Los Angeles Lakers: 6 Lessons in preseason loss to Brooklyn
By Ronald Agers
JaVale McGee takes the lead in the starting center sweepstakes!
Lake Show Life came up with numerous reasons why Howard should the guy standing center court to jump it up on October 22nd. After a couple of preseason games, that might not be the case any longer. Whether, its timing from the nearly season long layoff or lingering effects of his back surgery (Psychological), he looks very stiff and the rim protection was off.
Dwight Howard scored 5 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and had a block and a steal. But what is getting Howard into trouble which Vogel and the coaching staff will catch on to is the fact he get caught in no man’s land on defense.
https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1182263849082216449
In the pick and roll, Howard gets caught watching the ball and not making a committed decision to stay by DeAndre Jordan or trapping the ball strongly to allow the defensive rotation to happen. Instead Howard depends on trying to block the shot which breaks down the defense.
Plus Howard allowed Jordan to outrun him down the floor. This hurt in the Lakers fast break here,
DJ SAYS NO! ❌#NBAPreseason x #NBAChinaGames pic.twitter.com/3DNWcD8ITM
— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 10, 2019
Rondo is running to the basket for a lay up. Jordan runs the floor hard to get back and block the shot. Why is this an issue? Look at Howard jogging into the play well behind the play. Howard is going to help this team by doing the little things. He can’t afford to rely on his athleticism to bail him out of plays when he is not giving maximum effort.
This is not the case with McGee. He is playing hard and if you put him next to Anthony Davis, opposing teams will struggle big time finishing at the rim. McGee finished 6 points, 10 rebounds (4 on the offensive end), 3 steals and 5 blocks. What got lost in the game was a great save falling on his backside to a shooter for a 3-pointer. Barring an injury or a Luke Walton-like lineup change, McGee has staked his claim as the starter being an unstoppable lob and put-back threat on the pick and roll. Moreover, JaVale is willing to do the dirty work, Dwight is not there yet.