Opening night did not go as planned for the Los Angeles Lakers.
A quick disclaimer before we get started: one game is not nearly a large enough sample size for any team or fanbase to hit the panic button. That said, the Los Angeles Lakers clearly have some things to figure out following their opening night loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Beginning the season in the aftermath of their blockbuster acquisition of Russell Westbrook, the Lakers had hoped that another star ball-handler alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis would not only alleviate the offensive workload the two have carried in the past but unlock Westbrook in a way most prognosticators no longer thought possible.
As it turns out, not only did LeBron and AD end up carrying a heavier workload in game one – and looked unbelievably good doing so(!) – but Russ displayed almost no indication that the superstar the Lakers’ front office bet was still lurking there actually exists.
Concerns over Westbrook’s effectiveness aside for the moment, the more puzzling issue for the Lakers throughout much of the night was Frank Vogel’s rotations.
Since arriving in Los Angeles following his unsuccessful, if not uninspiring, tenure with the Orlando Magic, the 48-year old head coach has largely re-established his reputation as one of the most effective in-game managers around the league.
From his crisp defensive sets to his calm demeanor, to his ability to adjust his lineups for the moment, Vogel has time and again proven to be a net positive for the Lakers along the sideline. For a fanbase that isn’t beyond turning on coaches rather quickly, Vogel’s steadying presence can often be underrated.
Yet, for all the confidence he has inspired over the last two years, his rotation choices Tuesday night were anything but reassuring.
While the decision to start DeAndre Jordan was questionable – given that it’s not even clear the former Lob City standout should even be on the roster – the center’s scant 13 minutes were not nearly enough to torpedo LA’s chances of winning. Despite assurances from Davis that he would staff the center position more often this season to create space for the offense to work, it’s clear that Vogel and the coaching staff are still focused on minimizing the toll AD will eventually have to endure.
Instead, it was Vogel’s insistence on playing Westbrook alongside fellow point guard Rajon Rondo that was the biggest headscratcher.
Already two players (in)famous for their inability to stretch the floor when playing by themselves as the lead ball-handler, the reality of having both on the court simultaneously turned out to be a car-wreck for the Lakers.
Consider the team’s offensive possession late in the first quarter.
With just over 90 seconds remaining in the opening frame as Rondo brought the ball upcourt, Davis begins the set with a solid pick on the Warriors Damion Lee near the left baseline, allowing the guard to get the first step on the younger defender and move into the midrange uncontested.
As Andre Iguodala responded by moving up from his position deep in the post to cut off Rondo’s path towards the rim, the Lakers should have had a plethora of options to choose from as Rondo had an unobstructed view of the court.
Whether it be pulling up for a shot near the elbow, tossing a lob pass to the diving Davis, or even dropping a pocket pass to the big man in the paint – who can in turn spin for a jump shot or get the defense in rotation with a quick outlet pass to the perimeter – Los Angeles has feasted on these opportunities in the past thanks to the presence of their high-IQ ball handlers.
However, what actually happens is that Juan Toscano-Anderson completely abandoned Westbrook at the top of the key to tag Anthony Davis on his dive towards the rim, taking away the chance for Rondo to get him the ball in any way fashion.
Deprived of his running mate, Rondo was wholly enveloped by the Warriors’ defense as Lee used the time allotted from the Toscano-Anderson tag to harry the point guard’s backside and Iguodala moved up to push Rondo towards the baseline and a possible turnover.
The result is an oddity that is made feasible because of the shortcomings provided by both Rondo and Westbrook: the Warriors have a completely unbalanced floor defensively as four defenders find themselves in the paint harassing Rondo and Davis.
Usually, this would be cause for concern among Golden State’s coaching staff, as someone from the Lakers should be able to spring loose along the perimeter to make them pay for their overaggressiveness.
However, because that someone ends up being Westbrook – who rushed to the strong side to receive a bail-out pass from Rondo before firing up a long two-pointer – Steve Kerr and the Warriors would almost certainly call the possession a win.
Vogel has limited options
That single play is an indication of the type of matchup trouble the Lakers faced all night, Vogel and the Lakers are almost sure to opt for playing Westbrook with lineups devoid of other ball-handlers and surrounded by shooters; hoping that the lowest hanging fruit of “unleashing” Russ as a rim runner turns out to be the one that allows the math to work out in their favor.
Considering that he was a -23 in his debut with LA means that it’s unlikely things could get any worse.
That said, Vogel wasn’t without reason for attempting to shoehorn the former MVP into the lineups next to Rondo.
Considering the steep price the Lakers paid to obtain the guard, Vogel clearly hopes that Westbrook develops the same habit of moving off-ball that James has, which would not only make the Lakers’ offense that much more effective but saved the previously mentioned possession alongside Rondo.
Even by moving to the strong-side corner, rather than stationing himself at the top of the key like a statue, Russ would have pulled Toscano-Anderson out of position to tag Davis on his dive, or at the very least made himself available to Rondo for a corner 3 – a slightly less terrible option than the long deuce he attempted.
And if you want to get really idealistic, Westbrook could have attempted a backdoor cut, utilizing his prodigious leaping ability to create a lob dunk of his own.
Then again, if Westbrook had that type of feel and instinct for the game, it’s unlikely the Warriors would have defended the way they did in the first place.
Integrating Russell Westbrook will be difficult under the best of circumstances for Frank Vogel and the Lakers. Handicapping themselves with the rotation they used Tuesday will only make that job more complicated.