Lakers @ Magic, Game #61, 4/26, 7:00 PM

[ducler]

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[TheHartBreakKid]

12 games left in the year. We've been so unfortunate with injuries and I, like most fans, and probably like the team itself, have zoned out for the past couple of months, but now it's time to gain momentum. Even if the standings were irrelevant (though 2.5 games isn't all that much to be ahead of portland), the team needs to build confidence and chemistry right now. And I for one think staying atleast in the 4th/5th seeds would do a lot for our title chances. Even if Lebron comes back next week and we avoid any more injuries, I think we are going to need some time to get to championship level ball, and it's in our best interest to avoid the clippers until then.

[LAKESHOW]

I'm liking Drummond to start. Then pull him or add minutes depending on how the matchup is going

[NoseBleedLakers]

Lakers love blowing them leads. Led 32-16 at the 11 minute mark and have been outscored 26-9 since then. Magic are shooting 91% in this 2nd quarter. What a joke

[LAKESHOW]

Vogel is having a problem with lineups. I don't think he has the correct matchups yet. He's still trying to figure it out

[BEazy]

I don't think this team has what it takes to win a championship this year. Games like this tell me a lot about the heart of this team. I would love to be wrong, but it just not looking good for us.

[NoseBleedLakers]

Holy **** was that second quarter a complete joke or what lol. Taking a page from their last game against Dallas.

Lakers proceeded to go on a 7 minute stretch where they got outscored 31-9, and 40-22 overall in that quarter.

These guys really know how to stink it up on both ends of the floor. Zero defense and zero offense, all at the same time.

[Beethoven]

meh

[Slava]

Since when did the Magic rebrand themselves as the Orlando Suns?

[Freighttrain]

Still not a fan, but Schröder has been playing well the last few games. In the end, it's a good win considering the Mavs lost and that gives a bit more breathing space in fifth place. I'm hoping Bron will come back so we can finally get some chemistry. Vogel has been playing with the line-ups and will do so till Bron comes back. We need 8-10 games with all of our team so we can gain some momentum heading into the playoffs. Right now we don't look like a championship team.

[Hans1984]

Team is looking terrible right now. Lebron save us !

[Beethoven]

Team looks terrible without Bron. But also team looked terrible without AD. This team is like German engineering. You get one tiny little piece broken or missing and the whole thing doesn't work but you get all pieces working the thing is the best in its class

[iamworthy]

Penberthy said it takes about 10 games to get your legs under you. I wouldn't be shocked to see LeBron come back when there's 10 games left in the season.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Penberthy said it takes about 10 games to get your legs under you. I wouldn't be shocked to see LeBron come back when there's 10 games left in the season.

Rumors are he is coming back Sunday

[Kilroy]

Not much positive about this game... AD looks better but still no where near last season... He's approaching his average this season... Which wasn't all that great to begin with.
He and Drummond don't even look like they're on the same court.
The offense looks like it has no idea what it's doing with AD in the game...

From what I saw, Drummond looked like he was doing what he's supposed to, but AD just didn't look comfortable playing next to him. But when Harrell plays our defense sucks... AD and Drummond need to figure out how to play off each other pretty quick...

This was a 500 team without AD and LeBron... AD coming back isn't helping anything right now. As great as he is, he's not an Alpha... Something to keep in mind as we're looking forward to the end of the LeBron era...

Schroder and KCP seem to have picked up their games recently... It looks like AD being back has lit a bit of a fire in Schroder.
He's talking all kinds of smack too, which seems to be igniting him also... But the problem is, the guy he's messing with lights him up each time... So maybe the Dennis the Menace thing is backfiring a bit...

[bb22]

Not much positive about this game... AD looks better but still no where near last season... He's approaching his average this season... Which wasn't all that great to begin with.
He and Drummond don't even look like they're on the same court.
The offense looks like it has no idea what it's doing with AD in the game...

From what I saw, Drummond looked like he was doing what he's supposed to, but AD just didn't look comfortable playing next to him. But when Harrell plays our defense sucks... AD and Drummond need to figure out how to play off each other pretty quick...

This was a 500 team without AD and LeBron... AD coming back isn't helping anything right now. As great as he is, he's not an Alpha... Something to keep in mind as we're looking forward to the end of the LeBron era...

Schroder and KCP seem to have picked up their games recently... It looks like AD being back has lit a bit of a fire in Schroder.
He's talking all kinds of smack too, which seems to be igniting him also... But the problem is, the guy he's messing with lights him up each time... So maybe the Dennis the Menace thing is backfiring a bit...

It's gonna look disjointed for a while. Probably even when Lebron gets back and players like Dennis have to re-adjust to being the 3-4th option. Other than health, the biggest issue for the Lakers right now is getting enough practice/games in and finding their rhythm in time for the playoffs. Going up against a well oiled machine like Denver in the first round will be tough. They haven't lost a step even with Jamal out.

[tamaraw08]

Not much positive about this game... AD looks better but still no where near last season... He's approaching his average this season... Which wasn't all that great to begin with.
He and Drummond don't even look like they're on the same court.
The offense looks like it has no idea what it's doing with AD in the game...

From what I saw, Drummond looked like he was doing what he's supposed to, but AD just didn't look comfortable playing next to him. But when Harrell plays our defense sucks... AD and Drummond need to figure out how to play off each other pretty quick...

This was a 500 team without AD and LeBron... AD coming back isn't helping anything right now. As great as he is, he's not an Alpha... Something to keep in mind as we're looking forward to the end of the LeBron era...

Schroder and KCP seem to have picked up their games recently... It looks like AD being back has lit a bit of a fire in Schroder.
He's talking all kinds of smack too, which seems to be igniting him also... But the problem is, the guy he's messing with lights him up each time... So maybe the Dennis the Menace thing is backfiring a bit...

Drummond and AD currently has a -12.5 as a 2 man combo per basketballref.
I hate to address the elephant in the room ...which is AD's playing style as if he's the 2nd coming of KD taking a bunch of perimeter shots. Yes, I know he's still wary of leaping high and landing on other players feet and getting banged around but this season, even before the injury, he has been taking so many perimeter shots= less FTs and high % shots. Last night, he had 5 turnovers, trying to make those fancy dribbles and turns etc in the perimeter.

[LAKESHOW]

I've seen Vogel indy teams. Orlando teams. And there are striking similarities. An excellent Defensive tactician. But offensively, long droughts. Extended periods of no scoring. No offensive system.
Fortunately here for Vogel, he has Lebron. Someone who is an offensive system all by himself.
This brings me back to Magics understanding of that, and hired Rondo now running the Clippers system.
So we need Lebron in more ways than 1. Without him, we struggle schematically. We turnover the ball in crucial situations. And Rondo is gone.
I've been watching the next home game as his return. That should give us time needed to play out the kinks