2. Who’s playing the four and five on the back line?
"I’ll say it again…positionless basketball is nice to talk about, but the NBA is about matchups. The way things are going right now, I am on the record now saying that the Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble. Defensively, the Lakers cannot stop a soul down low when JaVale McGee sits down and they struggle even when he is on the floor."
Aftermath…
Los Angeles Lakers fans need to chant “BACK UP CENTER!” clap and repeat. Here’s the issue here with the back line of the Lakers defense. The emphasis is on the offensive end of the floor.
On every Lakers highlight after the game you will see this…
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1048780546535374848
JaVale McGee is a freak of nature. His athletic ability is through the roof. On offense at times McGee looks very good. Check out the next highlight…
This adds up to what…four points? Okay one more highlight…
JaVale fitting in nicely with the new-look @Lakers 💪 pic.twitter.com/6QMS1S7w81
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) October 7, 2018
If that’s what Los Angeles Lakers fans want to see, great, enjoy yourselves. The problem is on the defensive end of the floor. The Clippers had a lay up line at times constantly being broken down defensively that led to dunks and layups. JaVale McGee finished with eight points and nine rebounds. Remember the guy he dunked on Marcin Gortat? He finished with TEN points and nine rebounds. I’m not a fan of the plus minus stat but it applies here. Gortat finished with a plus six while McGee finished with a -13.
Ivica Zubac played his best game of the preseason scoring eight points and grabbing six rebounds.
https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1048763200634728451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1048763200634728451&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flakeshowlife.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D89897%26action%3Dedit%26custom-titles%3Dauto-generated
Josh Hart allows penetration to the Clippers guard which will bring Kyle Kuzma away from the basket to provide support. Lance falls asleep at the rim and rotation is late. Bottom line…Harrell gets the slip pass and it’s a easy dunk for the Clippers. This is what is happening when McGee is out of the game. Press play…
If there is going to be a small-ball philosophy implemented here, guards have to stop the easy penetration which starts with disciplined close outs which leads to defensive breakdowns.
Another example…before we get started I know Boban Marjanovich is 7’3 and weighs 290. The point is that the Lakers rotations and box outs are so horrid, he could be 6’3 and 190 and it would not matter…
Your daily Boban. pic.twitter.com/WbDzbVM0HM
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 7, 2018
What every team is doing to the Lakers is putting them in bad matchups.
First Marjanovich obviously towers over the Lakers defender. The Clippers space the defense out so the center, Johnathan Williams is on an island by himself.
Second…the pass goes to the top of the key and the dribble penetration starts breaking down the defense. Then the shot goes up…Johnathan Williams goes up to block the shot which leaves Marjanovich open. No rotation to the big guy and you’ll see…press play.
The next highlight shows the dribble penetration allowed by the guard which brings Williams over again to contest. When he does, no rotation, same result.
The point here is this…the back line is too small even with JaVale McGee and the Lakers defensive execution is not good enough to overcome the match up problems because of lack of size.