DFenders AND Lakers BOTH take Losses Friday Night

   

Manny Harris had an off night shooting at 6-19 from the field for 14 Points

Manny Harris, Los Angeles DFenders, was well off of his averages, of (now) 25.9 on 48% shooting but Vander Blue (7-10 FG) and Josiah Turner (4-8) had nice, efficient games.

  One problem is that JT isn't getting the PT.  

Keith Appling seems to be gobbling up PT minutes from Turner even though the pace, flow and production appear better with JT.

Joe Alexander, #19, Destroyed the DFenders inside and out: 14-22 FG, 6-8 FT for 34 points, 9 Boards, 3 Blocks.  Was he auditioning in front of Jerry West?

The DFenders, much like the Lakers, are giving up too many easy buckets.  A lot of which are occurring at the rim or on second-chance points.  The team is lacking a key fundamental in rebounding and that is in blocking out the opponent.  If you spend enough time watching D-League games, you will see the reasons WHY players are "in THE D."  Joe Alexander, a former number 8 pick in the draft, is trying to get back to "THE LEAGUE."  He was scoring with such ease in stretches that one would have though the Coach (Hubbard) for the DFenders might have simply task his team to allow anyone BUT Alexander to score last night.  THAT is something we did NOT see. 

The Laker Girls keeping Spirits UP...for now

The Teams are struggling in the Lakers organization but the Laker Girls keep on giving their All.  And, in times like this, it could not be anymore valuable.

Phil Hubbard Can't seem to find continuity

With Bigs like Eloy Vargas and Travis Hyman playing 21 and 15 minutes per game, for the DFenders, and guards like Josiah Turner not getting minutes (19.9) this team may continue to struggle.  It seems as though Coach Phil Hubbard's substitution patterns are effecting the guys AND the flow of the game.  Travis is a solid 7-footer that CAN defend the rim.  He is susceptible to fouls but he can really anchor the interior D.  Newly added Eloy Vargas, another 7-footer, has terrific lateral movement and can also defend the bucket (see 5 blocks in his first game).  The DFenders have a GLARING issue, as do the Lakers, and it's called, "Defense.". Ironic?  Joe Alexander, in this game, and other players prior, are getting to the rim at will.  I hope we see a change for the better soon as it is difficult to watch a team called "the DFenders" who are NOT D-Fending well at all.  DO players start playing with more effort?  Do different players on the squad deserve more Playing Time?  It it would appear that change, of some kind, is imminent.

  In JUST 17 minutes of playing time, "JT" was 4-8 FG for 8 points and looked good defensively AND blowing by people.

One thing about Josiah: he can blow by people and get to the rim with EASE.  He has a shift and a hesitation that you do not find everyday, yet his skill set sits idly on the sideline for COACH Phil.

Jerry West has the Golden Touch, again, up North.  His "Midas" ways paying dividends to the GSW organization.

The Lakers have not been the same since the passing of Dr. Jerry Buss and they have also missed THIS Jerry since HIS departure.

The DFenders are still looking for win number 2 (1-8), meanwhile, the Lakers lost to the Celtics 113-96 and are now 5-15.