Lake Show Life
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South Bay Lakers loudly beat rival Celtics affiliate, Maine Red Claws

Shereen Rayan|
ONTARIO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Thomas Bryant #31 and Ivica Zubac #40 of the South Bay Lakers during the game against the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario on December 28, 2017 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
ONTARIO, CA - DECEMBER 28: Thomas Bryant #31 and Ivica Zubac #40 of the South Bay Lakers during the game against the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario on December 28, 2017 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

It’s what you want as a coach, a fully loaded bench. Colby Karr and his South Bay Lakers needed all ten players to beat the Maine Red Claws, and it was a great game.

The Maine Red Claws came to town to take on their rivals on the eve of South Bay Lakers forward Travis Wear (UCLA) earning NBA G League Player of the Week honors. The Red Claws are the NBA Affiliate of the Boston Celtics.

On the week, Wear averaged 24.5 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. He made 57.6 percent of his field goals including 50 percent from beyond the arc. Wear scored 24 points against the Northern Arizona Suns, then 24 points on Salt Lake City. I would use a few fire and one eyeball emoji here if allowed.

Along with Wear, the SB Lakers had a loaded roster on Monday night. The lineup included Lakers Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant as well as Lakers two-way players Alex Caruso and Gary Payton II.

However, even though they were loaded, it was a team win with an ever-changing lineup. Head Coach Coby Karl must have had a field day trying to figure out what combination of players to put on the court at any given minute.

The Maine Red Claws were without their two-way players including prolific scorer Kadeem Allen (Arizona). There was a Minnesota Timberwolves scout in attendance who was disappointed in Allen’s no-show, so that tells you just how good he has become.

In the G-League, a lack of players on the roster for any given game is a chance for those left to show what they have to offer their coaches and the scouts.

All the players were in for a treat. Not only were there three scouts watching, Lakers head coach Luke Walton and assistant coach Jud Buechler were both in attendance. Julius Randle showed up with is beautiful family and cheered on his fellow Lakers. It didn’t go unnoticed by Bryant.

The SB Lakers hate to lose a game. I know it sounds cliché’, but I have watched so many teams, and you know which teams have chemistry, and which don’t. You can tell which teams hate to lose and which teams are okay with a loss.

Usually, those teams are not playing “We” ball they are playing “Me” ball. That will not fly in Los Angeles. The Lakers developmental league teams always want to win the trophy.

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The SB Lakers were ahead by roughly ten points throughout the first half and were ahead by 15 points at one point. But then the Red Claws made a run in the third quarter which stopped most SB Lakers staff in their place to watch the game and will the team to push through it. There were 13 lead changes and seven ties and two technical fouls; Zubac in the 3rd and Branch in the 4th.

Zub and Steph are the last two players on the team you would think would draw a technical foul, but they did, and it was very entertaining. Both of these T’s were given by the referee’s after, I guess, excessive complaining? Maybe a few expletives were thrown? I couldn’t hear from where I sat.

In the end, the SBL scored 14 more points in the paint and scored 23 second-chance points (seven more than the MRC). However, the stat that stares you in the face is the fast break points. The SBL scored 29 points on fast breaks versus only two points for the MRC. The SBL like to push the pace, and that they did.

Bryant went 7-10 and made 3-4 of his free-throws making him the most efficient player on the court scoring 18 points in 20 minutes. Seven SBL’s scored in double digits, but no one came close to a double-double:

  1. Bryant (18 points, seven rebounds in 20 minutes)
  2. Caruso (18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists)
  3. Machado (17 points, five rebounds, six assists)
  4. Zubac (17 points, nine rebounds, three blocks)
  5. Payton II (15 points, five rebounds, six assists, two steals)
  6. Wear finished (14 points after being named the NBA G League Player of the Week earlier in the day)
  7. Stephaun Branch (12 points off the bench)

As a coach, I have always thought that made free-throws, fast breaks, and second-chance points win games more than anything else. In this game, the MRC’s shot 100 percent of their free throws, but the SBL’s won on fast breaks and second-chance points. It’s nice to know that my theory still holds water.

There is one more advantage I think I will now add to my list, and that is how loud a team is. Bryant is one of the most emotional, in a good way, players I have ever watched play, and it makes the game so much more fun.

You can throw Machado, Branch, Wear, and Caruso in that intensity club as well. It’s also tricky for the bench to be loud and supportive and not get a warning or a technical in the G-League. The bench came through tonight both on the sideline and on the court.

Here is our post-game interview with Bryant where we ask about his unique kicks:

Next: Meet Lakers newest Two-Way player Gary Payton II

Next Up: The South Bay Laker’s travel to Nevada to take on Reno Bighorns on Wednesday, February 7th at 7:00 from the Reno Events Center.

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