Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in Game 2 win over Portland Trail Blazers!
By Ronald Agers
![LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: The Los Angeles Lakers bench reacts after a basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half in game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images) LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 20: The Los Angeles Lakers bench reacts after a basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half in game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/3f5a5dff13fdb70b8e24aa5037bdf731ffb3199092eb239849db2c86ad0f1388.jpg)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and JaVale McGee made a contribution in this game! Then made an impact!
Check out what one of our readers named Donald said while the game was going on one of the comment sections.
"BTW, WTH did u say to KCP and JaVale? They’ve been awesome so far!"
Maybe the Los Angeles Lakers players read this stuff. Well, if they don’t, Lake Show Life will own the perception anyway.
KCP and JaVale McGee might not have been in quarantine with Rajon Rondo, but their games sure were. The only guess is that they both knew they were in serious danger of losing their starting spots in the rotation. Danny Green? Man, we just quit with him.
JaVale McGee:
It was rumored that JaVale McGee was close to losing his starting spot to Dwight Howard. He wasn’t playing hard and was contributing next to nothing battling the Blazers frontline. In game two, it didn’t take JaVale two possessions to show that he was ready to play some basketball. You see he scored the first two baskets including a monster dunk.
JaVale gets it started with our first two buckets of the night 🙌
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 21, 2020
(📺: @SpectrumSN & ESPN) pic.twitter.com/DGrOP4xkJR
Check out this stat line for McGee. In 13 minutes, JaVale tallied 10 points on 5-6 shooting, grabbed 8 rebounds (An absurd 5 offensive!), 3 assists with a plus/minus ratio of +15. The offensive rebounds led immediately to second-chance points. Something that was few and far between in the bubble. This was the JaVale McGee we all knew before the shutdown.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope:
You have to feel so good for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as he made a big-time appearance knocking down two 3 point shots early in the first quarter getting the Lakers out to a strong start. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope finished the game scoring 16 points (5-8 shooting!) on an impressive 4-6 shooting from 3-point range. He showed some hops too!
KCP out ahead of the pack 👋
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 21, 2020
(📺: @SpectrumSN & ESPN) pic.twitter.com/Jh4TmhCg08
KCP has been taking a beating trying to defend the basket and even worse, having a 260 pound Myles Turner land on his ankle in the seeding games. Going 0-9 from the field (Missing all five 3 point shots!) and scoring 1 point had to get Frank Vogel to thinking about other options.
But whatever KCP took for the pain, Ummm…can you get that a drug store or get a prescription? You see the writer has these bone spurs in his shoulder…
Oh never mind…Lake Show Life has criticized the Lakers coaching staff for about a month over adjustments to the rotations and defense. Man, Frank Vogel reminded Lakers Nation that he can coach. Turn the page so he can get his flowers!