Game 27: Los Angeles Lakers (23-3) @ Atlanta Hawks (6-20) - 6:00 PM ET

[stan francisco]

Holy **** we need shooting desperately....

How is the defense of Bertans’?

Good thing we’re winning so many close games. Bad thing we’re winning so many close games.

[BEazy]

Holy **** we need shooting desperately....

How is the defense of Bertans’?

Good thing we’re winning so many close games. Bad thing we’re winning so many close games.

With the way Bertans is playing I'm sure the Wizards are going to ask for a 1st round pick for him. We can't afford that. We gotta either trade KCP, Cook, or Kuz for a decent shooter. I also think that will open up Danny Green in the corners.

[danfantastk32]

It's not all roses....but the wins keep coming. This was supposed to be the "december of death".....reality was supposed to set in. And yet here we are: zero losses on the month so far...still scalping heads on the road...and beating good teams.

We got a little lucky tonight. We clearly looked past these guys, and almost (prob shoulda) paid for it. But we won. Moving on.

[evilpimp972]

Holy **** we need shooting desperately....

How is the defense of Bertans’?

Good thing we’re winning so many close games. Bad thing we’re winning so many close games.

With the way Bertans is playing I'm sure the Wizards are going to ask for a 1st round pick for him. We can't afford that. We gotta either trade KCP, Cook, or Kuz for a decent shooter. I also think that will open up Danny Green in the corners.

Youre going to trade two of your best shooters of the year because of one terrible game?
Bertans defense will make your head scratch and you will soon be asking for his trade just like Kuzma. He's not the answer.

[BEazy]

How is the defense of Bertans’?

Good thing we’re winning so many close games. Bad thing we’re winning so many close games.

With the way Bertans is playing I'm sure the Wizards are going to ask for a 1st round pick for him. We can't afford that. We gotta either trade KCP, Cook, or Kuz for a decent shooter. I also think that will open up Danny Green in the corners.

Youre going to trade two of your best shooters of the year because of one terrible game?
Bertans defense will make your head scratch and you will soon be asking for his trade just like Kuzma. He's not the answer.

Never said he was the answer. I also didn't say we need to trade 2 of our shooters. I am also one of the very few people that wants to keep Kuzma on this team. I really want JJ Redick on this team. If we can give up KCP and Cook plus a 2nd round pick I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat.

Plus our shooting hasn't been exactly consistent. Aside Lebron's 4 made 3s this game, the whole entire team shot 1 for 27 from the 3 point line. That is absurd and very concerning. You don't shoot 1 for 27 against a bottom feeder team like the Hawks. So yes, we need to trade someone for a shooter.

[evilpimp972]

With the way Bertans is playing I'm sure the Wizards are going to ask for a 1st round pick for him. We can't afford that. We gotta either trade KCP, Cook, or Kuz for a decent shooter. I also think that will open up Danny Green in the corners.

Youre going to trade two of your best shooters of the year because of one terrible game?
Bertans defense will make your head scratch and you will soon be asking for his trade just like Kuzma. He's not the answer.

Never said he was the answer. I also didn't say we need to trade 2 of our shooters. I really want JJ Redick on this team. If we can give up KCP and Cook plus a 2nd round pick I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat.

Plus our shooting hasn't been exactly consistent. Aside Lebron's 4 made 3s this game, the whole entire team shot 1 for 27 from the 3 point line. That is absurd and very concerning. You don't shoot 1 for 27 against a bottom feeder team like the Hawks. So yes, we need to trade someone for a shooter.

Why would you want JJ Reddick? He's targeted on defense everytime, every shots he makes he gives up one on the other end...that does not look good for a playoff game if he has to guard Kawhi or PG
The shooting is fine. You think teams like the Rockets dont have nights off? We are not in the bottom of the league in fact we are 6th best. Now if you can get someone like Convington you do it in a heartbeat
We had 20+ turnovers though, the team needs another playmaker to not give Rondo big minutes.

[evilpimp972]

Plus KCP is your best shooter aside from Rondo and you wanna trade him for a shooter lol

[Spanish_Laker]

The team is on pace of becoming the greatest Laker team ever (regular season). That 14th win road streak must be a franchise record.

[SweetTouch]

The loss is coming

Basketball gods don’t like the lack of Respect to the game

It’s coming

[bb22]

The team is on pace of becoming the greatest Laker team ever (regular season). That 14th win road streak must be a franchise record.

I think they mentioned 16 in the postgame.

[bb22]

The loss is coming

Basketball gods don’t like the lack of Respect to the game

It’s coming

Well the next 4 games are very tough (Pacers, Bucks, Nuggets, Clippers). Especially with AD not at 100%.

I try not to look too far ahead, but this is still not the hardest stretch imo. In March, the peak of playoff positioning and RS competition, they go Sixers, Bucks, Clippers, Nets, Rockets, Denver, Utah, Utah.
Last 6-7 games of the season are a joke, which sucks for the Lakers, as those could have been easier wins during the season.

[iamworthy]

I haven't been impressed with Danny green this year. I hope he has another level for the playoffs.

[BEazy]

Why would you want JJ Reddick? He's targeted on defense everytime, every shots he makes he gives up one on the other end...that does not look good for a playoff game if he has to guard Kawhi or PG
The shooting is fine. You think teams like the Rockets dont have nights off? We are not in the bottom of the league in fact we are 6th best. Now if you can get someone like Convington you do it in a heartbeat
We had 20+ turnovers though, the team needs another playmaker to not give Rondo big minutes.

Where did you get that from? Every site is saying we’re 12-13 spot for 3 point percentage...

[Ball so hard]

I haven't been impressed with Danny green this year. I hope he has another level for the playoffs.

Mentioned this a few times as well. His advanced stats are solid so it's hard to make a case for his being mediocre. Like you, i'll continue to hope for the best.

[Ball so hard]

How is the defense of Bertans’?

Good thing we’re winning so many close games. Bad thing we’re winning so many close games.

With the way Bertans is playing I'm sure the Wizards are going to ask for a 1st round pick for him. We can't afford that. We gotta either trade KCP, Cook, or Kuz for a decent shooter. I also think that will open up Danny Green in the corners.

Youre going to trade two of your best shooters of the year because of one terrible game?
Bertans defense will make your head scratch and you will soon be asking for his trade just like Kuzma. He's not the answer.

To be fair, people have been screaming trade KCP for the past 2 years. I agree with you on Bertans... he's the flavor du jour. Guy is lighting it up on a piss poor team (not going to take that a way from him) and people somehow think he'd have similar success here. Put Kuz on that team and he'd average 20 easily. I've said it many times... our biggest need is a shot creator in the back court to take most of Rondo's minutes. Currently Lebron is carrying way too much of the load for my liking.

[tamaraw08]

With the way Bertans is playing I'm sure the Wizards are going to ask for a 1st round pick for him. We can't afford that. We gotta either trade KCP, Cook, or Kuz for a decent shooter. I also think that will open up Danny Green in the corners.

Youre going to trade two of your best shooters of the year because of one terrible game?
Bertans defense will make your head scratch and you will soon be asking for his trade just like Kuzma. He's not the answer.

To be fair, people have been screaming trade KCP for the past 2 years. I agree with you on Bertans... he's the flavor du jour. Guy is lighting it up on a piss poor team (not going to take that a way from him) and people somehow think he'd have similar success here. Put Kuz on that team and he'd average 20 easily. I've said it many times... our biggest need is a shot creator in the back court to take most of Rondo's minutes. Currently Lebron is carrying way too much of the load for my liking.

It's easier to get into a nice shooting rhythm when you play 29 mins/game and average 8.5 attempts with a bad team with no pressure and the other team is not taking you seriously. Brandon Ingram also looks lethal with his 41% from the 3pt line on 33 mins and 6 attempts/game.
Kuzma on the other hand comes in cold in the 2nd quarter next to Lebron who is in attack/aggressive mode after he deliberately feed AD with at least 10 passes in the first quarter. James would probably not admit this but he wouldn't want to simply get 11 assists and just under 20 pts/game.
Kyle gets limited touches with no plays called to get him easier looks. His rookie year 2 years ago, with no lebron and AD he averaged 16 pts on 36.6 % from the 3pt line.
Yes, Lakers can use a creative scorer from the back court but I don't think they have the means to acquire one. I still think the staff can come up with better sets to at least hold the fort with the starters are resting. Not every team have a prolific scorer from the bench but they make do unlike this team who seems to crumble when the superstars are not taking the shots.

[stan francisco]

The loss is coming

Basketball gods don’t like the lack of Respect to the game

It’s coming

Well the next 4 games are very tough (Pacers, Bucks, Nuggets, Clippers). Especially with AD not at 100%.

I try not to look too far ahead, but this is still not the hardest stretch imo. In March, the peak of playoff positioning and RS competition, they go Sixers, Bucks, Clippers, Nets, Rockets, Denver, Utah, Utah.
Last 6-7 games of the season are a joke, which sucks for the Lakers, as those could have been easier wins during the season.

That’s a good warmup and healthy reality check before the playoffs, and high time to kick it into playoffs gear.

[stan francisco]

With the way Bertans is playing I'm sure the Wizards are going to ask for a 1st round pick for him. We can't afford that. We gotta either trade KCP, Cook, or Kuz for a decent shooter. I also think that will open up Danny Green in the corners.

Youre going to trade two of your best shooters of the year because of one terrible game?
Bertans defense will make your head scratch and you will soon be asking for his trade just like Kuzma. He's not the answer.

To be fair, people have been screaming trade KCP for the past 2 years. I agree with you on Bertans... he's the flavor du jour. Guy is lighting it up on a piss poor team (not going to take that a way from him) and people somehow think he'd have similar success here. Put Kuz on that team and he'd average 20 easily. I've said it many times... our biggest need is a shot creator in the back court to take most of Rondo's minutes. Currently Lebron is carrying way too much of the load for my liking.

Agreed.

And Bertan’s defense sucks? That’s what I thought. Or Pop would’ve kept him.

People who say, ‘we need shooters‘, or things like, ‘let’s sign Monta Ellis’, usually only watch one end of the floor, and only the player who holds and/or shoots the ball.

We don’t need more scoring. We score enough to win every game. Defense.

And we should trade KCP. His bigger size contract and solid contribution should net us good return.

Trading Kuz right now would be worse than idiotic.

[tamaraw08]

Youre going to trade two of your best shooters of the year because of one terrible game?
Bertans defense will make your head scratch and you will soon be asking for his trade just like Kuzma. He's not the answer.

To be fair, people have been screaming trade KCP for the past 2 years. I agree with you on Bertans... he's the flavor du jour. Guy is lighting it up on a piss poor team (not going to take that a way from him) and people somehow think he'd have similar success here. Put Kuz on that team and he'd average 20 easily. I've said it many times... our biggest need is a shot creator in the back court to take most of Rondo's minutes. Currently Lebron is carrying way too much of the load for my liking.

Agreed.

And Bertan’s defense sucks? That’s what I thought. Or Pop would’ve kept him.

People who say, ‘we need shooters‘, or things like, ‘let’s sign Monta Ellis’, usually only watch one end of the floor, and only the player who holds and/or shoots the ball.

We don’t need more scoring. We score enough to win every game. Defense.

And we should trade KCP. His bigger size contract and solid contribution should net us good return.

Trading Kuz right now would be worse than idiotic.

KCP has a NO TRADE CLAUSE, you just acknowledged he has SOLID CONTRIBUTION for this team, why then would you want to trade him?
Take away the solid advanced stats of the 3 bigs, AD,JMG and Howard, he is top top 5 in TS%, Winshares, DWS,ORTG,OWS,OBPM, 3PT SHOOTING etc etc.
No he is not the best defender but he is decent enough to chase quicker players.

[stan francisco]

To be fair, people have been screaming trade KCP for the past 2 years. I agree with you on Bertans... he's the flavor du jour. Guy is lighting it up on a piss poor team (not going to take that a way from him) and people somehow think he'd have similar success here. Put Kuz on that team and he'd average 20 easily. I've said it many times... our biggest need is a shot creator in the back court to take most of Rondo's minutes. Currently Lebron is carrying way too much of the load for my liking.

Agreed.

And Bertan’s defense sucks? That’s what I thought. Or Pop would’ve kept him.

People who say, ‘we need shooters‘, or things like, ‘let’s sign Monta Ellis’, usually only watch one end of the floor, and only the player who holds and/or shoots the ball.

We don’t need more scoring. We score enough to win every game. Defense.

And we should trade KCP. His bigger size contract and solid contribution should net us good return.

Trading Kuz right now would be worse than idiotic.

KCP has a NO TRADE CLAUSE, you just acknowledged he has SOLID CONTRIBUTION for this team, why then would you want to trade him?
Take away the solid advanced stats of the 3 bigs, AD,JMG and Howard, he is top top 5 in TS%, Winshares, DWS,ORTG,OWS,OBPM, 3PT SHOOTING etc etc.
No he is not the best defender but he is decent enough to chase quicker players.

KCP for Iggy. That’s why. NTC, I know.