Game 30 Thread - Kings (16-13) vs Lakers (13-17)
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2022 7:21 pm
The Lakers are in town for what is surely to be another sold out night in Golden 1 Center. Even though we now officially have a loss after I started the game thread (shouldn't have jinxed it), I will try to keep it going this year.
Things I'm looking for tonight:
1. Get out and run. We have built the identity of this team over the years to play fast and get out in the open floor with De'Aaron Fox rolling downhill. There won't be a better night than tonight to embrace that fully with the Lakers allowing the most fastbreak points in the league. We are also atop the league in transition opportunities so, on paper, this seems like a matchup we should exploit especially without Anthony Davis in the lineup to protect the rim.
2. Hole in the middle. Speaking of Anthony Davis, it's always important to capitalize when a team is missing a force like AD. He was playing at an MVP-caliber level recently and so with him out with a foot injury, that's one less things we need to worry about. Behind AD there's a hole at the big man spot with Thomas Bryant and, former King, Damian Jones trying to fill that void. Take advantage of the opportunity and let Domas go to work.
3. Defend the point of attack. Both Lebron and Russ should be active tonight and they are most effective when they can get into the paint and make plays. While the Lakers are near the bottom of the league in both 3P% and catch and shoot %, it will important to stop dribble penetration and prevent two of the best playmakers the game has seen to find guys for open looks on the perimeter. If we can keep them out of the paint we will put ourselves in a much better position to defend.
Things I'm looking for tonight:
1. Get out and run. We have built the identity of this team over the years to play fast and get out in the open floor with De'Aaron Fox rolling downhill. There won't be a better night than tonight to embrace that fully with the Lakers allowing the most fastbreak points in the league. We are also atop the league in transition opportunities so, on paper, this seems like a matchup we should exploit especially without Anthony Davis in the lineup to protect the rim.
2. Hole in the middle. Speaking of Anthony Davis, it's always important to capitalize when a team is missing a force like AD. He was playing at an MVP-caliber level recently and so with him out with a foot injury, that's one less things we need to worry about. Behind AD there's a hole at the big man spot with Thomas Bryant and, former King, Damian Jones trying to fill that void. Take advantage of the opportunity and let Domas go to work.
3. Defend the point of attack. Both Lebron and Russ should be active tonight and they are most effective when they can get into the paint and make plays. While the Lakers are near the bottom of the league in both 3P% and catch and shoot %, it will important to stop dribble penetration and prevent two of the best playmakers the game has seen to find guys for open looks on the perimeter. If we can keep them out of the paint we will put ourselves in a much better position to defend.