Next Man-UP! The Lakers Mantra being tested

The Lakers find themselves testing the limits of the "next man-up" mantra and attitude that begins with Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton and ends with the last men on the bench.  It has been some of the last men on the bench, literally, that have filled in nicely for the team.

Walton has demonstrated on more than one occasion that he would much rather keep one of the NBA's best five, the Lakers' Second Unit, in tact.  Thomas Robinson, Jose Calderon, Metta World Peace and Marcelo Huertas are all players that with a "healthy" starting backcourt would ordinarily not be seeing the floor much, if at all.

Much is being made of the loss of D'Angelo Russell.  When you factor in his 4.8 assists each time out, you can say that he has a part of at least 26 points per contest.  Nick Young is fourth on the list of Lakers Top Scorers and Russell is two.  Losing two of your top four scorers hurts ANY team.  Marcelo Huertas filled in nicely last game with 7 assists and five steals last game.  Huertas replaced the injured "back-up point guard" Jose Calderon.  Calderon had previously filled-in for D'Angelo and had been playing steady basketball.

When T-Rob, Thomas Robinson, got the start when Julius Randle missed a game due to a "hip-pointer" injury he grabbed 10 rebounds.

So, the "next-man UP" IS stepping UP for the Lakers.

They are just running out of available players to back-up those back-ups.  And, players like Jordan Clarkson and Luol Deng are not stepping up enough.  Clarkson has had moments but has been inconsistent, including a 3-13 performance against the Rockets.

Deng?   Luol is still doing the intangibles.  He is hustling and making plays on the ball that do not show up in the stat sheet.  However, at some point your highest paid player and "leader" needs to take the bull by the horns and ball.  Luol has not done that yet.

 He has complained about playing time yet when given added opportunity he seems to take "steps-back," while  those around him seem "step- UP."   Surrounded by his youthful and more energetic Lakers Teammates, Deng seems to fade away into an obscurity of sorts.  Almost forgotten about.

But, Luol Deng is STILL on this team and he is STILL a starter.  I don't think the Lakers have anymore "protected-picks" to lose for so at some point the Coaches have to look long and hard at Deng.  Thomas Robinson has already shown that when called upon he exceeds expectations, brings energy and hustle and also produces.  These are ALL things the Luol Deng is NOT doing.

Lou Williams has stepped up, hit big shots, played consistently and put his team on his back.

Jordan Clarkson has... well, Jordan Clarkson has worn a kilt.

He has to do more than that.

Way more than that.

Tarik Black's energy and defense in the middle has been missed but the Lakers have Nance Jr. back who knows he has to step-up in Black's absence.  Robinson can also help fill that void.

It is easy to look at a 39-point loss and say that you need to play better defense.  They also shot poorly (39% vs HOU 54 %).  This includes Clarkson and Deng combining at 4-18 from the field totaling nine points.

Next MAN-UP!

Step IN, Step-UP.. Defend the perimeter against the quick guards of Phoenix and contain the middle against the Suns'active Bigs.

D-Fend Home Court

Metta World Peace Says the Lakers will go 20-7

Panda Speaks! Metta World Peace, of the Los Angeles Lakers , discusses mentoring, a breakdown the young Lakers, and "Mad Kobe" moments with Phil

"Yeah, One day I do want to be a Coach...If the opportunity was to ever arise I would love to Coach one day. I think it would be fun."

"

Metta also spoke about how he sought help, through a psychologist, to help better himself as a person.  

He says he likes Kawhi "because he is a better version of me...he is much more stable than me."  He was referring to the problems and issues that HE was going through as compared to a more level-headed and consistent Kawhi Leonard but that HIS (Ron Artest's)  2003-2004 Season (Artest was the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year) could not be touched by Leonard.

Metta went on to break down some of the young Lakers:

Russell: "He has to play better off the ball."

Randle: "That's impressive to have THAT much upside..he has to add some hustle, some offensive put-backs and then he starts hitting that jumper...he can have a way better offensive career than Leonard."

Clarkson: "Jordan Surprised Me..I didn't know much about him...the cool thing he is showing it every night.. he HAS to become a BETTER PASSER..because he has the ball the majority of the time..I don't blow smoke up his but, I tell him to never be satisfied."

Nance:  "It took awhile to get his confidence going."  Larry would say, "I'm a hustle guy and I'm a rebounder and that's it.  And, I would tell him, no you're not, you're a shooter, you can score and you can hustle, do it all...you're a great player WE need you to play basketball."

Metta goes on to talk about how Nance's confidence came through in a game when he hit a few jumpers and he pointed to the bench. 

"He is probably the MOST developed right now."

A question was asked whether Metta could take Randle in a boxing match.  Metta said that, 

"he is quick and he is STRONG, but I'm not sure he has a jab.."  (perhaps a little jab from Coach Peace)  

Metta went on to say that defending Shaq is harder than a boxing match.

Regarding a question on "Mad Kobe" Metta said, "one time I seen him and he was foaming at the mouth..he hit a big shot, and he was so into it..he screamed to the fans and just drool is coming out of his mouth and I'm like "this is amazing," it was amazing to watch.  He gives his ALL to the Lakers Fans and the organization."

Metta also said of Kobe, "I've never met somebody that's as passionate as I was.  I've never come across anybody, in the NBA, one of my teammates, that was as passionate as me...basically you are looking in a mirror in term of passion."

Peace reflected on his time in Cantu, Italy where he said the "pizza and pasta were AMAZING."  He said they had the best and craziest fans over there and that "they would throw water bottles and all types of things..." 

Metta would rather do yoga than bench press.  He says that at 255 pounds as a small forward he is already big and he would be around 280 or more if he bench pressed.

Metta mentions a few players as being good teammates, including Reggie Miller from his time with Indiana.  But Yao Ming he said was the best.  He spoke highly of Yao, saying, "he was AMAZING.."

He said the whole Team (2010 Lakers) was CRAZY including D-Fish.  He said, " he hit big shot after big shot and you have to be crazy to do that."  

But Metta's Favorite from that Lakers Team was Luke Walton.  He said Luke was always coaching from the sideline,

"c'mon man, you're Ron Artest...NOBODY CAN GUARD YOU."

Metta was a small forward on a team that had 15 year old Lamar Odom as a 6-11 shooting guard along with Elton Brand at the power forward for the Riverside Church Hawks in New York City.

He said the best team they played was against an AAU team that had Baron Davis and the Collins twins.  They lost to them.  The only loss they EVER had but creamed them later in the championship.

There is more commentary on questions regarding Pau and Coach Scott so take a listen.

The biggest NEWS was this bombshell:

"TWENTY AND SEVEN...in the second half of the season...TWENTY and SEVEN, THAT IS THE GOAL."

If Mentor Metta...Ron Artest, Defensive Player of the Year 2004, World Champion Metta World Peace has ANYTHING to do with it?

I believe him.

As young D'Angelo said earlier this season,

"when Metta talks... we listen"

RESPECT

_ chauncey

Never Metta Bench Player that was happy: Where is Ron Artest; Los Angeles Lakers

I chuckled a little when I heard that Metta World Peace was in camp this season for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The chuckle was due, in part, to things like post-game comments like,

"I am one of the best forwards in the world."

He is RIGHT.

He is also a former NBA Defensive Player of the YEAR.  Something Roy Hibbert is NOT.

The latter starts and plays and players like Metta who, at one point this season, gave great effort and contribution for the Lakers; including the team's FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON against the Brooklyn NETS.


"I was plus twelve, I led the team in plus/minus today..that was important for me

"there is a reason why they call me doctor scientist"

The team has obviously struggled this season.  One of those struggles has been in finding playing time in the front court, particularly at the 4 and  5 spots (power forward/ center).

With Hibbert starting and playing 25 mpg and players like Randle (of course) Bass, Nance and  finding more of the floor it has made things difficult for players like Metta, Sacre and Kelly.

Tarik Black has also found himself at the mercy of Byron's delegation of playing time in spite of HIS EFFORTS and "plus/minus" for the team.

Both Metta AND Tarik have found themselves in street clothes on more than one occasion.

Metta might be this team's best defensive player. He can be utilized in spelling the young frontcourt players and make life miserable for the likes of Draymond Green (as we saw earlier this year).

Has Metta been used correctly this season?  Are the Lakers taking advantage of a peer-mentor like MWP that can LEAD by example through his work ethic and PLAY on the COURT?

He showed the effort and energy of players half his age when he was playing EARLIER in the year, but has seemingly drifted away.

It appears that Byron Scott is FINALLY going to UNLEASH TARIK ...

This Team is lucky to have a guy like Metta on the TEAM.  Like him or NOT he IS ENTERTAINING, 

"check out Metta World Peace DOT COM" said Metta, plugging his website in another recent post-game interview.

Perhaps THIS has something to do with his obscurity these days.  

Nick Young was was benched after making comments about the Lakers being a circus when they lost to Philadelphia.

If Tarik steps in and captures consistent, meaningful minutes that means Metta might be further left out.

Personally, I think he deserves BETTER

"Metta deserves Betta!"

                         In fact, hasn't he 

EARNED IT?

MWP always repping the purple and gold

Lakers' Brass showing they struck GOLD with Larry Nance Jr.

Lakers needed some Magic in Orlando but got snake bit, Mamba style, instead

     There was talk that Vucevic would possibly test himself (coming off missing the previous three games due to a bone bruise in his right knee).  THIS was NOT the news I wanted to hear.

Well, he not only tested his knee, he ends up with this game-winning bucket with 1.5 seconds left for the play...

Heart- Breaking. THIS Hurt https://t.co/3Mx6G55xBs

— Chauncey (@gonzosports1) November 12, 2015

Nikola (USC) finished with 18 points in 25 minutes on 9-16 shooting.

This game and moment HURT.  However, it had to be equally or more so exhilarating for Vucevic and the Magic; as much as this was painful to watch and perhaps more painful to bear witness to on the hardwood as a Laker.  What a moment and a game for them (Magic).

And, that's just it.  THIS was a good game.  I would go so far to say it was a great game in spite of the "L" for L - A.

Positively Speaking:

1) Another quality start for Metta:

9 pts, 4-7 FG, 27 Mins, 2 Bds, 1 A, 1 Stl, 1 BS

2) Career game for Nance 2:

     Nance was inactive for the first THREE games for the Lakers.  He was available in game 4 but got "DNP."  At this point we knew that the Lakers were struggling on defense and getting pounded in areas like "paint points."  Playing MWP and Nance seemed logical but they didn't get a sniff until they BOTH debuted in the first quarter vs the NY Knickerbockers ( #FPhil ).  Good things happened.  Since then, Metta has found himself starting at the "Three" while Kobe "Rests."

"I'm one of the best forwards in the world"_ MWP

Robert Horry, after the loss in Orlando, suggested Nance starting at the 4 and Randle at the Three.  Not a bad idea.

Who starts, for me, is NOT as important as overall contribution and finishing.

The game against the Magic should NOT have come down to a last second turn-around.  

The Lakers Needed some of their OWN MAGIC

Nance had been on the floor for a considerable amount of time but was taken out (5-6 minutes left in the 4th) to NOT return. 

20 mins, 13 pts, 6-6 FG, 1-1 3pt, 3 bds, 1 A

Nance is averaging 18.25 mpg, 6.8 pts, 4.3 rpg and 70.6% FG.  Start or NOT, this player needs MORE time on the floor.

It should be evident by now that the "front court" rotation between the 4 and 5 spots are firm with the following: Hibbert, Randle, Nance and MWP.

Inactive/DNP are reserved for Ryan Kelly and Robert Sacre.

This leaves Black and Bass.  I like them BOTH and they BOTH do positive things, however, they BOTH also show too many lapses and deficiencies.

     Easy shots and opportunities were missed, in the 4th quarter, and blown by the Lakers including mental lapses and turnovers.

3) Russell closed the game out?  I don't necessarily call this a "positive" as players like Clarkson and Nance were riding the pine down the stretch.  What I DO like is his overall play.

For those of you who think #DLoading is NOT good. Lakers https://t.co/wk3D90o7yA

— Chauncey (@gonzosports1) November 12, 2015

The numbers are NOT great but he played with more energy and assertion:

31 mins, 14 pts, 6-15 FG, 2-5 3pt, 6 bds, 3 A, 3TO

Who was guarding Napier?

30 mins, 22 pts, 8-16 FG, 5-9 3pt

4) The comparison of Julius Randle TO Aaron Gordon:

Gordon went 4 and Randle went 7 in 2014 DRAFT.

Gordon:

18.1 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 44%, 4.9 rpg, 1 A

Randle:

28.4 mpg, 11.9 ppg, 45%, 8.3 rpg, 2.9 A

Granted, Randle is playing about ten more minutes per contest, but he is currently showing better than Gordon. AND, one could make the argument that Larry Nance Jr.'s number are comparable and/or better in ways.  Either way, Lakers' Brass showing they struck GOLD in Nance2 (27th pick in 2015 Draft).

5) Huertas:  He did some good things AND he did some bad things.  THIS "rookie" needs to stay on the ground when passing AND learn how to get through screens.  If he could shore up his deficiencies he CAN help the purple and gold as the only true backup point guard.

6) Coach Scott:  He is FINALLY getting his rotation in order.  Now, it is just a matter of having the RIGHT combos in the RIGHT situations and times.  And he has to play his very BEST, the very MOST minutes.

#PlayMetta        #Nance2

Meanwhile on the "Lakers Flagship Station"

"they are STILL looking for that elusive second win.." _Brian Kamenetzky ESPN LA 11/12/15

This isn't necessarily the stuff that motivates ME to do THIS which is to take my time to write thoughts and opinions that no one is paying for nor necessarily cares about.

I do THIS for "the love of the game."

BUT, really "Kam Bros!?"  WE did know that this squad was going to struggle, right?