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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Lessons from victory over Minnesota Timberwolves

By Ronald Agers

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 07: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a jumper over Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during a 114-110 Lakers win at Staples Center on November 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 07: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a jumper over Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during a 114-110 Lakers win at Staples Center on November 7, 2018 in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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1. Tyson Chandler brought more to the table!

Before I get into Chandler’s play, I want to say it is amazing sometimes how every Lakers story and move gets tied to LeBron James. I mean even down to how Chandler gets into a Lakers uniform? Really?!

Check it out courtesy of ESPN’s Dave McMenamin…

"There’s one working theory of why the Suns granted Chandler the buyout now instead of in February or March when the traditional wave of buyouts occur: Phoenix interim GM James Jones was a longtime teammate of LeBron’s in Miami and Cleveland. “James did LeBron a solid,” a league source told ESPN."

Tyson Chandler scored two points and grabbed nine rebounds against the Wolves. But he brought so much more than that. The Lakers now have a low post defender that is strong enough to bang down low. With an assist from Karl-Anthony Town’s own teammates, Tyson Chandler took him out of the game at the end.

At the beginning of the game..you can see KAT was aggressive and active…

In the pick and roll here, Towns rolled to the basket and threw the ball down on top of JaVale McGee.

Plus he gets back to block LeBron James’ shot here…

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1060379084553940992

But pay attention to when these plays happened…In the FIRST QUARTER! Chandler wore him down as the game went on. By the time the game was over Karl-Anthony Towns was shooting 3-point shots and looked very soft in the post being guarded by Chandler.

I mean look at this play because this was the last we saw of Towns in this game of any reference. Chandler took his heart away right here. Towns gets the ball on the left block and tried to back down Chandler. CHANDLER DOES NOT MOVE! Towns fumbles the ball away to Brandon Ingram and off the Lakers go!

Chandler is a low post defender that does not need constant help to defend down low. That helps everyone else because they can stay attached to the shooters (more on that later!).

Here’s something that Los Angeles Lakers fans need to pay close attention to. Tyson Chandler helps out the Lakers offense as well…he sets solid screens to open up the shooters.

In this play here, Chandler goes up to set a screen on Andrew Wiggins who is guarding Josh Hart. With the solid screen, Josh Hart receives the pass from Rajon Rondo is wide open on the right wing for the 3-point shot. Press play…

This opens up the flood gates for a shooter like Josh Hart. Hart knocked down five 3-point shots in the game and got enough rhythm to hit all six of his free throws. How big is that? It’s amazing how a single play can be instrumental to helping a team win.

Finally, the two tap outs rebounds with less than a minute to play that led to a Kyle Kuzma free throw, which stopped a Derrick Rose 3-point onslaught to cut the game to one. Then Tyson Chandler switched off on defense and had his hands up bothering Derrick Rose’s shot at the end of the game. Just an outstanding floor game without scoring a point!

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