Aloha,
That was fun. Because of all the injuries we have been underdogs in all 5 games, yet we sit at 3 and 2. You really couldn’t ask for more. Just a few thoughts.
What happened Austin? Only 28 points? Sure you had 16 assists and you hit a dramatic game winner but only 28 points? Lol. Austin is going to get paid this year for sure. He may not be the most athletic player in the NBA but he is one of the smartest.
Welcome to the Lakers Jake. He had a miserable game against Portland. He was about as bad as you can get. He turns around and has about as good of a game as you can have. 27 points on 11 shots and 8 boards, will get it done. If can can play somewhere between the two extremes he will be a valuable player for us going forward.
I love what I am seeing from Ayton. 17 points and 10 boards against Gobert. That’s two games that Ayton has stolen Gobert’s lunch money. Honestly, if we had him last year, the playoffs might have looked different. The last few games, he is playing like the guy that helped the Sun’s reach the finals a few years ago. And the questions about his motor have not been an issue. He is going all out, every minute he is on the floor.
The last couple of games Dalton appears to have regained some confidence. He is scoring and he even made some impact plays on defense. All he needs to do now is rediscover his 3 point stroke. If he does that he will become an important compliment to our defensive minded reserves.
The scoring balance was remarkable. 5 guys with 15 points or better.
It appears that JJ has much more faith in Nick Smith than Bronny. And for good reason. Nick is just better and he had 7 points during that important 3rd quarter stretch.
The one thing I would have done differently than JJ is when the T-Wolves began chipping away at the lead I would have put Vando back in for Dalton. He had 12 boards in 26 minutes 6 offensive and as always played solid defense. We had a lead to protect and I think you go with defense over offense in that situation.
18 more turnovers. That is something we really need to clean up. although we out rebounded them, even on the offensive end, thanks to Vando.
So Luka need the ball in his hands to be most effective. Austin needs the ball in his hands to be the most effective. Lebron needs the ball in his hands to be the most effective. So what does this mean? Quite simply, REST. JJ can give each longer breathers and with a guys like Smart who can also handle the ball we can keep everyone fresher during games and even give guys the occasional day off.
Even if we had lost this game, I would have been satisfied with the effort the team played with. It was really encouraging to see the guys, play as hard as they did. I mean every single guy gave it their all. If we can continue to stay afloat until guys come back, we will be in great shape.
That was a masterclass in grit and clutch execution. Austin Reaves stepping up with that buzzer-beater was pure drama, the kind of moment that lives in highlight reels and fan memories for years. And you’re spot on about Vando: his presence during that shaky stretch in the fourth was a stabilizing force, exactly what the team needed to hold it together.
Jake Laravia showed poise, Ayton was a wall in the paint, DK brought energy, and Smith Jr. added that extra spark. It felt like every player understood the assignment and delivered. When a win feels that collective, it’s not just satisfying — it’s galvanizing. This could be a turning point in the season.