Game 12: Los Angeles Lakers (5-6) @ Sacramento Kings (7-5) - WIN - 6-6

[TwoStarz]

The defense the past two games has looked a lot better. It’s obvious as to why. LeBron is digging in defensively now and is actually trying and instead taking plays off offensively, which is fine, needed a balance. Credit where it’s due. Also, having chandler helps...ALOT

[Laker_Kid]

just need to get rid of that weird lineup with rondo hart kcp lance all on the floor at the same time.

[kblo247]

just need to get rid of that weird lineup with rondo hart kcp lance all on the floor at the same time.

It is the only acceptable way to play Hart. He’s ass on defense be the 1, 2, and 3. You give up a layup line and 3 free throws at a time when he’s out there defending the perimeter. Luke minimized he damage he causes on D by moving him to small ball 4 like PJ Tucker

[stan francisco]

Good to see LBJ waking up a bit on defense. He’s a very good defender when he wants to.

But the big difference? Tyson Chandler. (And the fact that the Kings stunk it up on offense).

[Spanish_Laker]

Biggest W on the season. Keep keeping teams under 100-110 points and we will be a high-seed playoff team.

[iamworthy]

Didn't watch the game. Was lonzo as bad as the box score would suggest?

[Ckay]

Didn't watch the game. Was lonzo as bad as the box score would suggest?

Mr. Air Ball was born.

[Sedale Threatt]

Didn't watch the game. Was lonzo as bad as the box score would suggest?

Yes.

[what would jack bauer do?]

Lonzo looks like he's struggling to find his niche in the game. What make him have great potential is his gravity. Yes he is a great passer with good instincts but this season and next season should be used to hone is generalship in the half court. What he can do for us now on offense is using his threat of 3pt shooting. His range is off the charts, it's not necessarily what percentage he shoots from three but rather the gravity he creates sucking defenders out to him and spacing the floor.

Right now Lonzo is playing with 200% effort on defense and offense trying to become something he's not. This is throwing off his leg strength and his precision in shooting. His heart is in the right place, but he's got to be smarter and only attack open lanes hard. He's not manipulating the defense, but letting the defense dictate what he's doing. This is exactly what we brought Rondo in for. To mentor him and help him grow as a player.

I also think the extra 20lbs of muscle Lonzo added is slowing him down a bit especially on the defensive end. He nearly averaged a block per game last year and hasn't really blocked any this year. Also, he lost some of that defense burst in blindsiding ballhandlers and jumping passing lanes. I would contribute some of that to Lonzo not playing all summer with the knee injury and the added weight. Lonzo conditioning and strength-wise is where Kuzma was in the preseason when he looked like trash (except i think Lonzo might be close to doubling up Kuzma in rebs per 36). The saving grace i like about the 20lbs he gained was his ability to hold his own in the post and the fact that NBA players lose 10-20lbs as the season goes on so he'll be primed up for the playoffs.

[Jedi32]

It’s comical reading comments from the losers on the general board who were talking **** about the Lakers yesterday.

Its the Kings...so not something to write home about. When Lakers start beating the top 3-4 teams in the west then we can talk.

No one is bragging or throwing a parade. I was just pointing out how funny it was that most thought this was an automatic L for us.

[lakerz12]

Lonzo didn't look 100% healthy. I think he was limping at one point but tried to play through it. I'm not going to judge him on this game. We've seen him look extremely good when he's 100%. He just needs to get and stay healthy longterm.

[Danny Darko]

Read on Twitter

[MAMBAEMD]

A win on the road specially against a (at the time) 7-5 team is always a good thing.
We didn’t play particularly well but did just enough to win.
SAC missed a ton of wide open shots but I think the key was we rebounded well.
Our free throw shooting was alarming though.
Very happy with the W.

[Kilroy]

Yeah, seeing a lot of people thinking this game was a example of our defense improving... I thought we got slightly better last game but this game was an absolute mess for both teams... The Kings were just coming off 3 games in 4 or 5 nights or something, and looked a lot worse...
No reason at all to pat ourselves on the back for this one, other than yes.. It was a game we were supposed to win and we ground one out...
It should and could have been way easier though.