Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:09 am

(17-10) LAKERS at ROCKETS (12-14)

Thursday, December 13, 2018, 5:00 PM PDT
Toyota Center • Houston, TX

Referees: James Capers (#19), Nick Buchert (#3), Ben Taylor (#46)

Replay Center: Eric Lewis

Line: Rockets -5.5

Local TV: Spectrum SportsNet National TV: TNT

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GAME PREVIEW: LAKERS AT ROCKETS


by NBA.com

HOUSTON -- Somewhat reticent to commit long term to the lineup alteration initiated on Tuesday, Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni was provided every reason to stick to the changes moving forward after an unexpectedly effective performance from a beleaguered bench.

The Rockets (12-14) had three reserves score in double figures on Tuesday in their 111-104 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the first time for that achievement this season. D'Antoni ran the risk of further hamstringing his bench when he inserted guard Eric Gordon into the starting lineup in place of forward James Ennis.

Instead, Gerald Green (13 points), Danuel House (12) and Nene (10) combined for 35 points to help carry the Rockets to a needed victory.

Ennis reaggravated a right hamstring injury in the win and could be sidelined for up to two weeks for the Rockets, who will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday at Toyota Center. His absence is just the latest challenge facing the Rockets, who recently moved away from the aggressive switching principles that defined their marked defensive improvement last season.

"We're trying not to switch (everything)," D'Antoni said. "There will be times when a guy gets hit and he can't get through and you have to switch, but now it's on a have-to basis, not a we-want-to basis. We'll try to keep a big guy at home, try to keep him where he rebounds more."

The Lakers (17-10) have won six of seven games while climbing to fourth in the Western Conference. Their defense, a glaring concern earlier in the season, has improved drastically, with the Lakers posting a 101.4 defensive rating during their recent run of success, third in the NBA behind the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder during that seven-game stretch.

Offensively, the Lakers appear to have unearthed a capable running mate for LeBron James. Second-year forward Kyle Kuzma is averaging 21.9 points (with a 58.3 field goal percentage), 8.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his last seven games, providing stability even through the loss of swingman Brandon Ingram, who remains sidelined by a left ankle sprain.

Kuzma has never lacked for confidence, with his recent uptick in productivity validating his certainty while mitigating concerns that James would have to singularly carry the scoring load.

"I tell Kuz all the time one of my favorite things about him is his competitive spirit, and that's something we preach in our culture is competition, and he's got one of the best we have as far as how much he loves to compete," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. "But offensively, he's done a nice job recently of kind of slowing down, letting the game (come to him). Still being aggressive but just slowing down with the actual moves, getting on balance, those types of things.

"It's rewarding as a coach any time your players are getting better. That's what you want to do. We had our time as players, some of us, and now we want to help some young players, a team come together and get better and try to live what their dreams are and become the best they can become.

"So when the players you coach you can see them making that progress and making strides, it's one of the more rewarding things as a coach."


http://www.nba.com/games/20181213/LALHOU#/preview
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 4:14 am

What a weird night. The Chargers have their biggest game of the season at Kansas City at the same time this game is on and I have tickets to see Fleetwood Mac which starts about the same time these gams end. So I'll watch what I can and that will be that.
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 5:54 am

KobeMVP888 wrote:What a weird night. The Chargers have their biggest game of the season at Kansas City at the same time this game is on and I have tickets to see Fleetwood Mac which starts about the same time these gams end. So I'll watch what I can and that will be that.


You have a dream night. Stevie Nicks, Lakers at Rockets, and Chargers at KC = gigantic game :mariano: . Damn, time to party!
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:19 am

3Peatkb24 wrote:You have a dream night. Stevie Nicks, Lakers at Rockets, and Chargers at KC = gigantic game :mariano: . Damn, time to party!


The concert is at the Fabulous Forum!
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:13 am

KobeMVP888 wrote:
3Peatkb24 wrote:You have a dream night. Stevie Nicks, Lakers at Rockets, and Chargers at KC = gigantic game :mariano: . Damn, time to party!


The concert is at the Fabulous Forum!


How awesome is that :slamdunk:
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:32 am

3Peatkb24 wrote:How awesome is that :slamdunk:


Actually, it is quite awesome. It was renovated about 7 or 8 years ago. More than $50M was sunk into it to make it strictly a concert venue and it has the best acoustics I have ever experienced. The Forum Club is still there and you can still feel the Showtime vibes. I always wear my Lakers jacket when I go to a concert to pay homage! Fleetwood Mac is a "pantheon" band for me (analogy to Simmons Hall of Fame pyramid), so I'm super excited. I'm taking my son, Sammy, who Rev has met and partied with.
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Thu Dec 13, 2018 11:15 am

KobeMVP888 wrote:
3Peatkb24 wrote:How awesome is that :slamdunk:


Actually, it is quite awesome. It was renovated about 7 or 8 years ago. More than $50M was sunk into it to make it strictly a concert venue and it has the best acoustics I have ever experienced. The Forum Club is still there and you can still feel the Showtime vibes. I always wear my Lakers jacket when I go to a concert to pay homage! Fleetwood Mac is a "pantheon" band for me (analogy to Simmons Hall of Fame pyramid), so I'm super excited. I'm taking my son, Sammy, who Rev has met and partied with.


Oh no doubt, a concert at the Forum watching Fleetwood Mac is epic. Just being at the Forum should give anyone goose bumps remembering 1985, 87, 88 = Showtime days. Fleetwood Mac is definitely Pantheon IMO. I love 70's and 80's music and Fleetwood is way up there. I could listen to Stevie Nicks all day.
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby Lakers4Life » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:36 pm

It’s kind of hard to win many games when the opposing teams best player get put on the free throw line if you even breathe on him. Hart & Kuzma Don’t even touch him and he gets to the line. He shot 20+ free throws tonight!!!
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby Nycitylaker » Thu Dec 13, 2018 8:40 pm

Lakers4Life wrote:It’s kind of hard to win many games when the opposing teams best player get put on the free throw line if you even breathe on him. Hart & Kuzma Don’t even touch him and he gets to the line. He shot 20+ free throws tonight!!!

We missed 12 free throws and had to start chucking at the end. A closer game changes the dynamics. This L is on us.
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby lakerevolution » Thu Dec 13, 2018 9:09 pm

Harden gonna Harden, eh?

Here we go:

Ball: 35 min 3-9 (0-6 from 3) 3 reb 8 ast 7 pts
Lance: 23 min 7-12 (3-5 from 3) 3 reb 17 pts
KCP: 22 min 2-7 (1-6 from 3) 3 ast 8 pts

Did our "defensive PG" play over 6 minutes in the 4th? Only Kobe gets to play that many minutes, miss that many shots and play marginal defense. Not saying anything was going to stop Harden and his team of whistles, but other than dishing 8 dimes, Ball's stat line is horrible. I won't keep :dedhors: but 0-6 from downtown (half his shots were 3s) kinda negates the assists. The kid should only attempt from 15 feet out on Luke's orders. Gotta start small, Ball.
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby lakerevolution » Thu Dec 13, 2018 10:36 pm

The good news: We're still a 5th seed, our away record is no worse than the 1 thru 4 seeds, and the Celtics are a mess - not the Finals lock they seemed to be upon LeBron's departure from the East. It still stings enduring these losses to superstars who have no rings, much less a Finals appearance. :cussblk: :LOBtrophy:
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby 3Peatkb24 » Fri Dec 14, 2018 8:16 am

lakerevolution wrote:Harden gonna Harden, eh?

Here we go:

Ball: 35 min 3-9 (0-6 from 3) 3 reb 8 ast 7 pts
Lance: 23 min 7-12 (3-5 from 3) 3 reb 17 pts
KCP: 22 min 2-7 (1-6 from 3) 3 ast 8 pts

Did our "defensive PG" play over 6 minutes in the 4th? Only Kobe gets to play that many minutes, miss that many shots and play marginal defense. Not saying anything was going to stop Harden and his team of whistles, but other than dishing 8 dimes, Ball's stat line is horrible. I won't keep :dedhors: but 0-6 from downtown (half his shots were 3s) kinda negates the assists. The kid should only attempt from 15 feet out on Luke's orders. Gotta start small, Ball.


Not even Lance could make up the difference, when he scores 17 we should win every game. Last season when he scored 15 or more the Pacers went undefeated. Hard to win a game though when Harden goes to the line 100 times :roflmao: . I just don't get why the REFS buy his bullshit but they do. He just throws his body into guys and gets calls. He gets more calls than Michael Jordan! Lakers now 17-11 so we are still OK. Time to move on.
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby KobeMVP888 » Fri Dec 14, 2018 8:47 am

Glad I missed this one. Fleetwood Mac was fantastic!
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Re: Game 28: 12/13/18 Lakers at Rockets GAME THREAD

Postby lakerevolution » Fri Dec 14, 2018 9:51 am

KobeMVP888 wrote:Glad I missed this one. Fleetwood Mac was fantastic!


You can go your own waaaaaay . . . !!!

Still rockin, huh. Mac was always one of my favorite sounds. As an aside, DO NOT MISS the Queen movie Bohemian Rhapsody. Really good.

As for our Lakers, well - I stayed up late wrapping presents and watched the replay. Lonzo wasn't necessarily as bad as my previous post may have implied, but he kinda wasn't . . there. He has a tendency to disappear. A few nice, Magic-like assists and one or two aggressive moves to the rim, but just not enough impact. He has a lot to learn, and we obviously stood a much better chance on both ends with a healthy Rondo and Ingram. Harden really was getting home cooking from the refs, but you can't dismiss his unique skill set. The Rockets haven't been playing well though, so not worried yet. The extra boards and assists LeBron usually gets were not there, and our play from the center position was subpar too.

On to the next!
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