Ingram showed something real nice down the stretch. Then at the end they kept giving the ball to Kuzma to fuck up instead of giving it to Ingram whose head was in the game. Kuzma was in space cadet land like Radman. Man I hope Kuzma doesn't become just another Radman type. You could see Ingram was in it to win it in his facial and body expressions. PJ Tucker was too much intensity for Kuz. Kuz is great but he hasn't proven it so far when under pressure.
I hate James Harden so much and am so sick of how much shit he gets away with. If Officials had glasses he'd foul out in 10 minutes every single game with how many offensive fouls he commits
Kuzma can go. I dont care anymore. Ingram, Kuzma, Lonzo plus anyone else on the team the Pelicans demand. Go all in. Once you get AD you can combine him with LeBron and another FA superstar fill around with cheap veterans and whomever is left on the team. PG: Lonzo, Rose SG: Kawhi, Hart SF: LeBron, Lance PF: Davis, Beasley C : Chandler, Zubac
He definitely pushed off on KCP to get open on one of those last 3's. Blatant and right up top so everyone could see But I have to give Harden cred for some of the defense that he was playing last night. He tipped that inbounds pass to Kuz, and made it so Kuz couldn't catch it cleanly. Can blame Hart there too I guess..he shouldn't have forced that pass to the corner with Harden playing his eyes and Tucker right on top of Kuz. But then Ingram is so fuckin weak physically that he couldn't get open. Man, I wish we had Ben Simmons instead of Ingram. If Ingram lifts one finger in regulation, Lakers win. No OT needed
In other news, water is wet 'He Has the Highest Value': Kyle Kuzma Emerging as Lakers' Best Young Talent ERIC PINCUS JANUARY 20, 2019 .."He's a legitimate scorer that fits the modern NBA perfectly," a former general manager told Bleacher Report. "Kuzma has the highest value of the [Lakers' young prospects]. He's the most proven." "The consistency of his three-point shooting and defense must improve," the former executive continued. "Kuzma is not a good defender, but [he's] not as much of a liability as [Brandon] Ingram. Part of that may be positional. Ingram has to guard the elite wings at some level, although the Lakers try to hide him with [Josh] Hart and interesting cross-matches. Kuzma gets the 4s and 5s that aren't very good offensively. He also plays harder than Brandon." Per NBA.com, in the 12 most common lineups the Lakers have run with Kuzma, the team has a positive net rating in 10. The least successful shouldn't be surprising: the lineup coach Luke Walton has started without James. That group (JaVale McGee, Ingram, Hart, Ball and Kuzma) has been outscored by 21.9 points per 100 possessions. Walton recently pulled the plug, starting Tyson Chandler and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in place of McGee and Hart. Ball's top lineups are identical to Kuzma's, as Walton relies heavily on the two to play together. Ingram has similar numbers with seven lineups out of eight with positive net ratings (with least 30 minutes played). "Kuzma's shot-making is peanut butter and jelly with LeBron's shot creation," a video analyst said while also noting that Ball would be an even better fit if he could become "a competent scorer." The analyst continued: "Lonzo is a better contributor in every other aspect. I'm a big believer in Lonzo, so I'd give him a slight edge long term." "Defensively, [Lonzo] is really good," the former GM said. "I like Lonzo. ... I love what he can do in transition and how he can defend. His shooting and scoring need to continue to improve." Multiple scouts and executives around the league are intrigued by what Ingram may or may not be in the NBA. He's polarizing, but the former GM is not a fan. "I'm not an Ingram guy. I don't like the inefficiency and style of play," he said. "I respect the scoring ability, but he doesn't separate with a live ball and hasn't shown to be a consistent three-point shooter. We know how much that hurts [in today's game]. He's a good finisher and gets to the line. Defensively he's brutal, and with his style of play and lack of shooting, I'm probably lowest on him." https://bleacherreport.com/articles...le-kuzma-emerging-as-lakers-best-young-talent
"I don't agree that he's a disaster overall. He's superb on the ball, and he's better off of it [than he was last season], even if he's not [good] yet. He's not getting back-cut nearly as often this year, but no, [Ingram] doesn't do nearly enough with his length." Lol Like contest. Gordon rises right up beside him for that last second 3 pointer and Ingram just watches. Has pterodactyl wings for arms and just watches.
Both KCP and Ingram are there. Watch the replay. Ingram's man is the inbounder, but Ingram is basically zoned up looking for the shooter and Gordon ends up rising up for his shot right where Ingram could get a good contest, but he just watches. Smaller KCP is doing his usual trying not to foul. Ingram is on Gordon's shooting shoulder, could've easily affected that shot with his length
Had some stupid possessions down the stretch of regulation as well. Less than 5 minutes left and a 7 point lead I believe, and Hart and KCP are having a 3pt shooting contest..they shot a combined 1-13 from 3 last night. Fuck both of those guys and Ingram the most for last night. If those 3 do anything at all offensively in regulation, game. No OT But Ingram. Seems like every time he drove the ball to the basket in regulation, he either got knocked off balance and didn't finish, or he just got stripped. He's too weak with the basketball. Also hated seeing Ingram inbound the ball at the end of regulation, TBH..if Zu wasn't 8 feet tall I'm not sure if they ever get the ball inbounds with Ingram as the passer. And if he's not the passer, he's out there struggling to get open. Almost damned if you do, damned if you don't if you're Shaw there
You're up three with 4.4 sec to go. Why not hack Gordon immediately? At worst you're inbounding the ball with about 3 sec to go.
When they had done so the possession before. All I can think is that they felt with 4.4 left that they could rely on their defense. They are an excellent defensive club as a team. Also had Zo get victimized the game before when he clearly fouled Russ before he went into his shooting motion..the NBA admitted fault there
No team can top an offer of Ingram, KCP, and Kuzma for AD. That's better than what Boston will offer. Although Boston may have an edge in that their players are guard types not tall forwards. Pelicans are deep with forwards. Rozier and Brown are not as impressive or valuable as once thought. And the 3 first round picks they have will all be non lottery late picks. So all that has to be in the deal around the centerpiece of Jayson Tatum. Only if they include Tatum can they beat the Lakers deal. So the Lakers should push all in now. Offer the Pelicans anyone on the roster for AD. Let the Pelicans compose the deal.
Yeah that'll do it for him this season. I know he'll be back physically, but he was just starting to come out of his shell with his aggression. As fragile as he seems to be, think its a good shot that we won't see him get back into that mode again this season. Hope to be wrong, of course
Yep. I don't know how you can be as long as Slenderman and not just automatically have your hands up/use your length at every turn Hell, we saw old man Manu reach up and block Harden from the shooting shoulder side in the playoffs a couple years ago to save a pivotal game. At the very least contest Gordon there
Both guys should have contested there, but I understand why they didn't. If you are within 10 feet of a shooter and leave the ground, the shooter can jump into you and get the call every time. They saw Gordon off balance and didn't want to let the reefs bail him out after he jumps into them. It should be an offensive foul if the shooter initiates contact. But can't have that, because then all the NBA's stars would actually have to play, rather than just shooting free thows.
