Welcome to the NBA Hangover. We jot down NBA stuff mostly from last night that we want to talk about. Check it out.
The Lakers defeated the Clippers for the first time this season.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Elko Weaver/Elko Photography.)
Well, the Los Angeles Lakers had the best of weekends. On Friday, they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks at Staples. On Sunday, they won in the Battle of Los Angeles against the Clippers. It’s also noted that both teams were pretty much in full strength as the Clipper diehards will remind you that their team hasn’t been that all season.
But really, the Lakers probably needed this more than the Clippers did. The Lakers hadn’t defeated the Clippers all season until Sunday. But it was also the kind of game that showed the world that the Lakers are approaching the peak of their powers. They had an impressive second half that saw the Clips being outscored by 13. The Lakers turned on the defense and the Clippers couldn’t solve Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
Again, it’s easy to say that LeBron James has turned the tide on the MVP race. And people are going to continue shift that narrative with Giannis Antetokounmpo out with a tweaked knee. But we’ll also admit that LeBron and his boys are finding that groove. They have won 11 of 12. LeBron keeps setting the table for everyone. Davis has been outstanding on both ends all season, which gets me wondering why HE hasn’t gotten mentioned for MVP along with Giannis and Bron. But the men have found their roles and, as Frank Vogel said, they need to be stars in their roles. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been great since his awful start to the season as their designated shooter. JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard have been great at protecting the rim. Alex Caruso, Danny Green, and Avery Bradley (24 points on Sunday) continue to cause hell on the perimeter. And the much-maligned Kyle Kuzma arguably had his best defensive effort against the Clips. Of course, Laker fans probably want to put Rajon Rondo in a cannonball and fire him into the sun but he has had some good moments, too. It’s too bad they don’t happen very often.
The Clippers shouldn’t be discouraged; they had been hot before running into the Lakers buzzsaw. Paul George had a fantastic all-around game with 31 points. Kawhi Leonard did have 27 but he had some defensive lapses, too. While the Clipper wings are big, they do get bothered by the frontcourt’s length and that’s something they’d have to overcome. And Doc Rivers‘ penchant of using Montrezl Harrell without hardly any rest in the fourth seems detrimental. They could use Ivica Zubac‘s length and rebounding a bit more in the second half. Marcus Morris (0 for 9) and Lou Williams (3 for 11) could shoot a little better, too.
But yeah, we need a 7-game series out of this. It’s surprising that the L.A. teams have not met each other in the playoffs. Maybe this year will be the first time. And if they do meet, I’m not sure Los Angeles wouldn’t sink into the ocean with all the fireworks provided by the players, coaches, AND the fans.
Anyway, what a weekend for the Lakers. The playoffs can’t get here fast enough.
Bullet Passes
As mentioned, Giannis is out for the next couple of games for that knee he hurt against the Lakers. The Bucks finally lost consecutive games after they fell in Phoenix. 2016 Warriors, you are still the only team that has not lost back-to-back games in the regular season.
Great. After I wrote that the Bucks needed more respect, their respect might have actually decreased after this weekend. The Bucks REALLY needed to beat the Lakers to solidify their alpha status. As it is, the Lakers are only two back from the loss column in the standings and for home court all throughout the postseason.
Poor Kemba Walker. The Thunder STOLE the game in Boston.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA BandWagon Fan.)
What a trap by OKC. What a steal by Dennis Schroder. What a win by the Thunder.
Coupled with the Rockets loss, the Thunder are now #5 in the West and Houston fell to #6. And you know the deal that happened between these two teams. Man.
Oh, here’s a Zion dunkfest:
(VIDEO CREDIT: ESPN.)
Shoutout to Lonzo Ball, though, who is now throwing the best alley-oops from halfcourt and beyond.
The Raptors led the Kings by three. You would think that the Kings have Buddy Hield in there for shooting purposes. Nope. The fans let Kings coach Luke Walton have it:
“Luke you’re an idiot. You have the three-point champion. Play him. Where is Buddy?”
This Kings fan was livid after Luke Walton left Buddy Hield on the bench late in the game. pic.twitter.com/zt8PaxFU1x
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 9, 2020
I just don’t get Walton not using Hield in that kind of situation. And Hield is coming off the bench while making a TON of money. Woof.
The Scoreboard
CHI 107 (21-43) @ BRK 110 (29-34)
NO 120 (28-36) @ MIN 107 (19-44)
LAL 112 (49-13) @ LAC 103 (43-20)
OKC 105 (40-24) @ BOS 104 (42-21)
MIL 131 (53-11) @ PHX 140 (26-38)
MIA 100 (41-23) @ WAS 89 (23-40)
IND 112 (39-25) @ DAL 109 (39-26)
ORL 126 (29-35) @ HOU 106 (39-24)
SA 129 (26-36) @ CLE 132 (19-45) (OT)
DET 84 (20-45) @ NY 96 (20-44)
TOR 118 (45-18) @ SAC 113 (28-36)
Watch This Play
Look at Jake Layman laying it on Derrick Favors.
(VIDEO CREDIT: Minnesota Timberwolves.)
Favors does not want to go under Layman’s terms again.
GG.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.
I sign off “GG” which means “good game” but also to honor Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.