Los Angeles Lakers: 4 lessons from huge road win over Kings

Games like this happen when the Los Angeles Lakers guards shoot the ball like they believe it will go in!

It’s games like these when the Lake Show Life staff wonders if the players actually read the post game reports or the Lake Show Life Lessons series. We don’t hold back and neither do the readers that comment.

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"It’s one thing when Jrue Holiday outscores this trio by 3-1 because he’s one of the best two-way guards in the NBA. But when Donte Divencenzo nearly outscores them. You get the point."

If either of these articles made the Lakers locker room, the guards got the message. None of these guards has played well lately and it was well documented. Somehow these guards got the message.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope:

Against Milwaukee…

"(Checking the notes) Isn’t KCP the starting shooting guard? Aren’t shooting guards supposed to shoot? Caldwell-Pope missed all four of his shots and finished with 2 points from the free-throw line His defense does not justify his starting position. However, if he loses his spot in the rotation, he may never get his confidence back."

Against Sacramento…

After an anemic performance against the Bucks, KCP came out aggressive and with the confidence Lakers fans were looking for. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope matched his entire shot total with four 3 pointers in the first half.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1378174113294905344

KCP finished with a rare double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds) while helping shut down DeAaron Fox and slow Harrison Barnes in the second half. Since the 2019-20 season, when KCP scores more than 12 points, the Lakers are 25-6.

This is not about Caldwell-Pope is hitting shots, but the fact that he was willing to take them. Even though he cooled off in the second half, he was still engaged hitting the boards and played great defense.

Talen Horton-Tucker:

Against Milwaukee…

"THT might have hit his rookie wall folks. He’s struggling. He finished with only 3 points on 1-4 shooting.  He was the main reason the Kyle Lowry trade did not go through at the deadline. The Toronto Raptors wanted THT as a part of the deal, but the Lakers flat out refused. Fair or not, if the Lakers go on a major losing streak, some fans might start turning on him."

Against Sacramento…

One drive to the basket for a reverse layup in the first half and Talen Horton-Tucker was off to the races. He was part of the huge 5-0 run to end the third quarter to extend the Lakers lead from 10 to 15 points going into the final quarter.

THT finished 15 points (6-12 shooting!), 4 steals and 2 rebounds. What’s the most important stat in the box score? Zero turnovers.

Alex Caruso:

Against Milwaukee…

"On most Los Angeles Lakers websites: Ooh! Caruso caught a body! On Lake Show Life: What was the score when this happened? Caruso finished with 6 points and 4 rebounds. But here’s the problem. The points came only after the game was over and two of the three baskets he scored came off lazy Bucks turnovers. In the half-court offense, Caruso can’t be relied on as of late to score."

Against Sacramento…

Umm…the Lakers were leading (Cough, cough!) when this happened!

Alex Caruso scored 8 points (3-4 shooting!) with 3 assists and 2 rebounds. The difference in this game was when he was passed the ball he was ready to shoot.

Oh, it’s going to be fun on Sunday! The Los Angeles Clippers are next in a matinee on national television. Happy Easter Sunday from Lake Show Life.

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.