Lakers takeaways: Marcus Good a vibrant spot as Lakers eradicated from NBA Cup
LeBron James’ emphatic one-handed dunk introduced the group at Crypto.com Enviornment to its ft. It left Luke Kornet shrinking below James’ intense glare and scream. It would stay on within the soon-to-be 41-year-old’s spotlight reel, however for this evening, James wished it to fade into the background.
As a result of despite the fact that the second left his teammates leaping on the bench and gasping for air, it did nothing to stave off a Lakers loss.
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“It was only a play,” James mentioned after the Lakers misplaced 132-119 to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, getting eradicated from NBA Cup play and establishing a regular-season matchup at Phoenix on Sunday at 5 p.m. PST.
The Lakers (17-7) went 2-3 throughout a revealing five-game stretch towards groups with successful data, and wanted fourth-quarter heroics to squeeze out each of their wins that got here by a mixed seven factors. The Lakers’ plus-1.5 scoring margin ranks fifteenth within the NBA after their final three losses got here by a median of 16.3 factors.
“We actually received to look ourselves within the mirror and determine what we’re gonna do,” guard Marcus Good mentioned. “We will lay down and get punked or we’ll combat again. And I am not the one which’s going to put down and get punked.”
Listed here are three takeaways from the loss:
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Marcus Good provides a spark
After lacking six video games due to a again damage, Good returned to attain a season-high 26 factors in 27 minutes, going eight for 13 from three-point vary with three rebounds and one help.
Good struggled with accidents whereas with Memphis and Washington after getting traded from Boston in 2023. He hoped that coming to the Lakers, with their everlasting championship ambitions, might assist him revitalize his profession. He received off to an uneven begin, lacking two of the primary 5 video games whereas capturing solely 25.4% from three-point vary.
Learn extra: LeBron James is simply targeted on the now as Lakers fall to Spurs within the NBA Cup
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Then he hit his highest three-point whole in a recreation since Jan. 5, 2024, on Wednesday.
“All I can do is management how I put together, and that is to make the shot,” Good mentioned. “I have been doing it — every little thing proper. Tonight was the evening for me, and hopefully that begins a development for me to begin making some photographs constantly.”
Enjoying his highest minute whole since Nov. 14 towards New Orleans, Good mentioned his again “felt good” throughout the recreation. His solely bodily shortcoming was getting his wind again after being sidelined for 2 weeks. Coach JJ Redick, who referred to as Good the crew’s tone-setter on protection, counseled Good’s “care issue,” even when the Lakers fell behind by 18 within the second quarter.
Good didn’t rating any factors throughout a late second-quarter run that lower the Spurs lead from 17 to eight, however he performed key roles on each ends of the court docket. His block on De’Aaron Fox’s shot led to a Jaxson Hayes alley-oop dunk. Good screened two Spurs gamers to clear the way in which for Luka Doncic on a driving layup with 1:51 remaining within the second quarter. Doncic instantly turned and pointed to Good in appreciation.
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“When he guards, when he talks to us, we pay attention,” mentioned Doncic who completed with 35 factors and eight assists, together with three on Good three-pointers within the third quarter. “Simply received to be just a little bit extra of what he’s doing.”
Bench falls flat
Outdoors of Good’s 26 factors, the Lakers bench produced solely 5 factors. Three got here from Dalton Knecht on a rubbish time three-pointer.
The Lakers have prolific scorers on their bench. Jake LaRavia’s 27-point outburst in Minnesota made him a viral sensation and earned him a customized “Who’s No. 12?” T-shirt designed by normal supervisor Rob Pelinka. Gabe Vincent shot a scorching 55.6% from three-point vary throughout the preseason earlier than he suffered a sprained ankle within the third recreation of the common season.
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However LaRavia and Vincent mixed for less than two photographs Wednesday. The one different common rotation participant who scored off the bench was Hayes.
Redick credited a number of the bench struggles to San Antonio’s defensive coverages. Regardless of not having Victor Wembanyama (calf), the Spurs used heart Luke Kornet equally to how Phoenix used Mark Williams to dare Doncic and Austin Reaves to shoot photographs within the paint as a substitute of letting the star guards play-make for others.
Reaves struggled offensively for the second consecutive recreation, capturing six for 16 from the sector for 15 factors. Reaves, who leads the crew in whole minutes whereas additionally rating second in factors per recreation with 28.4, has made 9 of 32 photographs within the final two video games.
Even Rui Hachimura, who had scored in double figures in every of the earlier three video games and made the game-winning shot in Toronto, had simply two shot makes an attempt within the first three quarters Wednesday. He completed with a quiet eight factors.
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Redick has marveled on the manner Hachimura can go lengthy stretches of video games with out touching the ball then nonetheless make essential photographs. Teammates have requested him for his recommendation on keep prepared when coming off the bench.
“[The ball is] gonna come ultimately,” Hachimura mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s recreation. “After which that point comes, it’s a must to make some strikes. You must do one thing about it, so you do not need to be shocked when it will get [to you].”
No strings hooked up
The Lakers entered Wednesday’s recreation ranked twenty first in defensive score. They have been the fifth-worst crew in opponent three-point capturing proportion, permitting groups to shoot 38.2% from three. The proportion will get even worse after San Antonio (17-7) shot 44.7% from three on Wednesday.
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Opponents have shot higher than 40% from past the arc in six of the final seven video games towards the Lakers. The Pelicans and Celtics each shot higher than 50% from three.
With out Wembanyama, the Spurs showcased their dynamic backcourt, led by Fox. The speedy guard who missed the final matchup towards the Lakers had 20 factors whereas Stephon Fortress, final yr’s rookie of the yr, dropped 30 factors to go together with 10 rebounds and 6 assists on the Lakers, who merely had no solutions for the short, athletic guards.
“Having the ability to comprise the basketball might be essentially the most troublesome factor for our crew proper now,” Redick mentioned.
Doncic and Reaves have turn into the very best scoring duo within the league, however the guards won’t ever be recognized for his or her defensive prowess. The soon-to-be 41-year-old James is effectively previous his time of being a daily defensive standout. If the Lakers can compete defensively, it must be as a unit, James careworn.
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“5 guys being on a string,” James mentioned. “Clearly, you possibly can’t do it individually by your self. It must be 5 guys on a string, communication, at all times at an all-time excessive.”
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This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Occasions.
