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Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:55 am
by KobeMVP888
(23-31)Image at Image(17-38)

Saturday, February 10, 2018, 5:30 PM PDT
American Airlines Center • Dallas, TX

Referees: Kane Fitzgerald (#5), Tony Brown (#6), Jason Goldenberg (#35)

Replay Center: Sean Corbin, Justin Van Duyne

Line: Mavs -1.5

Local TV: Spectrum SportsNet

Image

GAME PREVIEW: LAKERS AT MAVERICKS


by NBA.com

The Los Angeles Lakers are downright giddy thanks to some trade deadline wheeling and dealing that has the franchise primed to reinvent itself in the years to come.

But before any of the freshly fashioned cap room can get gobbled up by a choice free agent or two, the Lakers still have this season at hand. One they hope ends in a postseason run that would go a long way toward developing a young and talented core.

"We're building something really good here," Julius Randle said.

The Lakers (23-31) have won four in a row, which at least has positioned Los Angeles closer to the last playoff spot in the Western Conference than last place. Up next is that last-place team, with the Lakers at the Dallas Mavericks (17-38) on Saturday night.

Isaiah Thomas is slated to make his Lakers debut against the Mavs, along with his former Cleveland teammate Channing Frye. Thomas is expected to start with Lonzo Ball (sprained MCL) out.

Los Angeles coach Luke Walton doesn't expect the newcomers to disrupt the rotation or team's momentum. The Lakers have won 12 of 16 overall.

"We play a certain way and hold each other accountable," Walton said. "I can't ask the players to do it if I am not going to take guys (out) when they are not playing that way. But I don't see the new guys having a problem with that.

"We play a fun style of basketball. We compete, run and play fast. For those two, the way they shoot the ball, if you are open, I am going to tell them to shoot it every time, so I don't envision them having a problem with the way we play."

Dallas is also playing their first home game since dealing longtime fan and franchise favorite Devin Harris to Denver in a three-team trade at the deadline. The deal, which netted forward Doug McDermott from New York and a second-round pick in the upcoming draft, did take an emotional toll on the Mavs.

"As far as Devin leaving us, he's been a loyal foot soldier for the Mavericks organization going back over a decade," coach Rick Carlisle said. "He's been one of my favorite players to work with in all my time in this league. We wish him the very best. Denver has got a guy with a lot of experience and a lot of skill, who can really be a difference-maker for their situation, so they're very fortune. We wish him nothing but the best."

McDermott, a 3-point shooting wing, is expected to be in uniform against the Lakers. The former first-round pick is a restricted free agent this summer, and the Mavs will use the rest of the season as an audition for the future.

"We like McDermott very much," Carlisle said. "He's a terrific shooter, great player without the ball, and we definitely view him as a winning player and our kind of guy. We got a second-round pick in the deal somewhere in the middle of the second. Most people forecast it to be a deep draft."


http://www.nba.com/games/20180210/LALDAL#/preview

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:02 am
by KobeMVP888


As it should be now and for the rest of the season. IT and Kuzma should help make us one of the best benches in the league, if not the best. When Lonzo returns, add Josh Hart to that mix. My biggest concern is breaking chemistry that Randle and Clarkson developed when they were on the court together and Larry Nance's defense. Actually, that is probably the biggest concern, so Kuzma will have to step it up at that end. I'm sure Julius will get more minutes to make up for that loss as well. Hopefully, the addition of floor spreaders IT and Channing Frye will make up for that, but there will be disturbances in chemistry in the short term which is why I think Vegas made the Mavs a 1.5 point favorite for this one. One game at a time, but I'm excited that the Lakers are not completely out of the playoff hunt yet. A win tonight makes us 13-13 over the last 26 games and completely wipes out the 9 game losing streak.

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 1:00 pm
by lakerevolution
IDK that you can wipe-out a losing streak . . but I get what you mean. And yes, a chemistry pause should be expected but hey you never know -- it could be a spark that takes us to a new level. In my eyes, Randle and Ingram HAVE to fully become our dynamic duo, as their skill sets fill up so much of the stat sheet and intangibles. Keep it going, boys!! Blow that -1.5 line out of the water!!!

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 1:46 pm
by KobeMVP888
lakerevolution wrote:IDK that you can wipe-out a losing streak . . but I get what you mean. And yes, a chemistry pause should be expected but hey you never know -- it could be a spark that takes us to a new level. In my eyes, Randle and Ingram HAVE to fully become our dynamic duo, as their skill sets fill up so much of the stat sheet and intangibles. Keep it going, boys!! Blow that -1.5 line out of the water!!!


If it's one step back and two steps forward that works for me. The more I think about it, this has been the most effective starting 5 all season. Why mess with it even when Lonzo returns? What's wrong with a second unit featuring Lonzo, IT and Kuzma?

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 5:16 pm
by lakerevolution
Lonzo has to keep getting starter's minutes if we want him to blossom into JKidd. Isaiah is gonna have to morph into a shooting guard and a DFish scrappy opportunist, then blend with Ingram when Lonzo sits.

Or maybe he's already a Norm Nixon who can't fit.

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 6:53 pm
by Julius Russell
Norm Nixon is interesting parallel. 21-21 tied game.

Dallas making contested shots.
Lakers getting essy buckets

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 7:07 pm
by Julius Russell
IT already better than jC

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 7:59 pm
by Julius Russell
Saw some defensive issues with IT but not discouraged

Ingram is what we thought he was. Potential HoFer

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:47 pm
by Lakers4Life
Disappointing effort

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:00 pm
by Julius Russell
Disappointing result. Effort was great.
They had 9 turnovers shot 81% from ft line

We had 17 turnovers shot 68% from ft line

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:04 pm
by lakerevolution
Inexcusable. I blame LeBron.

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:43 pm
by Lakers4Life
Disappointing defense to be exact.

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:47 pm
by KobeMVP888
Oh well. One step back. This is a tough test for Luke. After all he put together, now he has to figure this out. Apparently Brad Stevens figured it out, so I'm hoping Luke does, too. Isaiah Thomas is a helluva weapon, but Luke has to have the balls to yank him when the flow ain't right. Looking ahead to two steps forward!

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 11:16 pm
by lakerevolution
EVERYBODY GETS UP FOR THE LAKERS

Re: Game 55: 02/10/18 Lakers at Mavericks GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 5:21 am
by 3Peatkb24
Disappointing loss but I thought IT played well. Love what I am seeing out of Ingram. He will be an All-Star next season IMO unless we pick up Paul George. George would take away from his touches, nevertheless he will still be Good/better next season.