Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: Gasol, Bron and Kuz beat Minnesota, 4 Lessons

By Ronald Agers

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a play with LeBron James #23 in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 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 aImages License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 27: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a play with LeBron James #23 in the second half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Staples Center on December 27, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 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 aImages License Agreement. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next
Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Los Angeles Lakers did not need Anthony Davis to win on Sunday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been on fire offensively since their opening night loss to the Clippers. Based on Sunday’s events, no one takes the loss seriously anymore. Lake Show Life discusses the power shift of the Western Conference in Lake Show Life Lessons! The only Los Angeles Lakers extended post game report with in-depth analysis and highlights.

The NBA schedule this year should have the theme, “Life comes at you fast!”. This past Sunday is the perfect example of the six degrees of separation between the two Los Angeles teams. Both have the same record, they’ve both played against each other and the Dallas Mavericks have made it clear that there is a canyon sized difference in title contention.

On opening night, the Los Angeles Lakers paid more attention to their new championship hardware than the Clippers. For the second straight season, the Lake Show lost to their cross the hall rivals.

Then on Christmas Day, the Lakers continued their challenge of not losing two games in a row running Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks out of the Staples Center winning 138-115. Led by the production of Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder, the overall domination had Doncic questioning the toughness and desire of his team.

Then the Dallas Mavericks played the Los Angeles Clippers a few hours before the Lakers took the floor. NBA history was made by the Clippers…IN FUTILITY!

The Los Angeles Clippers set a NBA record by being down 50 points 77-27 by halftime. They ended up losing by 51. Paul George said in the press game conference that the team was not ready to compete with the Christmas holiday season going on.

Bottom line: The Los Angeles Clippers are not on the same level of the World Champions. They are not in the same league of excellence or even enough talent!

The Los Angeles Lakers could have fallen in the same trap as the Clippers. They could have used the same excuses. Seemingly there were other shockers on the  Sunday schedule.

  • The Brooklyn Nets lost to the winless Charlotte Hornets. (Yes, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant played in the game!).
  • The Milwaukee Bucks got blown out by the New York Knicks by 20 points! (Yes, the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year played in the game!).
  • The Cleveland Cavaliers (Without LeBron!) blew out the Philadelphia 76ers! (Yes, oh you get the point!).

With Anthony Davis sidelined with a calf strain, the Los Angeles Lakers placed Kyle Kuzma in the starting lineup and he proceeded to light up the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 127-91 blowout. The Lakers are now on a two game winning streak with Portland in town on Monday.

Kuzma has shown a sizable level of comfort since signing that three-year, $40 million contract extension. After opening the game with a fade-away 3 pointer, the flood gates were opened and Kuzma went nuts. He went on to hit four shots from the land of the extra point leading everyone in the building in scoring at halftime. The Lakers used Kuz’s momentum to gain leads of 20 points in the first quarter and a whopping 36 in the third.

Kuzma obviously had his issues last season with injuries, his role  and the evolution of playing in a pressure cooker world of championship expectations, but his growth this season is evident. There were Lakers fans that were upset with the new extension, but if you compare his deal to a couple of Clippers contracts.

  • Paul George: Four year, $190 million extension.
  • Marcus Morris: Four year, $64 million extension. The last time he was seen, he was on the phone recording Markieff getting his ring on opening night.
  • Luke Kennard: Four year, $64 million extension. Based on his production, this is still a mystery.

Kyle Kuzma’s contract extension already looks like a steal.

To the new Los Angeles Lakers fans that are checking us out for the first time, welcome to Lake Show Life Lessons. Our extended post-game report with video analysis will cover the progress for the Los Angeles Lakers the entire season!

Over the next several pages we will provide highlights of certain players and coaches. Afterward, the comment section is loaded with knowledgeable fans adding their basketball knowledge. We usually start with the stars, but this edition starts with the inserted starter.

 Who was it? Let’s get to Lesson One and find out!

Home/Lakers News