Can Adversity Ultimately Help the Lakers? Maybe! Plus, Reaves Off the Bench?
Following Monday's disappointing loss in Orlando, Dorian Finney-Smith made a very solid point about the Lakers, where they are now, and where they want to go. Ultimately, he says, adversity helps a team with championship aspirations. You have to go through it (to use JJ Redick's phrasing) in order to truly see the flaws and fix them. Coming through adversity is the hard thing. Great teams must be able to do hard things. So while professional athletes have a remarkable capacity to believe that whatever situation they're in is the one that they need at that moment, DFS is speaking truth, here. (And, side note, it reinforces why the guy is so universally popular with every teammate and coach he's ever had.) Obviously players need to be accountable, and on that front Luka Dončić took some responsibility for the second half drop in communication Monday, noting he has to do better. He and LeBron, Luka said, have to set the tone and the example for the group. That's a great start, but the list of things the Lakers need to get right extends past the players. Yes, they need to pull their weight, but the team is also being schemed against in different ways—fewer double teams against Luka, for example, which has caused the team to get stagnant as possessions get iso heavyand have to make the appropriate adjustments. That, to be sure, puts a burden on the coaching staff to counter the counters. So everyone from the stars to the role guys to the coaching staff has work to do in order to get this thing aligned. If they can't, the playoff run won't be nearly as fun or as long as fans have come to hope. But the good news? Lets say the Lakers can find a way to create better space and movement while everyone is being single covered. Let's say they start generating that same volume of high quality shots and assisted baskets as during the best runs of the season. Now they're even more dangerous, because it's one less tool in the opposing coach's tool box. The Lakers don't have a ton of time to figure it out, and no matter what happens, the summer will provide an opportunity to fill some holes the roster obviously has. But there's enough time, and the Lakers are led by a couple of basketball supercomputers in Dončić and James. So ultimately, there are still more reasons to be excited than despair. HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky SEGMENT 1: Luka takes some blame. SEGMENT 2: Balance, balance, balance. SEGMENT 3: Reaves off the bench? Your favorite podcast now has a newsletter! In One-stop for ultimate team and league coverage delivered right to your in box. Sign up for free now, at lockedondaily.com.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Österreich