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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Lessons from the loss to the Spurs

By Ronald Agers

SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 7: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks shot of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers at AT&T Center on December 7 , 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 7: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks shot of LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers at AT&T Center on December 7 , 2018 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) /

3 The Spurs went “LeBron James” on the Lakers

We all remember the theatrics of LeBron James on Wednesday. Well, the Spurs said they have a player or two that can do the same. You know them…DeMar DeRozan and Davis Bertans.

DAVIS BERTANS!

Yep, the combination of DeMar DeRozan spending so much time at the free throw line that should have been paying rent, and Bertans who went nuts in the fourth quarter basically doomed the Lakers. But let’s be clear here…the defense was bad!

Here’s some examples…

With the Lakers up six points in the 4th quarter, this is where things went bad. This play here is where the Spurs spread the Lakers out to the 3-point line. The Spurs run Marco Bellinelli off a pick to shoot the 3. Jakob Poetl cuts to the basket and beats Tyson Chandler to the basket for a lay up and the foul. Michael Beasley and LeBron James were late on the rotations to protect Chandler and the run was started.

Another example…

Davis Bertans shoots a 3 from the left-wing. JaVale McGee is drawn out to contest the shot. Kyle Kuzma turns his back and Poetl runs straight to the basket and jams through a put back dunk. Again, Josh Hart and LeBron James are caught watching the ball instead of putting a body on someone and boxing out.

When on the road, these small details have to be dealt with and executed to win going forward. If not these things happen…

House gets on fire and there is little anyone can do to stop the heat from burning. This isn’t bad defense, this is the Spurs getting red-hot building off the plays above.

One note on the Lakers defense as well that needs to be addressed. Luke Walton closed out the game without JaVale McGee or Tyson Chandler on the floor. This needs to stop. Playing LeBron at the five does not work. Let it go. Move on. Please. The Lakers are a bad defensive team without a rim protector on the floor.

DeMar DeRozan blows by Lonzo Ball on the wing and drives to the basket. LeBron James rotates over to contest the shot. He gets caught in no man’s land as DeRozan hits the floater to put the game away.

This is not on LeBron here, this is on Luke Walton.

Without a known shot blocker, you are not putting any pressure on a great scorer like DeRozan. JaVale McGee or Tyson Chandler is going to contest the shot plus the old adage you can’t coach seven feet applies here.

The Lakers lost the game, but there is a lot to be excited about…

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