The Lakers played their best game to date. With Kobe Bryant for rest, Wayne Ellington took the start. The roster was more balanced, with Ellington able to provide spacing in a half-court set. Wesley Johnson started off the game with some scoring punch. He scored a quick seven points in the first quarter, starting with a made three-pointer off of a screen by Jordan Hill. Once the game was tied at 11, the Lakers took charge and never looked back.
Six minutes through the first quarter, it’s very clear that the Lakers had a different mood. It was shocking to see the team flat out in transition multiple times. Ed Davis and Jordan Hill were scrapping up the garbage points, while the Lakers kept their defensive intensity throughout the entire first half. Jeremy Lin contested a baseline jumpshot, drew a charge, and gathered a steal underneath the Warriors basket. Ronnie Price deflected passes and even stole the basketball after a Laker score. The Laker bigs, Ed Davis and Jordan Hill both went up to contest a lay up attempt by Ezeli in the paint.
The Lakers even shut down the Warriors in transition points. They scored 0 points in transition through 24 minutes of play.
It was anticipated that the Warriors would string a comeback in the second half. Stephen Curry got hot with 11 consecutive points; two bombs from three-point land. But, the Lakers weathered the storm. Ronnie Price hit three consecutive three-point shots. Wayne Ellington shook Klay Thompson with a crossover, a nailed his three-point shot as well.
While the game looked similar to Mike D’Antoni’s style of play, there was one noticeable difference.
The Lakers played defense.
They played defense to the tune of the Warriors having 19 total turnovers, while the Lakers had 11 team steals and 10 blocked shots. Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price tied with three steals a piece, while Jordan Hill protected the paint with 4 blocks of his own. Five different players had at least one blocked shot. Nick Young even joined the party.
The Lakers shot 51.7% for the game. That was the first time in 27 games that the Warriors had given up over 50% shooting from the field to their opponents.
It was the best the team ever looked on both ends of the floor.
It was reminiscent of true Lakers basketball. Everyone contributed, played with poise, played with energy, and it was entertaining and exciting.