Darius Soriano

With training camp on the horizon, the Lakers are looking to build on a successful 2022-23 season that saw them make a run to the Conference Finals by taking the next step forward as a contender for the championship. And after an offseason that offered both continuity and brought reinforcements to the core of their roster, the team is well positioned to do just that.

In part one of the 2023-24 training camp preview, here is a look at the guards and wings, with a closer examination of potential camp battles and x-factors from this positional group.

Max Christie, SG: Coming off a rookie season of growth that saw him split time between the G-League’s South Bay Lakers and the main roster, Christie displayed the strides he’s made over the past 12 months with a fantastic showing over the summer in the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League. Christie will look to build on these performances and fight for a spot in the rotation in his sophomore campaign.

Jalen Hood-Schifino, PG: After being selected with the 17th pick in the June draft, Hood-Schifino flashed his skills as a scorer, playmaker, and passer in Summer League. Looking at a deep group of established guards and wings in front of him in the projected rotation, Hood-Schifino comes into his first NBA training camp with an eye on learning as much as he can from a veteran roster in preparation for his rookie season.

Maxwell Lewis, SF: After being selected with the 40th pick in the June draft and acquired by the Lakers in a four-team trade, Lewis, much like his fellow rookie Hood-Schifino, enters training camp looking to absorb as much knowledge as he can from a deep group of veteran perimeter players in front him.

Taurean Prince, SF: Entering his first season with the Lakers, but his 8th in the NBA overall, Prince is an established pro who brings shooting, toughness, and defense with him from Minnesota.

Austin Reaves, G: Coming off a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him become an integral starter in the team’s playoff run, Reaves continued to flash his all-around game with an excellent showing for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer. He will look to make a similar leap in his third season.

Cam Reddish, G/F: After a midseason trade sent him from the Knicks to the Trail Blazers last season, Reddish had one of the more productive stretches of his career averaging 11.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 20 appearances in Portland. Reddish will try to build on that stretch and compete for a rotation spot in his first Lakers camp.

D’Angelo Russell, G: After the mid-season trade that brought him back to the team that originally drafted him, Russell became an immediate impact player whose shooting and passing ability catapulted him to the top of the Lakers’ net rating leaders (+12.2 after the trade deadline). He returns as the incumbent starter next to Reaves looking to build on last season’s playoff run.

Gabe Vincent, PG: After helping to lead the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals, Vincent heads west to Los Angeles hoping to get to the mountain top with the Lakers. Vincent, like Prince, brings shooting, toughness, and defense to the perimeter, but also offers ball handling and shot creation from the guard spot.

There will be strong competition up and down the roster for minutes and key rotation spots, but one area to focus on is at backup shooting guard. While Austin Reaves is slotted in as the starter, his primary backup is a spot where both Christie and Reddish can compete for minutes and a rotation role.

Christie took positive steps forward over this offseason and was the go-to option for the summer league team in both Sacramento and Las Vegas. In the Lakers’ three Las Vegas games, Christie averaged 19.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while hitting 50% of his shots from behind the arc and not missing a single free throw on 6.3 attempts per game. This production came while also taking on the toughest perimeter defensive assignments and tallying 2.3 blocks a night, many coming on the ball as he enveloped his assignment with sturdy defensive technique.

laker-film-room-max-christie-levels-up

Laker Film Room: Max Christie Levels Up

As for Reddish, while his consistency of production has gone up and down over the course of his young career, he’s shown flashes as a two-way contributor that can help on both sides of the ball. His combination of physical tools and athleticism can translate to positive defensive contributions while his ball handling and explosiveness have shown him capable of getting to and finishing at the rim with both power and craft. Whether he can consistently channel these tools in a new environment is an open question, but one that if he answers in the affirmative will allow him to compete for minutes.

As the incumbent who has a year of experience in Coach Ham’s system and has a natural fit as a 3-and-D wing, Christie should come into camp with confidence that he can earn the rotation spot he has said is a goal of his for this season. That said, Reddish, who has the pedigree and talent of a top college recruit and recent lottery pick, should also feel confident that after years of not finding a home, that he can seize the opportunity in front of him to earn a role.

Any number of players taking a positive step forward in their overall game or having a standout season as either a shooter or defender could qualify as an x-factor that would alter the trajectory of this upcoming Lakers campaign. But no player personifies this idea more than Austin Reaves.

Reaves has already gone from undrafted free agent who fought his way into a rotation spot as a rookie to a player who evolved from bench guard to key starter and closing lineup stalwart in his sophomore season. Outside of the return to health of both Anthony Davis and LeBron James, one of the biggest changes for the Lakers in their turnaround from sub-.500 club to playoff team was the opportunity Reaves ran with once inserted into the first and crunch time five.

Heading into his third season, then, another leap in improvement could catapult the Lakers forward once more. Reaves has already shown he can be a primary ball handler and shot creator over stretches of important games, as he did against the Grizzlies in the first round of this past season’s playoffs.

game-1-austin-reaves-game-highlights-04-16-23

Game 1 - Austin Reaves Game Highlights 04-16-23

The potential to build on and extend those stretches into a more fulltime role, not just when flanked by LeBron and AD but when operating in lineups with only one (or none) on the floor – all while maintaining efficiency, is the type of jump that could transform this team.

Of course, even without that type of step forward, Reaves will continue to be a valuable contributor whose work as both an on and off-ball player greases the wheels for productive lineups. His understanding of how to play next to stars, and not just capitalize on the defense’s natural tendency to shift towards them, but to punish opponents in ways that force them to rethink their strategy is one of the best parts of his game and a key component to his individual and the team’s success.

But after the type of rise Reaves has made over the past two seasons, and through his summer with Team USA, nothing feels out of reach for him now. And, with every step forward he takes in his development, the Lakers can benefit exponentially.&nbsp;&nbsp;

lakers-2023-24-training-camp-preview-guards-and-wings

Lakers 2023-24 Training Camp Preview: Guards and Wings

In a game they never trailed, and led by Anthony Davis’ dominant night, the Lakers were able to fend off the Kevin Durant-led Nets to win 116-103 and snap their 5-game losing streak in the process.&nbsp;

While this truly was a team win with countless standout performances, no Laker was more impressive or important to the win than Davis. AD not only scored a game-high 37 points on 15-25 shooting, he pulled down 18 rebounds (10 offensive) and handed out 2 assists. His aggressiveness set the tone for his team as 23 of his 25 shot attempts came inside the paint, often bullying his way inside vs. a Nets team that has been defending much better of late.&nbsp;

Beyond the raw numbers or even the approach he took to get them, a key component of Davis’ game was that his production was steady and consistent throughout the entire contest. AD has seen his scoring numbers dip in 2nd&nbsp;halves this season, but after a 16-point 1st&nbsp;half Davis went to work with just as much an attack mentality coming out of the intermission to pour in 21 more points after the break. Lonnie Walker IV summed up AD’s performance well when he said, “This is the AD that you know to expect every single game. He's one of a few players you have no choice but to double. And if you don't double, you're gonna have a long game.”

Speaking of Walker, he had himself a wonderful scoring night as well, hitting 9 of his 15 field goal attempts for 25 points. Walker’s pull up jumpshooting was sublime, as he knocked down several key jumpers – including going 4-5 from behind the arc. But, as important as this shot making was, his ability to get downhill on drives – particularly in the 2nd&nbsp;half – was crucial in creating shots for himself and teammates. After Nic Claxton exited with an eye contusion, the Nets’ interior defense simply did not have the rim protection needed to slow down both Davis and rim seeking drives from the perimeter. Walker provided the latter and it was a key component of the Lakers offensive success.

Austin Reaves was similarly impressive offensively, scoring 15 points on 5-8 shooting, including 3-4 from downtown. With LeBron out due to his strained adductor, Reaves took on additional ball handling responsibilities where he was, essentially, the de facto point guard. Reaves did well in this role in ways that went beyond his 3 assists, showing poise and shot creation ability for himself and teammates out of pick and roll sets while also doing a good job of organizing the team’s offense.

This game wasn’t just won on the offensive end either, the Lakers did an excellent job defensively, sticking to their gameplan and zeroing in on Durant to put him in situations where he had to work hard for his baskets while always seeing multiple defenders. Durant, as talented a scorer as he is, was still able to tally 31 points on 8-16 shooting (13-15 from the FT line), but Patrick Beverley, Russell Westbrook, Troy Brown, AD all did a good job of crowding him defensively and ensuring that nearly every shot he took was contested well. And, on the possessions he was not defending Durant 1-on-1, Davis was always lurking on the back end of the defense, showing extra help and challenging shots inside.&nbsp;

And, ultimately, that’s what this game was about – Anthony Davis. Postgame, Darvin Ham noted that he wanted Davis to carry the starting group, and that was exactly what he did on both sides of the ball. Ham further offered that after the Lakers loss on Friday night, Davis expressed that he had (Ham’s) back, which was on full display vs. the Nets. Davis simply wouldn’t let his team lose. Which, after this recent stretch of games, was exactly what Ham and the lakers needed.&nbsp;

With the Lakers off until Friday and reinforcements in the form of LeBron (and, potentially, Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant) on the way, this game can hopefully be something to build on.

lakers-dominate-paint-in-win-over-nets-11-13-22

Lakers Dominate Paint in Win over Nets

After a back and forth game that featured 23 lead changes and both teams scrapping for a chance to get a much needed win, it was the Kings who took control late with a timely 8-0 run to close out the game 120-114 and hand the Lakers their 5th straight loss, dropping them to 2-10 on the season.

The Lakers, without LeBron James due to his strained adductor, battled hard all night and played well enough to win, but couldn’t execute offensively down the stretch going scoreless over the final 2:13 of the game. The team tried to get the ball into the post to Anthony Davis, but fronting defenses to deny him the ball and double teams when he finally did get a touch forced the ball into his teammates hands and they were unable to get anything going.

On the other end, though, the Kings played themselves into an excellent rhythm, particularly De’Aaron Fox who took control late via handoff actions with Sabonis, snaking his way into the lane and knocking down contested jumper after contested jumper. The Lakers tried different defensive approaches with him, but ultimately didn’t have any answers for him down the stretch. After going scoreless in the 1st quarter, Fox poured in 32 points over the final three periods – including 10 in the final frame – to go along with 12 assists and 7 rebounds.

There’s an argument to be made, however, that this game shouldn’t have even been as close as it was late, or, at the very least, that the Lakers should have been in a better position and not needed to play nearly perfectly down the stretch in an attempt to win the game. After another excellent 2nd quarter run had allowed the Lakers to take a double-digit lead late in the half, things unraveled and the team nearly gave it all back.

With 36.4 seconds left remaining in the half, Westbrook had a great drive and finish around Kevin Huerter to put the Lakers up 59-48. After the play, however, Russ received a technical foul for taunting. After the Kings missed the free throw, Fox hit a short jumper to cut the lead to single digits. On the next Lakers possession, a Westbrook turnover then led to a layup by Huerter to cut the lead to 7. On the Lakers next play, and what was setup to be the final possession of the half, Westbrook committed his second turnover in as many possessions and followed it up with a take-foul to stop the clock with 2.0 seconds on the clock. The Kings made the resulting free throw and then ran a good inbound play up the sideline to get off a last second 3-pointer that also went in.

What was a double-digit lead just a half-minute before was now down to only 4-points heading into the 2nd half. And while the rest of the game was highly contested and both teams had more than their fair share of chances to take control of the game to win, that stretch was critical in resetting the tone of the game and evening the terms in a way that defied the level both teams had played to through the first 24 minutes.

Despite this loss and the heartbreaking nature of it all, though, there’s good reason for the Lakers to be proud of how they competed.

Anthony Davis, playing through a virus that had him questionable heading into the game, had a wonderful 2-way performance, scoring 24 points (8-17 FG’s, 8-11 from the FT line) to go along with 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. Austin Reaves (7-12 FG’s) and Lonnie Walker (8-14 FG’s) both added 19 points each, scoring efficiently and making countless hustle plays over the course of the game. Wenyen Gabriel brought great energy, made all 4 of his shots, and was a team best +10 on the night. Not to mention Max Christie, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Damian Jones all offering positive contributions in their more limited minutes.

That said, despite any disappointment they feel after having such a good chance to get a needed victory, the Lakers don’t have any time to hang their heads and will look to get back on track when the Nets visit on Sunday.

lakers-lose-heartbreaker-to-kings-111122

Lakers Lose Heartbreaker to Kings

The Lakers (2-9) face off against the Kings (4-6) and will try to stop their 4-game slide while trying to knock off a Kings team coming off a good win vs. the Cavaliers in their last game. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. on Spectrum SportsNet.

Below are three things to know ahead of the matchup:

LEBRON OUTOriginally listed as doubtful on the injury report after being diagnosed with a left adductor strain on Thursday afternoon, Lebron was later downgraded to out vs. the Kings and will be listed as day-to-day moving forward.

James expressed some optimism in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers, noting that treatment and rest through Thursday and into Friday might allow him feel good enough to play. That in-or-out question, however, has been resolved in advance and both teams will now prepare for a game without LeBron in the lineup.

Not having LeBron is a major blow regardless of circumstance, but considering the Lakers overall challenges offensively, and the fact that at the time of his injury he was having his best shooting night of the season while finding his rhythm from behind the arc, it’s especially true now.

This will be the second game LeBron has missed this season. In this previous four years with the Lakers he’s missed an average of 21 games per season.

ANTHONY DAVIS, USAGE UPTICK COMING?As is the case whenever a superstar misses a game, there is no single player who can replicate or totally fill in the production that LeBron would provide if he were available. Everyone will need to do more in the hope that their individual efforts can cumulatively make up for some of what’s missing. That said, no one will be expected to carry a larger load with Bron out than Anthony Davis.

Luckily for the Lakers, AD may just have the bandwidth to take on a larger role offensively, particularly when measured against the rest of his career – and especially in comparison to his previous seasons with the Lakers.

In AD’s first two seasons with the Lakers he had a usage rate just over 29. Last year that number dipped some, but was still a shade over 27. This season, however, Davis is posting the 3rd lowest usage rate of his career at 25.2%. The only seasons that are lower than this year’s were his rookie and second seasons in the NBA with the Pelicans.

It’s early in the season, of course, and it’s certainly possible that as AD and the team figure out the best ways to involve him offensively – especially in the 2nd half of games – that number would have climbed organically. But with LeBron now out, it may accelerate this process.

SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVEThe easiest way to look at a game is through the lens of which team’s strength is going to win out against the other team’s strength. After all, a team’s best chance to win is almost always about doing what they do best and working to ensure the other team cannot stop it. In tonight’s matchup between the Lakers and the Kings, however, it may come down to which team – the Lakers and their 30th ranked offense or the Kings and their 25th ranked defense – can outperform the level they’ve played to on one side of the ball to this point in the season.

﻿﻿On the Lakers’ side, and in line with the idea of finding ways to amplify AD in LeBron’s absence, working to get their big man the ball more often makes sense. When LeBron sat out against the Jazz, AD became an even greater focus of the team’s offense via a heavier dose of pick and roll and post-up possessions. Davis can get similar opportunities against the Kings, whose starting center Domantas Sabonis is much closer in style to Utah’s Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Olynyk than to the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac.

Similarly, Russell Westbrook will also see an increase in usage with LeBron out and will be in position to initiate offense and look for his own scoring chances more often. And one place this could show up most is in him attacking the basket. Even though he’s coming off the bench, Russ ranks 16th in the NBA with 13.8 drives per game. Meanwhile, the Kings rank 28th in the NBA in points in the paint allowed and their 70.8% field goal percentage allowed on shots in the restricted area ranks 27th. Westbrook has shown great improvement as an outside shooter of late (9-20 from behind the arc in his last 5 games), but his bread and butter is still attacking the rim and the Kings may afford him that opportunity.

From the Kings side, their defensive guards are very good at pressuring the ball and that can force teams to play later into shot clock due to it taking longer to initiate their offensive sets. 20.2% of Kings’ opponents field goal attempts are taken with 7 seconds or less or on the shot clock, something the Lakers will need to be cognizant of considering their penchant for playing late into the shot clock offensively. This is another area Westbrook can have an impact as he’s more prone to pushing the pace and creating offensive chances before the opponent’s defense is set.

three-things-to-know-lakers-vs-kings-11-11-22

Three Things to Know: Lakers vs Kings 11-11-22

In what has been a familiar formula this season, the Lakers hung tight in the 1st half on the strength of a blistering 2nd quarter run, but a 3rd quarter takeover by the Clippers carried over into the final frame and the Lakers fell 114-101 to drop to 2-9 on the season.

On the front of everyone’s mind isn’t just the loss of the game, but of LeBron James who exited halfway through the 4th quarter due to what was described as “left leg soreness” during the contest, but confirmed after the game by LeBron that it was a tweak of his groin. James didn’t elaborate too much on the severity of the injury, but did note he planned to get treatment over the next 24-hours and into Friday in the hopes of being in the lineup for the team’s next game.

Losing James when they did was especially harmful considering how well he’d played to that point in game, pouring in 30 points on 12-22 shooting, including hitting 4 of his 9 attempts from behind the arc. It was LeBron’s best jump shooting night of the season and, on a night where the Clippers were able to create separation through their own shot making, those made threes from Bron kept the Lakers within striking distance.

Beyond LeBron’s strong night, both Anthony Davis (21 points, 9-16 shooting) and Troy Brown (14 points, 6-10 shooting) scored efficiently and were key in helping the team stay connected on the scoreboard with timely shots in the middle of key runs. AD, facing strong resistance in the paint from Ivica Zubac, did most of his work rolling downhill as a lob threat, but was also able to knock down some jumpers to keep the defense honest.

Brown, meanwhile, showed a well-balanced attack offensively, knocking down two 3-pointers while mixing in step-back jumpers and creative finishes around the basket with both hands. After the game, LeBron offered strong praise for Brown saying that he’s been “great” this season and further remarked on Brown’s ability to play at a high level regardless of whether he’s come off the bench or as a starter.

These offensive exploits from the Lakers, however, simply were not enough to keep pace with a well-balanced and explosive Clippers shooting team. Six Clippers scored in double figures, led by Paul George’s 29 points on 10-17 shooting. George only connected on 2 of his 7 attempts from behind the arc, but he shot his mid-range jumper extremely well, often elevating over smaller Lakers defenders out of the mid-post and when curling off screens. On a night where Kawhi Leonard sat out with knee soreness, George continued on his recent run of offensive success and set the tone for his team on that end of the floor.

For the Lakers, there’s certainly some positives to take away from this game – from their defensive effort and focus in the 2nd quarter to their ability to fight back multiple times with quick bursts on both ends to keep the game within striking distance. The team is certainly showing flashes of what they can be and building on that is certainly a major focus moving forward.

But, considering the outcome of the game, the team’s overall record, and with LeBron’s health status uncertain, there is a lot to consider and to look inward on in order to get back on track and dig themselves out of the hole they’re in record-wise. After the game, Coach Ham noted the need to sustain the positive stretches they are exhibiting by continuing to play with requisite effort and defensive intensity needed to compete.

These are lessons the team will try to put into practice when they are back in action vs. the Kings on Friday night.

lakers-lose-game-to-the-clippers-lebron-to-injury-in-disappointing-night-110922

Lakers Lose Game to the Clippers, LeBron to Injury in Disappointing Night

The Lakers (2-8) face the Clippers (6-5) as the visiting team and look to get back to their winning ways after dropping three straight games. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT on Spectrum SportsNet and ESPN.

INJURY UPDATEWhile Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant remain out with their respective UCL repairs, the Lakers expect to have a more complete roster than the shorthanded version they fielded vs. the Jazz on Monday night. Below is the current injury report:

The upgrade of LeBron to probable and the removal of Patrick Beverley from the injury report entirely is wonderful news for a team that was without three starters vs. the Jazz. If Walker is also able to play, the Lakers will be as healthy as they have been all season, only waiting for full clearance on Schröder and Bryant to be fully whole.

With Beverley expected to play and Walker questionable, it remains to be seen how the rest of the backcourt minutes are impacted. When Beverley sat out against the Cavs and the Jazz, Kendrick Nunn went from out of the rotation to into the starting lineup and found his stride in the latter game with an 18-point scoring night on 7-11 shooting, including 2-4 from behind the arc.

While the Lakers backcourt rotation is deep and competitive for minutes, Nunn’s good game might afford him another opportunity to show how he can help offensively.

2ND QUARTER SURGESMuch has been made of the Lakers struggles in the 3rd quarter of games this season, and for good reason. The Lakers -17.6 net rating in the period ranks 29th in the league, only leaving them ahead of the Timberwolves (-19.2). Finding ways to play better in this period could have a major impact in the team’s success and ability to win games moving forward.

What’s not discussed as much, however, is that the Lakers have been one of the better 2nd quarter teams in the NBA. Their +15.5 net rating ranks 3rd in the NBA, only trailing the Mavs and the Jazz. While the Lakers show strong improvements on both ends of the ball to boast such good results, their success is mostly driven by an elite defense where they rank 8th in opponents made field goals, 2nd in defensive rebounds, 2nd in opponent field goal percentage allowed, and 1st in opponents 3-point field goal percentage allowed in the quarter. Getting these stops allows them to play more in transition – 18.6% of their points come in transition in 2nd quarters, the third highest mark in the league.

As the Lakers seek out ways and opportunities on how to find more success in the 2nd half of games, they could do a lot worse than using their own play in 2nd quarters this season to guide them.

CLIPPERS REMATCHIn the first matchup between these teams this season, the Lakers had a great opportunity to win the game, but could not generate enough offense late when the game slowed down. In the closing minutes, the Clippers also deployed Ivica Zubac defensively against Russell Westbrook, helping to get the Lakers out of rhythm, contributing to their offensive challenges.

Zubac presented additional problems defensively over the course of the game, finding ways to stay close to the paint where he used his size and length to disrupt – and outright deter – shots around the basket. He also showed good offensive ability, hitting all six of his field goals while also grabbing six of his 17 total rebounds on the offensive end.

Offensively, even with Zubac protecting the rim, the Lakers still found a way to win the battle of points in the paint, outscoring the Clippers 40-36. They also did well to speed the game up, helping to coax the Clippers into committing 22 turnovers, 13 of which were steals by the Lakers. Ultimately, though, it was the Lakers 9-45 shooting from behind the arc that put a cap on their offensive production and didn’t allow them to capitalize on an overall strong defensive performance.

Looking ahead to today, Anthony Davis is a good place to start for building a rhythm offensively. Coming off his 29-point performance vs. the Jazz and recalling his 25-point effort when these teams last played, Davis has an opportunity to set the tone and continue his strong start to the season.

Additionally, Russell Westbrook is in a much better flow offensively than the last time these teams played, and his production off the bench stands in stark contrast to the 0-11 shooting he posted that night. If he can continue his run of strong scoring nights, the Lakers can put themselves in position to capitalize offensively in ways they did not in their last matchup.

three-things-to-know-lakers-at-clippers-11-9-22

Three Things to Know: Lakers at Clippers 11-9-22

Without LeBron James (foot), Lonnie Walker (non-COVID illness), and Patrick Beverley (non-COVID illness), and unable to contain Utah’s explosive offense for the 2nd&nbsp;time in four days, the Lakers fell to the Jazz 139-116 on Monday night, losing their third straight game and dropping their record to 2-8 on the season.&nbsp;

Though the final score doesn’t necessarily reflect it, Lakers had an excellent scoring 1st&nbsp;half of their own, putting up 71 points to hang tight with the Jazz and only trail by 5 points at intermission.&nbsp;

Anthony Davis had a particularly dominant 1st&nbsp;half, scoring 19 points with relative ease against an overmatched Jazz defense. Flowing out of handoff and screen actions into post ups on the left block, Davis showed off his full arsenal of jumpers, power back-downs into jump hooks, and quick drives for strong finishes at the basket. Davis seemed unfazed against whatever defense the Jazz threw at him and looked eager to keep his team close.

Not to be outdone, Russell Westbrook nearly kept pace with AD’s 1st&nbsp;half scoring, putting up 18 points of his own in the half. Showing good diversity in his offensive attack, Russ mixed in playmaking for his teammates (4 assists in the half) as a companion to long jumpers and ferocious drives to the rim, keeping the Jazz on their heels in the process.&nbsp;

In the 2nd&nbsp;half, however, the game turned towards the Jazz. The success both AD and Russ had in the first two periods could not be replicated, and after combining for 37 first half points, the Jazz were able to limit them to 14 in the 2nd&nbsp;half. Meanwhile the Jazz were able to keep their rhythm going, using a strong 3rd&nbsp;quarter of shot making and improved defense to stretch their lead to 17 heading into the 4th.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Lauri Markkanen was particularly effective in the quarter, knocking down 6 of his 9 shots from the floor for 13 points. After the game, AD shouldered the blame for Markkanen and the Jazz’s hot start in the 2nd&nbsp;half, specifically highlighting a couple of drives he allowed from the Jazz big man. That scoring outburst combined with timely shot making from Mike Conley and Colin Sexton to create all the separation the Jazz would need to keep the Lakers at bay the rest of the game.&nbsp;

While this loss is certainly disappointing, Coach Ham remained intent to not let his team’s mentality slip too low. Noting that he “didn’t come here to lose”, Ham believes his team is “going to turn the corner” and this early part of the season and the struggles they’re experiencing are a part of the process.&nbsp;

That said, Ham was also very clear that he knows where his team can improve, citing transition defense, rebounding, and contesting shots without fouling. This game was also a good example of how even though they have shown flashes of how good they can be, finding ways to carry forward that success and sustain it through the entirety of the game is also an area of growth.&nbsp;

The Lakers return to action on Wednesday where they’ll face off against the Clippers.&nbsp;

shorthanded-lakers-fall-to-hot-shooting-jazz-11-07-22

Shorthanded Lakers Fall to Hot Shooting Jazz

A valiant and fun first half effort couldn’t be replicated in the 2nd&nbsp;half as the Lakers fell to the Cavaliers 114-100 on Sunday afternoon. After a very good, yet foul prone, defensive performance paired with a 1st&nbsp;half season high 64-point output gave the Lakers a six-point cushion after 24 minutes, the team only managed 36 points in the final two frames, which dashed their hopes and dropped them to 2-7 on the season.

While there is no shame in succumbing to the Cavaliers’ 2nd&nbsp;ranked defense, the Lakers would surely want some of those 2nd&nbsp;half offensive possessions back as they struggled to knock down some of the same shots they hit earlier in the game, while also turning the ball over eight times – six of which came in the pivotal 3rdquarter where the Lakers were outscored 29-16.&nbsp;

Post-game, Coach Ham spoke openly about his team’s play in the 3rd&nbsp;quarter, noting the Lakers’ spirit “seemed to have left the building” enroute to ceding control to Cleveland. It’s difficult to pinpoint any one thing that triggered this, but rather it being a cumulative effect of the Cavs’ aggressive offensive approach and improved defensive focus that allowed them to seize control of the contest back.&nbsp;

From an individual perspective, the Lakers were led by LeBron James’ 27 points on 13-23 shooting from the floor, to go along with his 7 rebounds and 4 assists. LeBron, looking more recovered from the virus that has swept through the team this past week, thrived in transition and showed great ability to create scoring chances on power drives and good finishes around the basket.&nbsp;

In the half court, he played with good force out of his post ups, leveraging his strength advantages to get into the paint for buckets. Late in the game he also connected on a 3-pointer, his first made shot from beyond the arc in his previous 15 chances.&nbsp;

It was also another strong night from Russell Westbrook off the bench, particularly in the 1st&nbsp;half. Playing with excellent burst and energy, while also showing great balance between aggressively attacking the paint and shooting the long ball, Westbrook finished with 19 points on 6-13 shooting, including going 3-5 from beyond the arc. His 10 assists led the team, though those were countered with his 7 turnovers.&nbsp;

Overall, however, this game was defined by the Cavs taking control in the 3rd&nbsp;quarter, carrying that through the final quarter as well, and the Lakers inability to string together enough quality possessions on either side of the ball to keep pace. Against a team of Cleveland’s quality, the Lakers needed to be able to hang their hat on at least one side of the ball to stay connected, but as Cleveland found ways to hit shots, the Lakers weren’t able to create the types of transition and early offense chances that helped them gain a foothold in the 1st&nbsp;half.&nbsp;

While that didn’t happen vs. the Cavs, with another game on Monday in Utah, the Lakers will have a chance to bounce back.&nbsp;