The Lakers (42-12) scored 35 points off drives, tied for their most in a game this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.Īfter leading by only two points at halftime, the Lakers blew the game open, outscoring the Warriors 40-17 in the third quarter to render the final period irrelevant. Thursday marked the 101st time James has missed a game in his career and the first time his team won by 30 or more points without him. There's a reason why he's the best."Īnd there's a reason that, even with Thursday's triumph, James' teams are just 15-42 in games he has missed since he left the Miami Heat in 2014.Įven if this season's Lakers are 2-1 without him after the Golden State victory, it's important to remember the Warriors came into the game on a seven-game losing streak and hold the worst record in the league at 12-47. And just his defensive communication he's quarterbacking everything, letting everybody know where he needs to go. So, we get easier shots when he's out there. We have a big target on our back" - before spelling out just what James brings to the table that they have to replicate. You're going to get crowds that want to see us lose. I think when everybody's best player leaves the floor, they might go down a little bit," Lakers backup guard Quinn Cook said when presented with the numbers illustrating James' impact.Ĭook cited ancillary reasons why the Lakers struggle without James - "We get everybody's best shot. "I don't really pay attention to those kind of stats. With James off the court, that production plummets to a net efficiency of minus-2.6 points, which would rank 22nd.
KYLE KUZMA STATS WITHOUT LEBRON PLUS
That doesn't mean the Lakers can't aspire to improve upon the precipitous drop-off that happens when James sits - even if it's just for rest, instead of an entire game like on Thursday.Ĭoming into the Warriors game, the Lakers' net efficiency with James on the court was plus 10.7 points per 100 possessions, which would rank second in the league, according to data compiled by ESPN Stats & Information.
Sure, common sense suggests that Los Angeles' title hopes are directly tied to how well James can turn it on in the playoffs. Morris, who played 15 minutes in his Lakers debut Tuesday, extended his run to 19 minutes in the Lakers' 116-86 win against the Warriors, with the extra burn on the board because LeBron James was sitting out because of a sore groin.Īs much as the Golden State game was an opportunity for Morris, James' absence also provided a chance for the team to practice playing without him. This is what level we want you up on pick-and-rolls, and here's the switching lines.'"
"They're part directed to tightening the screws for us and part directed towards Kieff in terms of, 'This is what we call this, this is what we call that. "We've kind of beefed up our film sessions," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said before playing the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.
So getting Markieff Morris, who signed with the team this week after receiving a buyout from the Detroit Pistons, up to speed takes some creativity. SAN FRANCISCO - The Los Angeles Lakers hardly ever practice, and shootarounds are even rarer for the veteran squad.
0 kommentar(er)
