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Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 9:13 am
by KobeMVP888
(8-10) JAZZ at LAKERS (10-7)

Friday, November 23, 2018, 7:30 PM PDT
Staples Center • Los Angeles, CA

Referees: Ron Garretson (#10), Mark Ayotte (#56),Justin Van Duyne (#64)

Replay Center: Derrick Collins, Mark Lindsay, Aaron Smith, Jonathan Sterling, Zach Zarba

Line: Lakers -2

Local TV: Spectrum SportsNet National TV: NBA TV

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GAME PREVIEW: JAZZ AT LAKERS


by NBA.com

The Utah Jazz were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA last season. They were one of two teams that held their opponents to fewer than 100 points per game during the regular season.

The Jazz haven't been as stifling on the defensive end this season, and they'll face one of the hotter offensive teams in the NBA when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night at Staples Center.

The Jazz tied the San Antonio Spurs for the lowest opponent scoring average in the NBA last season at 99.8 points a game, but they've fallen to 11th through 18 games this season (109.1).

The Jazz (8-10) have lost four of their past five games and allowed at least 113 points in all four losses.

"We have to be able to defend better to win," Utah coach Quin Snyder told reporters following a 119-110 loss to the visiting Sacramento Kings on Wednesday. "If I could point to one thing, it's our communication. That's the thing that links you together and makes you be able to defend as a group."

The Lakers (10-7) are fourth in the NBA in points per game (116.2) and appear to be growing more comfortable on both ends of the floor. They have won six of their past seven games.

Eight of the 17 games played by Los Angeles have been decided by four points or fewer this season. The Lakers lost the first three games within that margin, but have won the past five.

"We've learned that lesson on both sides," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. "We think we have a game, we're up 18 and we give in, and we find a way to win it. ... A lot of those games, we fought back with a couple minutes left, and you want that inside your players. ... That competitive edge, that competitive spirit, is something that we preach."

LeBron James is averaging 28.9 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Lakers, both better than his career marks of 27.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. His field-goal (52.2) and 3-point shooting percentages (39.2) are also better than his career numbers.

James returned to Cleveland on Wednesday night, where he grew up and had two successful stints with the Cavaliers, and led the Lakers back from an eight-point deficit with just under five minutes to play.

He had eight points, three rebounds and an assist down the stretch to lift Los Angeles to a 109-104 win.

"He's one of the best closers our game has ever seen," Walton said after the win in Cleveland. "With him anchoring that attack on that end of the floor is obviously something that any coach would love to have."

A key matchup in this game figures to be in the middle between Lakers centers JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler and Utah center Rudy Gobert.

McGee is off to the best start of his 12-year career, averaging 13.4 points and 6.6 rebounds. He hasn't averaged more than 6.1 points or 3.9 rebounds in the past five seasons.

Chandler, who cleared waivers and signed with the Lakers on Nov. 6, has given Los Angeles a valuable boost on the defensive end.

Gobert, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year last season, is averaging 15.1 points and 12.9 rebounds, joining Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans as the only NBA players averaging more than 15 points and 12 rebounds this season.


http://www.nba.com/games/20181123/UTALAL#/preview

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 12:06 pm
by lakerevolution
Utah is a good team - better than their record suggests, and they always challenge us. Hopefully our perimeter defense and our twin towers can neutralize the Jazz playmakers enough to grind out a win!

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 1:52 pm
by srafrank
Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD
Unread postby lakerevolution » Fri Nov 23, 2018 11:06 am
Hopefully our perimeter defense and our twin towers can neutralize the Jazz playmakers enough to grind out a win!

****
"Grind" is key:
Lakers just finished eating that soft tasty turkey.
Follow their DEFENSE closely.
" No Defense No Rings"
-The Legendary Coach Pat Riley

Here is a good outlook:
Points allowed last 4 games.

11/14,11/17
Trailblazers......117
Magic.............130
Avg.=123.5

11/18,11/21
Heat...............97
Cavs...............105
Avg.=101.0

Diff.=-22.5

This is why we need a " Taco Smiley " on this board.
I believe we won't be " Grinding " on Seagulls.
If defense holds to Avg. 101 we win.
TURKEY TACOS TONIGHT BABY!!!!!!

T :rthup: A :rthup: C :rthup: O :rthup: S

:xmas: Crown Me!!!!

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 8:35 pm
by 3Peatkb24
Jazz are better than their record indicates. This will be a tough game, I think we win this though and get to 11-7 :rthup:

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 9:45 pm
by lakerevolution
Brickfest. Donovan playing lousy, good for us but we can't seem to hit from downtown either. Lowest combined halftime score this season, maybe? Guys been watching too many Div. 2A NCAA ball.

LET'S SCORE LAKERS!!!

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 10:20 pm
by KobeMVP888
Up a single point after three. Turnovers and iso shit'll do that. Let's pass the rock and watch LeBron do his closing thing. Nice to see a confident BI show up tonight! Kuz needs a sports psychologist right about now.

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 10:31 pm
by lakerevolution
So are we defensively schizophrenic, or schizophrenically defensive?

:panic: :snapout: :imok: :silly3:

LET'S WIN LAKERS!!!

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 10:55 pm
by KobeMVP888
Frankie, baby with the Tacos call! Never mind the turnovers and the lack of assists, give me a rock 'em sock 'em ugly defensive grind it out W's every time! Loved BI and Zo tonight; Kuz and Hart have hit a collective wall that they'll get through. KCP has been the solid player we expected and another SOLID performance by Javale McGee. Nice win. We're 1 game out of the #1 seed. Go Lakers! Can't wait to represent on Sunday for the Grudge Match vs. the Magic!

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 10:27 am
by Julius Russell
This season. While the kids are growing as long as teo of them play well a night.. and McGee is good...and we get something from KCP or Lance... we will be in every game.


Ingram and Zo getting comfortable will be the difference between playoff run or not

Re: Game 18: 11/23/18 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2018 12:19 pm
by 3Peatkb24
11-7 now. Nice gritty and grind win. Having LeBron on our team is good for the kids IMO. They are learning alot like how to win. BI looked pretty good last night. With the way the West is, it's not a stretch at all to say we could end up in the Top 3, it is still early though.