STRONG LAKERS DEFENSE Fuels 110-97 Win Vs. Knicks, Luka Scores 35, Reaves 25
Lakers fans (and NBA observers) have spent much of the year discounting the team’s fairly impressive record by noting that most of the losses have come against the league’s more successful teams. Often in blowout fashion. When will LA beat good the good teams?
Well, Sunday the Knicks rolled into Crypto.com Arena as a Certified Good Team, and the Lakers used great defense, consistent effort and good-enough offensive performances to grind out a 110-97 win. It wasn’t perfect, and the Lakers benefitted from cold shooting by the New York. But that’s true of almost every game across the league. The Lakers controlled this one more or less throughout. They used strong physical play to frustrate the Knicks and particularly Jalen Brunson, for three quarters at least.
In terms of individual performances, Luka Dončić paced the squad with 35 points. Austin Reaves came out aggressive and finished with 25. How important was Marcus Smart defensively? He was 1-10 from the floor, and finished a +26. Luke Kennard and Rui Hachimura combined for 25 points. The team put pressure on the rim, getting to the line 30 times, and kept turnovers (13) at a reasonable level.
The offense definitely bogged down — you noticed the absence of LeBron James — but it was a nice twist for the team to be bailed out repeatedly by its defense.
It’s a nice confidence boost as the Lakers head into a stretch of very difficult games.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: The Lakers win, over a good team!
SEGMENT 2: An aggressive Austin Reaves.
SEGMENT 3: Still need more from the offense.
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31 Comments
No haters today
BK sporting his sunday "manly look"
No haters No LeBron 😂😂
Alright great D passing very good great timely win! Hoooorrrraayyyy! 🎉😊
Rebounds and steals are defensive stats. That's almost never mentioned when they talk about Luka's defense.
Karma will get you boys back for promoting gambling to the masses
EXCELLENT WIN LAKERS!!! 💪💪💜💛💜💛💜💛💜
Great Game vs NYK!!!
• Not Ready to say We are Better without LBJ but, We play Different without LBJ!!!
• It looks/feels like JJ wants to [Make LAker Basketball White Again] however, 4 White Dudes on The Court doesn’t work bcuz Our Athleticism & Defense Suffer; 3 is Our Max!!!
• AR looks like He’s bac(k)!!! Respect to LBJ but, He has to be a Role Player behind 1) Luka & 2) AR when He Returns!!!
Bonus points for the Bill Maher hate!! Screw that genocide supporter
Andy,
One thing I think you are underappreciating is team chemistry. You've got Klutch saying that AR should be traded or benched. (Lukas best friend). The narcissistic crowning of himself. The lame dance routines. The ritual of throwing up chalk every game to be the center of attention. The media constantly fawning over him. Every other week the media coming up with some new "Record".
The team knows he only plays hard 20 of his 35 minutes and that sort of thing makes them roll their eyes. No teammate will say it, But I would bet you most on the team will be happy to see him go. I played 3 sports for roughly 20 seasons, including college, and that kind of arrogant behavior isn't appreciated by teammates.
Smart and Vanderbilt really grow in importance in these settings, but LaRavia and Kleber can be factors as well. Those 4 are not always good, but I don’t recall any of them ever not trying hard when they are out there. Good to see Rui and Kennard getting shots too.
Black is your color Brian.
Change the thumbnail my guys.
110 to 97, u dudes got 100 97
Last 6 games 5-1 with 119.6 on offense and 106 in defense ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
This lakers team is a contender without Lebron.
They'd be a lot better if LeBron James would come off the bench. He could spell Luka. Wonder if you guys have the courage to say that fact.
Maybe people won’t call me a r3tard for thinking Luka and LeBron shouldn’t be on the floor together, VET MINIMUM OFF THE BENCH ITS BEEN 3-4 YEARS OVERDUE
Ohhh look ste the tweeter Di and tweeted dumb, they look do unhappy that their “ goat” Lefraud was not playing and had no chance to glorifie him for 30 minutes. 😂
Wait what? LeBron doesnt play and suddenly Luka plays better, Reaves plays better, the entire team plays better, chemistry is great and everyone is trying to play defense?
Nah thats crazy talk… Its not like we had a good sample size at the start of the season showing exactly that…
Get that cancerous roided out old man off the team already, sit him for the rest of the season.
I said b4 the season started and luka became a laker, lebron needs to come from the bench i don’t care what anybody says…he has to put the team 1st he doesn’t need to prove anything else hes the Goat 🐐
LeBron needs to come off the bench look how smooth the offense moves nobody standing around DA playing way more aggressive and also AR is not being careless with the ball am I wrong???
NO LBJ😊
OFFENSIVE & DEFENSE, REBOUNDING.
LOOKED BETTER.
JUST SAYING
That Denver win was winnable. .Imagine if they did it too vs the magic and suns
Don't let Lebron play vs the Wolves
Jake doing some work on the offensive glass today
Luka's defense has been visibly better for the last two weeks. Anyone who denies this is blind. Hopefully he keeps this effort up.
TBF, knicks missed a lot of 2s and 3s but i agree, they were more locked in on defense.
Rob Pelinka: I will lead The Lakers in the post Bill Maher era
lol i think u shuld put more thought into your takes Andy or we might mistake u for a Bron hater. Did u really jus blame Bron's age for y dis team can't play hard for a full game? Lol did u forget we have Luka. Are u suggesting dat Luka breathes more life into our energy n effort than Bron?
Interesting quote "Felt like nobody was a weakness on defense" A certain major player being a DNP and the team playing so well is very telling! When subtraction is addition then some New math is needed! Nice impression of Shaq! I can't understand like half of what he's being lazy about communicating!
Solid weekend Lakers beat the pacers and knicks. They only trailed very early vs. Pacers. Down only a point. Cosst to coast never trailed vs. Knicks.