The Los Angeles Lakers are on the top of the NBA world these days. The only blemish on their minds was winning at home. For 18 minutes, their Staples Center issues continued. Then the Lakers spent the next 30 minutes crossing that challenge off the to-do list of improvements.
Lake Show Life breaks down what else happened in Lake Show Life Lessons! The only Los Angeles Lakers extended post-game report with in-depth analysis and highlights.
Pelicans Head Coach, Stan Van Gundy had these words to say about the game in his press conference via ESPN.
"“There was a lot I wasn’t happy with, but over the last 30 minutes of that game, they were the far better team,” New Orleans coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We played a good first 18 minutes, and then they turned up the defense and just dominated us at both ends after that.”"
Here’s a basic illustration of what Van Gundy was talking about. Zion Williamson represents the first 18 minutes and Anthony Davis represents the last 30 minutes of this game.
ADefense 〰💪 pic.twitter.com/7zSqeMNVU9
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 16, 2021
The only glaring thing for the Los Angeles Lakers improve on these last couple of weeks was their mediocre record in the Staples Center. After falling down by as many as 15 points in the first half, the Lakers chased the Pelicans out the arena with their best defensive span of the year. The Lake Show fell behind the Pelicans by 15+ points back in November of 2019 and barely got out with a win.
This time, the Los Angeles Lakers fell behind and the game was over by the end of the third quarter.
After spotting the Pelicans a 28-20 lead after the first quarter, the Lakers cleaned up their act and played lockdown defense in a 112-95 blowout. The Lake Show now have won five straight and four of those wins have been so dominant, anyone would be hard-pressed to find any team that can last three quarters if this team plays defense.
If the Lakers continue to have SIX players score in double digits every game (One other Laker had nine points!), it maybe a while if this team loses again.
The storyline for the past week to ten days is the Los Angeles Lakers taking on the challenge of being the top defensive team in the NBA. For years, 90 percent of teams would consider this something polite to say the media. Not this bunch. Just look at the evidence.
- In the first half, Brandon Ingram was giving the Lakers the business dropping 17 points on 8-9 shooting.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1350297004488814592
- In the second half, he shot 1-6 from the field for 3 points and had a game low plus/minus of -24.
- J.J. Redick was chased all over the floor and harassed into a 4-11 shooting night (3-10 from 3 point land!) for 12 points. Four of those points were from the Lakers fouling him on a 3 pointer and sending him to the line in the first quarter. Things were so bad, he actually hit a lucky shot from behind the backboard going out of bounds.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker was the new Pelicans darling after scoring 29 and 37 points in his first two games. He only finished with 12 points.
The biggest defensive shock wave seemingly was on Zion Williamson according to Pelicans columnist, Scott Kushner.
"SVG thinks Zion is frustrated by not getting calls. “You have to fall down and s— to get calls and that’s not how he plays.”"
Understand that these comments came AFTER Zion Williamson elbowed Montrezl Harrell in the jaw and Markieff Morris in the midsection causing both to leave the game briefly.
The Lakers are now 5-0 against the Pelicans since the huge AD trade in the 2019 offseason.
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.
Let’s get to Lesson One to find out who!