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Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron and Rajon Rondo beat Houston, 5 Lessons

By Ronald Agers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets in Game Three of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 08, 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 Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Frank Vogel uses the first two games to let the opponent shows their options and then he shuts them down!

It took the Lake Show Life the entire season, the seeding games, first-round and half of the semi-final round to figure out something about Frank Vogel.

He has a method to his madness. 

This guy would do wonders at the poker tables in Las Vegas after COVID-19 is dealt with. He coached circles around Terry Stotts in the first round and is doing the exact same thing to Mike D’Antoni.

He allows their schemes to unfold based on the rosters they have, finds the tendencies and slowly takes them all away. In the Portland series, he slowed Damian Lillard down by mandating his big men to go out one extra step to contest his 3 point shots. Eventually, Lillard was taken out if the series.

What he is doing to James Harden has been a joy to watch. In the beginning, it looked like the Lake Show Life staff was ready to criticize Vogel’s schemes letting not only Harden score 21 points in the first half, but Russell Westbrook to get going too.

After giving up 64 points in the first half, Frank Vogel’s adjustments turned the game and series around. The Rockets scored a grand total of 38 in the second half. He allowed D’Antoni to show his hand and now he’s stuck. There are no adjustments that “Micro Ball” that will affect the Lakers for the rest of the series unless they plan to grow.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1303523040026718208

Here are Vogel’s adjustments:

  • Markieff Morris started the second half, firmly placing Anthony Davis at the center spot.
  • James Harden saw double teams from different angles that took the ball out of his hands.
  • The defensive scheme is simple. Let Russell Westbrook take the lion’s share of the shots which threw off the offensive rhythm.
  • Fun fact: After dropping 21 points in the first half, James Harden took six shots in the second half. Eric Gordon disappeared only scoring 10 points on nine shots! 

That’s just the defense. FINALLY, he might have found the best rotation to use late in the 4th quarter during the conference finals and maybe the NBA Finals.

We’ll finish the discussion with the players that mesh with the superstars!  

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