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Los Angeles Lakers put on a defensive clinic beating the Cavaliers

By Ronald Agers

Mar 26, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) hangs on the rim after dunking over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32), center Jarrett Allen (31) and guard Damyean Dotson (21) during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell (15) hangs on the rim after dunking over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32), center Jarrett Allen (31) and guard Damyean Dotson (21) during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Lakers are in a freefall in the Western Conference seedings and are suffering from a four-game losing streak without the superstars. They continued their listless play against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half. The second half saw one of the most dominant defensive performances of the season as the Lakers won the game! 

The only thing pretty about this game was that the Los Angeles Lakers snapped their four-game losing streak beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 100-86. Both teams played sloppily and hosted respective parades to the free-throw line.

The difference in this game? The Cleveland Cavaliers gave anyone that watched this game a perfect illustration of how the worst offense in the NBA looks without their best scorer in Colin Sexton. Give the Lakers credit, they played lockdown defense in the second half, but Cleveland can’t score.

The good from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

Montrezl Harrell didn’t wait until the 4th quarter to get started.

Montrezl Harrell is really looking good by the numbers. He has scored 20 or more points in six of the last nine games. The problem is during the four-game losing streak, his scoring is M.I.A. until the last quarter when the game is over or during a huge deficit. After shooting 7-9 in the comeback against the Sixers in the previous game, Trezl started his scoring assault early.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1375646762711453698

He banged knees with Jarrett Allen late in the second quarter and left the game for a second but he returned because…he’s Montrezl Harrell. The Cavaliers were worn out by Trezl’s physicality as he finished with 24 points. Most of these points came off nasty dunks over the Cavs frontline.

The Lakers started the second half on fire!

The Lake Show made some adjustments (Also read Vogel chastising the first half effort!) and rolled out the two-way intensity to a 10-0 run. It all started on the defensive end.

  • Marc Gasol blocked Larry Nance Jr.’s shot at the rim that led to a Kyle Kuzma layup.
  • Then there was a steal that led to KCP free throws.
  • A defensive stop led to Dennis Schroder setting up Markieff Morris in the corner for a 3 pointer.
  • One more defensive stop led to Dennis Schroder knocking down another 3 point shot. 

The run was extended to 16-2 forcing the Cavaliers into a desperate time out to regroup. Cleveland had to have gone into shell shock when Dennis Schroder pinned Darius Garland’s layup to the backboard on a LeBron-like chase down block. The Lakers outscored Cleveland 28-10 in the third quarter.

Dennis Schroder was the best player on the floor! 

The aforementioned run was started by Dennis Schroder. He was “The Menace” making deflections and wreaking havoc on an already bad Cleveland offense.  He finished with 17 points and continued his playmaking surge with 7 assists.

Man, it was good to see Quinn Cook in the game. 

Quinn Cook was greeted and hugged by every Lakers player and coach before the game. His waiving earlier this season is what is bad about this business in the NBA. He got along with everyone and you would be hard pressed to find anyone in the NBA that has something bad to say about him. Even then you wouldn’t believe it.

Quinn Cook finished with 9 points on 3-8 shooting.

MORE: Traded players who can become buyout targets

Once you win a championship, you are a Laker for life. Good to see you again Quinn Cook. Lake Show Life misses you.

The bad from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

The Los Angeles Lakers just turn the ball over too much!

This was a problem when the Lakers had superstars. It’s just good that LeBron James and Anthony Davis both are good enough to overcome such issues. Without them, it is going to cost the Lakers wins potentially every single game. The Lake Show had 6 turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game, finishing with 23.

The Lakers’ interior/pick and roll defense was awful in the first half!

The Cleveland Cavaliers offense is the worst in the NBA. In this game, they showed why as the absence of Colin Sexton attributed. But despite the Cavaliers not having Sexton to break down the defense, they still gashed the Lakers defense for easy baskets and fouls. Larry Nance feasted on the Lakers for dunks.

https://twitter.com/cavs/status/1375656981336190977

The story from the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss:

The game turned around with this play right here.

Understand the Los Angeles Lakers were down seven points at halftime, 51-44. The team needed a spark and this was the play that got it started. Cleveland (Especially Darius Garland!) never recovered from this.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1375664222391033856

Larry Nance Jr. got in foul trouble. 

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

Why is this a story? He was the only Cavs player that didn’t look petrified of Montrezl Harrell.

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