Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons from loss to the Memphis Grizzlies

Luke Walton needs to find a balance or let someone else do it

There was some good news with Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo’s return to the lineup and some bad news.

The good news was that they were back and the Lakers really needed them.

The bad news was that Lakers fans would frustrated with the substitution patterns.

As bad as the Lakers played at times in this game, the patterns and players he put out there was worse. Lonzo Ball for example…

Lonzo Ball did not have in this game. He shot 2-10 and missed all seven of his 3 point shots. Memphis just left him out there and DARED him to shoot. Rajon Rondo took two shots in 18 minutes. Here’s where Luke Walton needs to find five guys to put on the floor to win the game!

How about more minutes for KCP…I mean he did some things!!!!

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1077056580783267840

He actually put the Lakers in the lead to START the 4th quarter!

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1077060080137162752

Man! He actually played some defense!

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 10 points on 4-5 shooting which included 2-3 from the 3 point line. He had a rhythm. In a game where Ball was not shooting well and in need of shooting…HELLO?

As for the defense, I know that Walton has issues with Lance Stephenson. Anyone can see that. But in games like this, when the team needs a difference maker, PUT LANCE STEPHENSON IN! What do you have to lose? If he stinks and turns the ball over, yank him, but give the dude a chance to inject some energy! Lance Stephenson played one more minute than I did writing this piece and one more than you readers did reading it!

Bottom line, Walton was badly outcoached.

As for Lonzo…

I am a fan and a staunch supporter but you need to see this. Hopefully this is a moot point and you have done this already…

This is Svi Mykhailiuk. In a Lakers win against the San Antonio Spurs a couple of weeks ago, he stayed after the game to work on jump shots. Understand Lakers fans, after a win.

Lonzo Ball has got to figure his jumper out and soon. He shot badly from the 3 point line missing all seven. He’s going to have to adjust his game. He does not shoot well enough to constantly jack up threes. His inability to knock down shots hurt the Lakers in this game.

We all know he can do this…

https://twitter.com/LakeShowFamily/status/1077041238799511552

But if he does not want to be a trade piece in the coming weeks, his offense has to be better. Bottom line!