Series Thread: 1st round: #2 Grizz vs #7 Lakers

[Black Adam]

Memphis could still win this thing yet. Ja has to play in control back in L.A. though.

 

[shopson67]

Not surprising really. Desperate team played with purpose, while the older team looked tired and unfocused. Lebron had one good quarter as the team blew their remaining energy to get it to 1, then the Grizz easily pushed the lead back to double digits. AD played hard like he had to after the last game, but was largely left hanging. Role players play better at home, so the next game should tip back in the Lakers favor (or at least be a dogfight).

 

[bksballer89]

Not surprising really. Desperate team played with purpose, while the older team looked tired and unfocused. Lebron had one good quarter as the team blew their remaining energy to get it to 1, then the Grizz easily pushed the lead back to double digits. AD played hard like he had to after the last game, but was largely left hanging. Role players play better at home, so the next game should tip back in the Lakers favor (or at least be a dogfight).

True but got to hope ad not on his every other game crap

 

[shopson67]

True but got to hope ad not on his every other game crap

That's definitely a worry, but it seems that Lebron playing well energizes the rest of the team more? Or maybe that was just the lack of urgency overall last night.

When AD doesn't score, he still plays defense. When Lebron doesn't score, his game becomes more of an overall mess, or at least it did last night.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Those last 5 minutes of the third quarter killed them. It's just like they gave up.

They didn't deserve to win. Not in the slightest.

I hope they get their shit together for Friday.

 

[wildturkey]

True but got to hope ad not on his every other game crap

It would also help if Ham would actually play a back up center when giving AD a breather. The fool has been playing Lebron at center and those line ups get destroyed, not mention it also fatigues Lebron even more. Play Gabriel more or put Bamba or even the corpse of Tristan Thompson out there. They don't have to be great or even good, but it just has to be a patchwork long enough to survive for AD to get little rest. The minutes with AD off the floor the Lakers are terrible and a good chunk of that is because of how Ham is using his bench.

 

[DJ]

It would also help if Ham would actually play a back up center when giving AD a breather. The fool has been playing Lebron at center and those line ups get destroyed, not mention it also fatigues Lebron even more. Play Gabriel more or put Bamba or even the corpse of Tristan Thompson out there. They don't have to be great or even good, but it just has to be a patchwork long enough to survive for AD to get little rest. The minutes with AD off the floor the Lakers are terrible and a good chunk of that is because of how Ham is using his bench.

This.

 

[shopson67]

It would also help if Ham would actually play a back up center when giving AD a breather. The fool has been playing Lebron at center and those line ups get destroyed, not mention it also fatigues Lebron even more. Play Gabriel more or put Bamba or even the corpse of Tristan Thompson out there. They don't have to be great or even good, but it just has to be a patchwork long enough to survive for AD to get little rest. The minutes with AD off the floor the Lakers are terrible and a good chunk of that is because of how Ham is using his bench.

Gabriel showed well enough last night to earn more trust and minutes as needed. Not sure why Bamba is glued to the bench, but that seems to be the case. Kardashian seems to be a cheerleader and Lebron confidant more than a player thus far.

 

[trojanfan12]

Gabriel showed well enough last night to earn more trust and minutes as needed. Not sure why Bamba is glued to the bench, but that seems to be the case. Kardashian seems to be a cheerleader and Lebron confidant more than a player thus far.

Bamba is on the bench because he is raw and the 4 weeks he was out with an injury, hurt any shot they had at finding a role for him. He wasn't playing a lot prior to getting hurt...but he was playing enough that he could have made a case for a bigger role.

Personally, I'd try to find some minutes for him early in a game and see how he does. Start him out with a short leash and adjust it as necessary. But I understand why Ham may not want to use him.

What I don't understand is him not using TT. If nothing else, TT knows how to play with Lebron. Throw him out there for some of those minutes that Lebron is at the 5 and let Lebron defend at the 3 or 4.

 

[HurricaneDij39]

Dillon Brooks 3/15 in Game 5?

Who cares. They won the game...

 

[ElPatron1]

Is Lebron really going to get beatdown by GS again, or will he fake an injury to lose to Memphis?

 

[wildturkey]

Bamba is on the bench because he is raw and the 4 weeks he was out with an injury, hurt any shot they had at finding a role for him. He wasn't playing a lot prior to getting hurt...but he was playing enough that he could have made a case for a bigger role.

Personally, I'd try to find some minutes for him early in a game and see how he does. Start him out with a short leash and adjust it as necessary. But I understand why Ham may not want to use him.

What I don't understand is him not using TT. If nothing else, TT knows how to play with Lebron. Throw him out there for some of those minutes that Lebron is at the 5 and let Lebron defend at the 3 or 4.

There was zero excuse to not get Bamba minutes in the blow out too. Even if Ham wasn't sure how to fit him in for the reasons you listed, that situation last night was the perfect opportunity to throw him out there and see how he moves around and such

 

[ANGELAKERAMS]

I’m not impressed with Ham as a coach.

His rotations are questionable, and he doesn’t develop his players.

Look how long it took him to get Reeves in the starting lineup, and that was only because of injury.

 

[trojanfan12]

Apparently, a big chunk of yesterday's coaches meeting was spent on rotations and figuring out better ways to maximize the bench units.

Darvin Ham tells Lakers fans just what they want to hear before Game 6

The Los Angeles Lakers host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night after failing to end the series in Game 5 on Wednesday. It is not an absolute must-win fo...

lakeshowlife.com

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

I am nervous as fuck about tonight though because if they lose this one, it's game over in my opinion.

I don't mind a bad game from Lebron or AD

But stop with the 14-0 runs in like 90 seconds. That's what killed them the last game.

Good shot by Memphis, followed by a Laker turnover, followed by a great shot by Memphis followed by another Laker turnover....
Rinse and repeat

 

[bksballer89]

 

[wildturkey]

Could be a sneaky big deal. Grizz were much better with him out there spacing the floor instead of Brooks stinking the joint out

 

[wildturkey]

Series gotta be a wrap now.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

LETS FUCKING GO

 

[DJ]

Let's go!!!!