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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 lessons from win vs Atlanta Hawks

By Ronald Agers

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Tyson Chandler #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates to a Laker's win with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 11, 2018 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Tyson Chandler #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates to a Laker's win with LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers after the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 11, 2018 at STAPLES Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images /

1. This is not Showtime…just players showing off! 

I remember a line in the movie “White Men Can’t Jump” where Woody Harrelson told Wesley Snipes the line…

….You’d rather look good and lose than to look bad and win!

In the era of social media, YouTube and highlights on SportsCenter, that rings true to basketball in general much less the NBA. It is a hard task to be fundamentally sound and flashy at the same time.

Golden State is the closest in the NBA to walk that fine line. The reason is that they have great ball players that

A) Can actually play the game of basketball (Talent and numbers aren’t enough). Knowing the words is not the same as knowing what they mean.

B) They have played in the NBA for years and…

C) They have played together for years.

The Los Angeles Lakers do not have that “on” switch to play like they did last night and expect to win. The Lakers lack a player with that “dog” in him. It seems like the team, for the most part, is chasing stats and highlights. This concept very nearly burned the Lakers…

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1061814211867627520

or this…

But the team turned the ball over 22 times in the game. What’s worse, two of the players the Lakers need to be careful with the ball, LeBron James and Brandon Ingram, provided nearly half of them with ten turnovers.

Those plays seen above provided quick ball movement with the ball hopping. Last night, the Lakers went back to isolation plays with players taking low percentage shots. Lance Stephenson scored well but for every boneheaded play he did on the floor, he would bail himself out with a big three to compensate.

Finally, the Lakers have to find a way to play efficient basketball for 48 minutes. The Lakers were up nine going into the last frame. Atlanta showed us the old adage…Bad teams find ways to lose.

Example? Kent Bazemore gets a technical foul when the game was tied late. Lakers hit the free throw. Big moment in the game.

Lakers win but they got a lot of help…

Next. 50 Greatest Lakers In Franchise History. dark

The Los Angeles Lakers have started their long journey through the NBA season. Lake Show Life will be there every step of the way. Continue to check in for Lakers news, previews and reviews.

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