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Los Angeles Lakers: Rondo is in the Big 3 in win over Heat, 4 Lessons

By Ronald Agers

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during the second half against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 02, 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 02: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during the second half against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 02, 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Lakers have to stop fouling and the starting backcourt has to hit shots!

To be clear, Frank Vogel has done a great job and is coaching circles around Erik Spoelstra. He has figured out the Miami zone and he has the veterans locked in. But his rotations tend to be head-scratchers. What do we mean?

Why didn’t Dwight Howard play more in this game?

If Dwight Howard would have gotten 20-25 minutes, we are looking at double-double performance with ease.

See this dunk right here?

Add two more of these early in the game and he was setting the tone with the same toughness that sent Bam Adebayo to the bench. The Miami Heat are afraid to go to the basket outside of Jimmy Butler. When he went to the basket, his shot got smashed on the backboard.

In 17 minutes, Dwight had a stat line of 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 blocks and an assist. He needs more minutes. Meyers Leonard is a non-factor and Kelly Olynk won’t score as he did in Game 2  again.

The Lakers have to stop fouling!

In the third quarter, the Heat got back into the game from the free-throw line. Miami had a streak of 29 straight free throws at one point. Overall they had 34 for the game, hitting 31. They are one of the best free-throw shooting teams in the NBA. This can’t happen. Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro can’t get a clean look over the Lakers’ defense. Putting them on the line bails them and their teammates out.

Now on to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green! 

What allowed the Heat to stay in this game somewhat was the Lakers’ 3-point shooting struggles. The team set an NBA Finals record with 47 attempts. The 16 makes adds up to 34%.

The Lakers starting backcourt consisting of Danny Green (1-8 in 3 point shots!) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (2-11 from distance!) combined to go 3-19 from the field overall. If they hit one, maybe two more of these, this one would have been a blowout. To put this in perspective, every other Laker outside of J.R. Smith (He didn’t take a shot!) shot reasonably well in this game.

Next. 40 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

But like we said before…nitpicking!

Game 3 is on Sunday. Lake Show Life is efforting a game blog for you fans to comment while the game is going on. There are only two more potential games left so, let’s start the party while the games are on doing our part for social distancing. 

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