A defeat on the floor of the league’s worst team might have been fatal to Frank Vogel. The latter can still blow. Under the eyes of the Shaq, his team started its series of trips in the right way, which promises to be complicated in the east of the country, with a logical success where the hierarchy was respected. The Lakers thus regain some of their colors after losing four of their last five outings.
Orlando however played without complex the time of a first period dominated by the Floridians (62-54). With six players at 11 or more points, including a well-paced Jalen Suggs, the Magic had no trouble finding offensive resources in the first 24 minutes.
That was less the case in the third quarter when Los Angeles finally upped the ante defensively. After the break, Frank Vogel had decided to leave without Dwight Howard, replaced by LeBron James at the pivot position. With this adjustment, the Lakers went 20-2 to start the second period.
This big streak allowed the visitors to take the lead at the start of the last period (78-85). With Carmelo Anthony still hot, Los Angeles will continue its effort to offer up to 17 points in advance and not be worried in the “money time”.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Lakers’ second period. We imagine that Frank Vogel (to save his skin…) had to give his team a little blower, trailing by eight points, at the break. His team reacted by signing a quality second period with 62 points scored and above all only 43 points conceded. In the fourth quarter, his team gave the impression of mastering their subject, without being afraid, as has rarely been the case this season. The opposite in the face of such an opponent would have been scary…
– Russell Westbrook not “benched”. He returned to his bench 1:30 from the end, like LeBron James, but the game was over. Apart from an incredible lost ball during a simple comeback, the Lakers point guard had a happier end to the game than against the Pacers and signed a globally convincing match with a limited number of waste. He ended his performance with a nice pass for an “alley-oop” from LeBron James.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ LeBron James. Apart from six lost balls and his missed 3-pointers, the “King” signed a new high-level performance. In the fourth quarter, he stood out by being at the conclusion of two “alley-oops”. The first, the most spectacular, after cutting the baseline and capturing a pass from Malik Monk for a back dunk. The second, coming from Russell Westbrook therefore, which earned him chants of “MVP! of the local public. Chants which generally occur during a passage to free throws, rarely after a game action.
✅ carmelo anthony. The veteran has shown the way to an effective “second unit” overall. The winger signed 19 of his 23 points in the second half, with devilish skill, being well served by his friend LeBron James. It was already his eighth game this season finished with 20 or more points. Last year with the Blazers, he reached that mark 14 times.
✅⛔ Jalen Suggs. Six lost balls too, only 1/7 from 3-pointers… The rookie’s match was not perfect but he came close to his first career double-double, signing his best assisting game of his season. He also displayed enough aggressiveness to multiply the passages on the line of the throws.
⛔ Cole Anthony. It took until half of the last quarter to see him register his first basket, the second came on the next possession. For the rest, the leader of the Magic had a poor evening in attack, even signing his worst game this season, with a score of -28 when he was in play. His game confirms a feeling of less good in the last ten days.
LEBRON JAMES “UNIQUE IN HISTORY”
” He’s the most unique player in the history of the game. We won a title with him as playmaker two years ago, he’s been a ball-handling winger throughout his career and he’s played pivot for us. It’s pretty remarkable, and for him to do it at this point in his career is even more remarkable. “The remark is signed Frank Vogel who has again decided to make his player responsible for position five in this part.
THE FOLLOWING
Magic (8-39) : reception of the Bulls, Sunday.
Lakers (23-23) : trip to Miami, Sunday.
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