Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in ugly loss to the Phoenix Suns

It was the best of times for Frank Vogel and the worst of times for the Los Angeles Lakers!

Lake Show Life Lessons usually trigger passionate comments from the readers. It’s no secret that most of the comments will question Frank Vogel’s rotations that seem to lack Montrezl Harrell, who was averaging over 20 points for a stretch coming into this game and Damian Jones, who is on a 10 day contract, but still hasn’t missed a shot for the Lakers yet.

For the ones scoring at home, Damian Jones has all five of his shots.

We give up. Here’s Vogel’s explanation. Enjoy.

Lake Show Life will beak this down to the best of times and the worst of times for Frank Vogel.

The best of times:

Frank Vogel really threw the Suns off by inserting Jared Dudley into the game and going to the zone defense!

On paper (Maybe in real life to some!) Frank Vogel inserting Jared Dudley into the game to play center with a 6’10 center in Dario Saric or Deandre Ayton on the floor made no sense. But let’s look deeper.

• Deandre Ayton even though he towers over Dudley does not have good post moves and his footwork is weak.
• Dario Saric has spent most of his career shooting jumpers.

So, the plan actually worked. Because of the list above, Dudley was effective at the five spot for a little while.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1366962588030955522

• Watch how Jared Dudley flashed out to help Alex Caruso double Chris Paul to get it out of his hands. 
• The rotation back bothered Saric as he goes for the layup (Again he doesn’t want real contact down low!) and Dudley knocks the ball out of his hands to Talen Horton-Tucker to start the fast break.
• THT  pushes the ball and hits Caruso on the fast break then Caruso flips to LeBron.
• LeBron provides the hammer.

Now let’s go to the worst of times:

Frank Vogel’s move by inserting Jared Dudley may have worked in the first half, but the Suns have Monty Williams as their coach along with Chris Paul as the point guard. The Lakers ran that small-ball lineup again in a move that would have had the Houston Rockets doing a double-take.

Then the Suns were ready and abused the Lakers in the paint t close out the game. LeBron James was literally stuck with combinations of Wesley Matthews, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jared Dudley. Really? This leads to the question of the day.

Where in the world in Montrezl Harrel and Damian Jones in this game? Lakers fans, you have heard what Vogel had to say, now here’s Lake Show Life’s take.

There is no justifying Montrezl Harrell being buried on the bench. None. Did Damian Jones make a few rotation mistakes on defense? Sure. So? He’s been in the Lakers organization a half an hour. He’s supposed to make mistakes but he’s tall, runs hard and can rim protect.

How did Vogel’s rotation plan work out? The Suns centers combined for 38 points and 10 rebounds. If Montrezl Harrell is going to get minutes like this, the Lakers are better off bringing him off the bench. This made no sense.

The Los Angeles Lakers play the Sacramento Kings next. They get to reminisce with an old coaching friend in Luke Walton. After Lloyd Pierce got fired in a shocker this week, another Lakers beatdown could have another NBA employee (James Harden being the first!) splitting from a franchise in Luke Walton.

Lake Show Life has extended its post-game coverage this season! There will be short post-game reports shortly after the game in addition to the extended post-game of Lake Show Life Lessons! 

More championship coverage for championship fans.