we went away from Russ collapsing the defense we stopped scoring. LeBron will end up the greatest player to score the basketball in the history of the game. That doesn’t mean the team should go away from what is working so he can pile up points in what was thought to be garbage time. This team cannot afford to take an opponent lightly until the final horn sounds, going to iso ball down the stretch turned what was dynamic attack into an easy to defend, slow-walk the ball up the court, oh man we missed and now I gotta get back on D…which was also MIA due to the 23-9 fast break points the Pacers walloped us with. Coach needs to recognize that and fast.

Well, instead of 8-11 we’re 7-12 and still 3 teams back of the final play-in. Luckily, for the Lakers, the Jazz are free falling down the standings as they come back to Earth, the Mavs are struggling without Brunson, and KAT is out a few weeks with a calf strain (although that may really just unlock The Ant so…). We got a tough slog of games coming up and a long road trip where are 2-6. The team needs to take this one whole entire complete game at a time and work their way up.

Last night was a good test. Potential playoff team in the Phoenix Suns, albeit without two key players in CP3 and Cam Johnson. Lakers still without LeBron and AD flirting with historical numbers. In the end it was our defensive let-downs and role-players who didn’t contribute enough to push us over the hump and win the game. Just too many donuts to get it done.

1. Davis playing at another level. Sinc 1974, the year of my birth, only one other player has put up a 30+ point, 20+ board, 5 steal, and 5 blocks game. That player was none other than Bob McAdoo, more on him on down the line. AD joined all sorts of elite company last night in what was unfortunately a losing effort. When LeBron gets back we nee this level of engagement and impact from AD. If we do we got a good chance at making the playin, maybe even make some playoff noise. If we get the AD of the last couple season, if he reverts back, won’t matter what fringe moves we make or even if we make a major trade, it won’t be enough without a fully engaged and focused Davis.
2. Russ and his tightrope act. I get what Russ is doing: he’s forcing the defense to collapse on him, which is generally a good thing. It opens up wide open shots or passes to AD or Bryant which has been working pretty well the last couple games. The thing was, especially after half-time, the Suns were ready for it and Russ and the coaching staff never adjusted. The fouls that were called in the first half weren’t in the second, that was another adjustment that went left un-made. Since we shot 35 free throws to Phoenix’s 5 (which is as much a byproduct of the two teams’ style of play as anything else) can’t really complain when the whistles stop blowing. You have to adjust. The Lakers didn’t adjust to Phoenix sitting on Russ’s drives in the second half at all. In the end I still am loving Russ off the bench. The Lakers historically win when they have an elite 6th man: Bob McAdoo was once such a player, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Lamar Odom and of course Michael Cooper have all been elite 6th men for the Lakers at various points in their respective careers.
3. Couldn’t buy one from three. Lonnie Walker IV and Westbrook were the only two Lakers to hit from three (both players hit 2-6). Other than that the Lakers were dry from distance and, to their credit, didn’t over-shoot the three ball. What they couldn’t figure pout was how to chase Phoenix off the line. A good defense realizes two things: you can’t stop everything and you want to make easy shots hard. That’s it, in a nutshell. No easy shots at the rim, force those threes into long twos. The Lakers made a lot of mistakes gambling for steals rather than maintaining a tight coverage on the perimeter leading to easy baskets or open threes. You should win when you shoot 30 more free throws than the opposition. Our defensive breakdowns on the perimeter were the biggest culprit.
4. Second, however, was too many donuts. When four guys who played, three of whom logging 20+ minutes, contribute zero points you’re going to find it difficult to win. Doesn’t matter how historically one man plays, if the team isn’t playing well winning is a lot harder. Troy Brown Jr, Dennis Schroder and Patrick Beverley all brought Krispy Kreme’s to the arena and put up donuts in the scoring column. Wenyan Gabriel did, as well, but only played 7 minutes. That quartet combined to go 0-16 and were the major contributors in our shooting 42.4% from the floor, 4-22 from three (18.2% for those like numbers). Toss in Russ and his 8-20 night and five Lakers combined to go 8-36 o 22.2%. History can’t overcome that much futility.
5. The Ejection. Much is being made of Patrick Beverley’s cheap shot on DeAndre Ayton, and make no mistake that’s what it was. Was Ayton, and the un-teched Booker, taunting Reaves? Absolutely and they both should have gotten a T for it. But the real issue is what kind of impact does Beverley want to make? He’s obviously a vocal leader, helps the line up buy into defense, and does a lot of little things. He’s also a rather large sinkhole on offense these days. He’s shooting 41.1% from the field, often passes up open shots and will likely miss at least a game for the shoulder he leveled into an unsuspecting Ayton. I’m all for standing up for your guys, Auston Reaves went out of his way to make sure he knew PatBev understood that, but if the Lakers are going to make any playoff noise they need Beverley to make baskets. The other thing that rankled me was the nature of his hit. If Ayton had fallen more awkwardly and hurt himself seriously this would have taken a much darker turn. There’s no room in the game for a behind the back cheap shot like the one Beverley delivered last night. Can’t mince away the ones from your guys, they’re either bad for everyone or they’re not. The game was pretty much out of reach, the Lakers could have walked away the classier team. They didn’t.

If, as I expect, the NBA suspends Patrick for at least one game that will open the door for Schroder to start. Another debate is who should go to the bench when LeBron returns? My vote is Troy Brown Jr. except that he brings size and defense. Can’t have all heart and D guys in the starting 5, though. TBJr. and PatBev make it harder for your best players on offense and easier on defense. One of them probably ought not start going forward and if it were up to me it’d be Beverley. Austin Reaves has shown he belongs in the staring five, in my opinion.

If this season has a plot twist it came in the form of the white board. Coach Ham now has a meme foundation from game 1 and then AD took it a step further. Evidently he wrote “throw AD the ball” on a film session white board. While some fans had been waiting and clamoring for this version of AD it’s also safe to say nobody saw this coming. The Diesel version of AD is something special and I sure it hope it lasts. The rest of the Lakers, following their leaders sizable wake, waded in and helped finish of the hapless Spurs with ease.

1. Anthony Davis as a hammer. Anthony has never been thought of as a power player. He was finesse, skill and talent in a big body. A guard in power forward’s (sic: center) body. Last summer AD put on more muscle in his gambit to stay healthier. It may have also made his jump shot a work in progress. However it has opened up a new way for him to play. Paint monster who gobbles up rebounds and doesn’t hang out on the perimeter. I’m sure Darvin Ham wasn’t the first coach to ask for more paint touches for the Davis but he’s been the most successful in making it happen. Desperation makes uncomfortable choices more palatable. I’m sure that AD would rather play the four, take feathery step backs and fadeaway threes but we need this version of him now.
2. Thomyan Brabriel. Bryant and Gabriel are a cmobined 15-16 in the last two games providing energy, rebounding and rim running on the break leading to easy buckets. While unsustainable it des show what a big man with speed can do for your transition game…on both ends. Last season on Team AARP we got beat off the break a lot. This season these two bigs, along with Reaves, Walker and Brown, are getting back on D and leaking out faster than we were able to last season. Easy buckets make for an easy game. These two unheralded guys are answering the bell and it’s great to see.
3. The right amount of minutes. Not one player passed the 29 minute mark in the win. AD rested most of the 4th quarter. We saw extended, and productive, minutes from Nunn and Schroder. All these little thing s in and of themselves neither win nor lose the game. When they mostly break in your favor, however, it makes the overall task of winning much easier. Seeing Kendrick more aggressively hunt his shot was great, he had gotten a little trigger shy there for a few games during his slump. Can’t make ’em if you don’t take ’em and any shooter will tell you that the only way out of a slump is to keep letting them fly. In the end, a lot of guys hit the 20+ minute mark which was great to see in a win.
4. Free throw excellence. It’s been an issue in past seasons. Either we give up too many free throws or miss too many of our own. Or both. This season the Lakers are showing some solid free throw skills in their attempts and doing their best to limit opposition foul shots. That’s a pattern the Lakers need to do their best to maintain. Some of that is out of their control, the refs have a big say, and we’ve been playing younger teams still getting their feet wet. Still, make them when you’re there and it helps the cause in a big way.
5. The Lakers are shooting the three better of late. Fir the season we are still dead last in the NBA at 31.2%. In our last 5 games we’ve shot it at a 37% clip which would be good for 11th, just behind Utah and ahead of Brooklyn. I think neither extreme is sustainable but I’ll settle for that middle ground. 34-35% will get it done if AD dominates the paint like he has been. I’ve never been a huge proponent of Davis sitting at the three point line, standing in the corner, out of position for rebounds. As we’ve seen, he can be an elite rebounder on the offensive end which extends possessions and helps generate easy second chance points. Yes, AD can hit the three, his most iconic shot was the fade away there that sunk Denver in the Bubble playoffs, but he’s best used in the paint. Let the shooters shoot. Reaves has upped his efficiency, Nunn will get better, Walker has been soli. Only Patrick Beverley (who is leaving every single shot short) at 27.4% is a sink hole from three, currently. Not sure what’s going on there, he seems healthy, he’s not forcing his shot, and they generally come in the flow of the offense. PatBev struggling to score in general is my biggest reason to want to trade him or at least swap him with Schroder in the starting five.

Another little break before a better test: Phoenix. Second in the west behind the surprising Jazz, banner hopes, loaded with talent. Will we see LeBreon? Who knows, his high five game is strong but there seems to be some lingering issue with his adductor so best to let it heal as much as it can given the current strength of schedule. 3 and 2 over the next 5 feels doable with Dame out for a couple weeks.

This was a game the Lakers should have won…and they did! Following the blueprint they laid out in the last game (solid defense, own the paint, contributions from enough co-stars) the Lakers went out and won the free throw contest, er, basketball game against the Detroit Pistons who were without star Cade Cunningham. The Lakers, similarly, were without LeBron James. In the end Anthony Davis and the Lakers muscled their way to their 4th win.

1. Anthony Davis had no match and played like it. Sometimes, wen you don’t see a guy who can guard you, you do it for them. You take yourself out of the game because you think it’s going to be easier. That’s not how it works in pro sports, someone steps in and steps up. Las night didn’t take the opponent for granted and continued his Human wrecking Ball tour in the paint to the tune of 38 points on 10-16 shooting. He also pulled down 16 rebounds. AD took (and missed) only one three pointer so that aspect of his game is still MIA but, honestly, this is what the Lakers need right now. All the theories about this or that needs to take a back at seat (at least for the team) and focus on the one stat that matters most: Wins. When Davis controls the paint on both ends it makes a win more likely. Let success be your guide.
2. Austin Reaves coming into his own. Reaves looks like a guy who has figured something out. He doesn’t play the fastest, isn’t the strongest but his IQ and what athleticism and skills he as are enough to make a big impact. He came out of the halftime break looking like a guy who wanted to make sure got off on the right foot. Third quarters have been a riddle for this Lakers team so far this season. Austin made sure that, at least for one game, that wouldn’t be the case, again. Like Davis he was very efficient, 5-8 and 2-4 from three, en route to his 16 points but. for me, it was his 6 assists without a turnover that popped the most of the box score. Solid game from the sophomore. Who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
3. Russell Westbrook binoculars. Russ played well again off the bench and it’s good to see him just going about his business and playing hard in his new role. Honestly, not enough has been said of that and I’m sure there will be more spoken on it should the Lakers play better. The manner in which Westbrook can break apart a defensive scheme off the dribble when they know it’s coming has always been fun to watch. The dude can get to his spot it’s the force in which he arrives that often throws his shot off. It’s like an MMA fighter and a ballerina trying to co-exist in the same body. The play of the night, for me, was the inbounds pass Russ hit Lonnie Walker IV to end the half with for a wide open three. Like a quarterback throwing a deep run pass you can see on the replay he passes before Walker has arrived, trusting his guy to get to the right spot and to finish off the play. Great pass, great shot, and who can argue with the result?
4. The return of Bryant and Schroder. It’s funny but I had forgotten that Dennis never really played in front of the LA crowd when he was here. It was limited seating, masks, full on COVID protocols. So in his post gamer when he mentioned it I decided to wipe the slate clean and just start the journey over with Mr. Dennis Schroder. Of the two he had the more forgettable outing making just 1-5 shots. Thomas Bryant played his game and his role well and could be a huge boost for the team if he can keep this up. Bryant is like a better shooting version of Montrezl Harrell: high motor, very active with his hands (pros and cons on that one), but has a better jump shot. TB allows AD to slide back to the 4 on defense, he can play a small ball five role. It also allows the Lakers to play bigger once LeBron gets healthy. Bryant also missed his lone three point attempt but was otherwise effective in his minutes.
5. Wenyan Gabriel backing up his last good game with another one. First off, we just have too many players like Bryant and Gabriel. High energy guys who lack polished skill sets. However, we might have the coach best suited to figure out how to unlock those kind of players since Darvin Ham himself made a nice little career out of doing the small things right and filling the role required. Wenyan had another strong showing across the board. He’s crashing the glass, hit all his shots and playing a solid rangy style of defense that works.

Bonus point to Kendrick Nunn for hitting his shots. We needed it when it happened and he helped the team a lot. Keep it up, man. Need to string another one on the chain. If LeBron is back everyone needs to play like this: hard. Stop ball watching the King, he’ll handle his business. Just go hoop and the rest will fall into place.