Game 42: Detroit Pistons (17-21) @ Los Angeles Lakers (22-19)

[Slava]

Can't overstate the importance of Kuz's scoring for this team.

[SlimShady83]

Can't overstate the importance of Kuz's scoring for this team.

I've said this from the start.

If we're going to trade anyone out of the "young core" it should be BI and Hart ... King Kuz and Ball should not be traded - I don't care if it's for AD or not those 2 have too much potential

And yes the haters are gonna hate Ball, but he'll be good in a year or 2/3 .. Just hope he can keep his head in the game
Sometimes he just doesn't seem to be there

[Spens1]

Wow, wasn't expecting Kuz to have his breakout game randomly but there you go. Ball was alright too, poor scoring aside. New Orleans should be watching

[Spanish_Laker]

Best game of the season, along with the Golden State one at Christmas Day. And today a "final" @ Utah, winning there would be huuuuuuuge.

[perempe20]

When Lonzo has the ball in his hands running the half court, I feel much more comfortable than when Ingram is initiating. Some awesome passing tonight from Lonzo and really got the whole team moving the ball. Fun game to watch.

his best play was the screen assist for the McGee alley-oop (2nd 0:58).

[Beethoven]

I'm starting again to feel a little bit of that good I had during xmas

[iamworthy]

Can't overstate the importance of Kuz's scoring for this team.

Offensively kuz is doing things I thought Ingram would be doing.

[perempe20]

Ingram is 2 years younger.

[Slava]

Can't overstate the importance of Kuz's scoring for this team.

Offensively kuz is doing things I thought Ingram would be doing.

They are just different players, the roster as a whole is set for a volume scorer to benefit and Kuz is just that kind of guy.

[Danny Darko]

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[dockingsched]

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Would love to see a list of this, probably has Klay on it a few times.

[Landsberger]

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Would love to see a list of this, probably has Klay on it a few times.

Yeah.... what's the definition of "one on one"? Kuz had 4 or 5 possessions last night where he faked the 3 and drove to the hoop for a layup. That's not Iso but isn't it "one on one"? Is there a number of dribbles involved?

Anyway it's doesn't seem to be a determinant indicator. I'd like to see a stat compiled that tracks seconds of possession per score. That, to me, would be a great indicator of ball stopping.

[TylersLakers]

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That's absolutely crazy.

Defensively, I thought he (& the rest of the team) was really good. The team D against Blake Griffin was beautiful. Lonzo came over & doubled on basically every post touch Griffin had. When he did and Blake gave the ball up, Lonzo recovered beautifully and found the open Detroit player as quick as possible. Communication looked great when Detroit then made multiple passes.

[Kilroy]

When Lonzo has the ball in his hands running the half court, I feel much more comfortable than when Ingram is initiating. Some awesome passing tonight from Lonzo and really got the whole team moving the ball. Fun game to watch.

See, I get that people get frustrated with Ingram or whatever, but I don't understand how you can fault him for this particular game, or the last one for that matter...
He's been pretty spectacular at finding guys open looks and picking and choosing his own spots...

Also, as to the Ball/Ingram initiating discussion... There was a possession in the third that I thought illustrated the dynamic perfectly... Ball and Ingram were in the back court, waiting for the inbounds... The ball comes in to Ingram, he tosses it to Ball to bring up the court, but Ball tosses it back... Ingram then kind of looks at him and passes it back to him to bring up and initiate the offense...
I don't think Ingram has any problem playing off of Ball... But I think our offense is designed for either LeBron or Ingram to be initiators for certain sets...

And again, Ingram has been spectacular at it the last couple games.

[Kilroy]

Can't overstate the importance of Kuz's scoring for this team.

I think it's more than just scoring... He's been doing that pretty well and we haven't looked this good... I think it's more like, "...the importance of Kuz hitting jumpers..."
When his jumper is on, it opens up the entire floor... If we could just get Kuz, Hart, and KCP to be a little more consistent from outside, this team would be a real playoff threat... Then if we could get Ingram to start hitting too, we might even be a legit WCF threat...

That said, if we get this level of play/toughness from Beasley come playoff time, that alone might make us a completely different playoff team.
What he was doing last night and against Minni is going to be crucial when we face the other running teams in the post season.

Rondo/Lance/Beas might just be our real 'death lineup' come playoff time... From a 'the lineup nobody wants to face' standpoint. Maybe throw Ball and Zu in there too... Lance is our crazy... But the rest of those guys have showed a real hard-nosed approach to defense lately.

[Sedale Threatt]

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That's absolutely crazy.

Defensively, I thought he (& the rest of the team) was really good. The team D against Blake Griffin was beautiful. Lonzo came over & doubled on basically every post touch Griffin had. When he did and Blake gave the ball up, Lonzo recovered beautifully and found the open Detroit player as quick as possible. Communication looked great when Detroit then made multiple passes.

That's beyond crazy, that's almost impossible. It's the best part of his game, how well he moves without the ball and how decisive he is once he gets it. And his touch around the rim on floaters and runners is just a gift.

If he can just pick up his 3-point shooting ...

[dAdo dA dEvil]

When Lonzo has the ball in his hands running the half court, I feel much more comfortable than when Ingram is initiating. Some awesome passing tonight from Lonzo and really got the whole team moving the ball. Fun game to watch.

See, I get that people get frustrated with Ingram or whatever, but I don't understand how you can fault him for this particular game, or the last one for that matter...
He's been pretty spectacular at finding guys open looks and picking and choosing his own spots...

Also, as to the Ball/Ingram initiating discussion... There was a possession in the third that I thought illustrated the dynamic perfectly... Ball and Ingram were in the back court, waiting for the inbounds... The ball comes in to Ingram, he tosses it to Ball to bring up the court, but Ball tosses it back... Ingram then kind of looks at him and passes it back to him to bring up and initiate the offense...
I don't think Ingram has any problem playing off of Ball... But I think our offense is designed for either LeBron or Ingram to be initiators for certain sets...

And again, Ingram has been spectacular at it the last couple games.

Even if Ingram plays well some people will still not be happy. They will always find a way to criticize the kid.

[stan francisco]

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Now that’s what moving off the ball means.

[stan francisco]

Ingram’s defense is always a great contribution. His length is extremely disruptive.

On offense, he just needs to stop dribbling vertically even more than he already did, although I certainly appreciate his shift toward going straight to the hoop in the last two games. He’s starting to look like last year in March.