Two nights after a recreation the place they didn’t absolutely handle enterprise till late and had completely no assist from the bench, the Lakers fully flipped the script towards the Raptors.
It was the primary half that was a little bit too topsy-turvy earlier than a second half the place the sport was blown vast open. And the bench scored 38 actual American factors within the course of!
You possibly can hardly draw up a greater penultimate recreation of the highway journey forward of Wednesday’s second evening of a back-to-back. The Lakers positioned themselves very properly to complete this highway journey 5-1, which is about as excellent as you might have realistically drawn it up.
So, let’s grade the win. As all the time, grades are based mostly on expectations for every participant. A “B” grade represents the common efficiency for that participant.
Rui Hachimura
26 minutes, 14 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 6-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, +6
There are quite a lot of issues Rui has excelled at since coming into the beginning lineup. Nonetheless, maybe my favourite is how nicely he performs off of LeBron James-Anthony Davis actions.
For instance, there was a play within the second half the place LeBron and AD ran a decide and roll. On the weak aspect, Rui lower behind his defender to the basket, acquired the go and dunked it residence.
It’s the little issues that he’s improved upon and that helps get straightforward buckets like that.
Grade: A-
LeBron James
29 minutes, 23 factors, 4 rebounds, 9 assists, 10-12 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-5 FT, +13
One other uber-efficient efficiency from LeBron. However simply a very powerful a part of that is him enjoying beneath half-hour. His standing for Wednesday’s recreation just isn’t set in stone, although head coach Darvin Ham sounded optimistic he’d play, however greater than something, he appears to essentially be ramping up towards the postseason.
Grade: B
Anthony Davis
28 minutes, 21 factors, 12 rebounds, 1 help, 10-20 FG, 0-4 3PT, 1-4 FT, +14
I’m not totally certain why AD has appeared extra wanting to shoot 3-pointers of late, but it surely hasn’t actually been environment friendly. Over his final 12 video games, he’s capturing 30.8% from the 3-point line on 2.2 makes an attempt per recreation.
General, he’s 8-26 in that span, a quantity buoyed by his 3-8 efficiency towards the Bucks. Outdoors of that, he’s 5-18 (27.8%), which isn’t good. I suppose you might take out his 0-4 efficiency on Tuesday and make an identical argument, but it surely simply hasn’t actually felt like he’s been higher.
However I’m nitpicking a bit. AD remains to be dominant and unbelievable.
Grade: A-
Austin Reaves
25 minutes, 7 factors, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, 2-9 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-2 FT, +6
Reaves is in one other 3-point capturing stoop this season. Whereas he did lastly make one on Tuesday, over his final 4 video games, he’s simply 2-20 from the 3-point line.
However he nonetheless stays a constructive participant regardless of these capturing struggles. It’s simply suboptimal to see him in one other stoop.
Grade: B-
D’Angelo Russell
33 minutes, 25 factors, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 9-17 FG, 7-14 3PT, +23
Who doesn’t love a little bit D’Lo heater, even when it was in a recreation that was successfully already determined? His little run did successfully safe that LeBron and AD wouldn’t want to come back again in, so it was an enormous constructive.
Tonight was the sixth time in his Lakers profession D’Angelo Russell has hit seven 3-pointers, tying him for third-most in franchise historical past with Nick Van Exel.
Solely LeBron James (8) and Kobe Bryant (12) have had extra.
— Jacob Impolite (@JacobRude) April 3, 2024
Additionally, getting him again to firing on all cylinders forward of the postseason can be very good.
Grade: A
Taurean Prince
24 minutes, 8 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, +13
A five-rebound, five-assist evening from Prince? Is that this the Twilight Zone? An amazing displaying for him off the bench after a extremely unhealthy one towards the Nets.
Grade: A-
Spencer Dinwiddie
25 minutes, 9 factors, 1 rebound, 1 help, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 3-6 FG, 3-6 3PT, +20
Admittedly, I had reached my breaking level on Dinwiddie when he opened this recreation lacking back-to-back open 3-pointers. I used to be questioning quite a lot of issues.
However he bounced again very properly and knocked down a lot of pictures. Kudos to him. However he must maintain doing this.
Grade: B+
Max Christie
20 minutes, 12 factors, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 5-10 FG, 2-4 3PT, +8
I get that there in all probability isn’t room within the rotation for him when Gabe Vincent is energetic, however there’s zero motive he shouldn’t be subsequent within the pecking order. And, extra particularly, forward of Cam Reddish.
On high of that, there are greater inquiries to be requested about how large of a task he might and will have subsequent season. He appears actually able to take a much bigger position and a leap.
Grade: A
Jaxson Hayes
19 minutes, 7 factors, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 3-5 FG, 1-1 FT, +6
I don’t know the way Hayes was strolling within the second half, not to mention able to throwing down a dunk that actually made me get out of my seat. It was as surprising because it was outstanding.
For that alone, he deserves an incredible grade.
Grade: A
Colin Castleton, Maxwell Lewis
For his or her sake, I gained’t grade both of those guys regardless of getting a bit over six minutes of motion. And I don’t wish to make too sweeping of a judgment based mostly on restricted rubbish time alternatives, however Maxwell Lewis hasn’t precisely popped off the display a lot this season.
Darvin Ham
One other evening when there wasn’t so much to look at in a blowout. I truly favored using his problem as a result of it was a reasonably high-impact name. It was both AD’s third foul or an and-one and it got here on a block-charge name that doesn’t appear to have a ton of consistency.
Grade: B+
Tuesday’s inactives: Christian Wooden, Harry Giles III, Gabe Vincent, Skylar Mays, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Cam Reddish, Jarred Vanderbilt
You’ll be able to comply with Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.