The clashes between LeBron James and the Riders necessarily remain apart, when we know that the “King” spent eleven seasons in Ohio. Historically, each time he met his former team, he also took pleasure in torturing her: 17 wins in 18 games, with nearly 30 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists on average!
Unfortunately for the Lakers and their franchise player (27 points, 7 rebounds), the meeting this Sunday evening ended in a defeat (114-100) against the teammates of Donovan Mitchell (33 points, 5 rebounds) and Darius Garland (24 points, 7 assists).
A success built in the second half for Clevelandwho inflicted a 56-36 on Los Angeles and who at the same time won his eighth victory in a row…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Cleveland needed a half to get going. Outside of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, the Cavs were awful in the first period. Limited to 38% of address and exceeded as rarely in defense, with an unrecognizable racket, JB Bickerstaff’s men then returned from the locker room with completely different intentions. Finally at the level defensively and skillful offensively, with rediscovered interiors and rears still as efficient, they gradually took the measure of the Californian franchise, to finish on a run of 37-20 and obtain this eighth victory in a row.
— Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell held the boutique. When the Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love and other Caris LeVert tore in the first half, the Cavaliers could rely on the throws and their pair Garland / Mitchell (42 points at the break, on the 56 of their team ) to stay a safe distance from the Lakers. Back from the locker room, if Garland cooled down a bit — without this affecting Cleveland because his teammates woke up — Mitchell continued his momentum to guide his people, as a boss (or should we maybe say in MVP?), towards a new success.
— The Lakers in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde mode. As (too) often this season, the Los Angeles players showed irregularity and they bit their fingers on arrival. Energetic from the kick-off, aggressive towards the circle and very involved in defense (in addition to taking advantage of the clumsiness of the Cavaliers), Darvin Ham’s men led throughout the first period. Then the break arrived, the failures at 3-pts and lost balloons accumulated, while their collective game fell apart. Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis lost influence, LeBron James tried his best and defeat could not be avoided…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jarrett Allen. Like Evan Mobley, the All-Star pivot was unable to have a positive influence in the first period, because of his faults. Without his racket friend and him, the Cavaliers therefore sank into the paint, before the onslaught of the Westbrook/James/Davis trio. Then halftime arrived and allowed the former Nets player to put his mind to it. More applied in defense and finally watered balloons in attack, he thus tipped the meeting, while Mobley was responsible for protecting the circle. A very good ability to react from Allen, therefore.
✅⛔ Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. Aggressive and dominating in the first period, with almost half of their team’s points, several rebounds and a few assists, the “Brodie” (19 points, 10 assists, 7 ball losses) and “AD” (19 points, 12 rebounds ) sadly disappeared when their team needed them most. That is, after the break. Because, to support LeBron James, the Lakers could not afford to see their two All-Stars register only 7 small points at two, in the second half. Due, in particular, to the awakening of the Mobley/Allen pair under the panels…
⛔ Kendrick Nunn. Propelled holder in the absence of Patrick Beverley, sick, the former Heat player was once again holed up. Dumb in scoring (0 points in 18 minutes) and clumsy as possible (0/5 on shots, including 0/4 at 3-pts), he brought absolutely nothing in attack. In addition to being mistreated by Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell in defense… At this rate, “K-Nunn” will not last long in the California workforce, provided that its leaders manage to find him a new point of fall, of course.
THE FOLLOWING
Los Angeles (2-7) : back to back in Utah, on the night of Monday to Tuesday (04:15).
Cleveland (8-1) : back to backstill in Los Angeles, but against the Clippers, on the night of Monday to Tuesday (04:30).
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