so...guys like doncic and reaves...just need some dudes to play defense out there... never would have thought of it.
It’s obvious that Koloko isn’t in the plans right now. I’m hoping Drew Timme gets a 2 way. That was a sneaky good pickup by the FO.
Is this the guy we picked up in that recent G-league wheeling and dealing? He’s near the same size and weight and looks like he could be a much younger “live” version of Maxi Kleber?
Kleber is coming back with a vengeance. He’s gonna make everyone learn as we go on a 10 game win streak behind his 3/3/1/1.
Outside of game 1. Win G2 vs Wolves: Luka 49/11/8 Reaves 25/7/11 Rui 23 on 83%TS Ayton 15/8 Win G3 vs Kings: Reaves 51/11/9 Ayton 22/15 Rui 18 on 77%TS Loss G4 vs Blazers: Reaves 41/4/5 Rui 16/6 Ayton 16/8 Vando 14/8 * We were severely undermanned here with only 6 rotation players Win G5 vs Wolves Reaves 28/16 LaRavia 27/8 Rui 17/5 Ayton 17/10 Win G6 vs Grizzlies Doncic 44/12/6 Reaves 21/4/4 Smart and LaRavia both have 12 points and 5 steals between them Win G7 vs Heat Doncic: 29/11/10 Reaves: 26/4/11 LaRavia: 25/8/3/4 Hayes: 15/5 Rui: 15/6 Smart: 11/3/4/2/1 What seems to be clear is we have more depth. Every game we’ve won, at least one of Ayton, Rui, LaRavia, Smart, Vando and Knecht have meaningful contributed to wins. In seasons past we would have AD and Lebron go off and not much else around them. Now our margin of error to win games is higher (at least so far). I’m optimistic this is a good recipe for regular season success and effective load management. If LeBron can maintain All NBA form, we’re looking really good. Another potential lever is the ability to move Gabe, Kleber and Knecht by the deadline for one more productive piece.
I think we still have a move or two to make by the deadline to add a little more effectiveness. I'm thinking either we move the expirings: Gabe and Klieber and maybe a pick to sweeten the deal or perhaps Rui and Knecht for a more polished 3 and D player. But of course we'd rather move the expirings and keep Rui as a possible Lebron replacement for the future. In the meantime our core is really good now with our pickups Ayton, LaRavia and Smart showing up big time. Hayes doing a solid job at backup 5 as well.
OK had to do a lot of research on my own. 4 year player at great BB school Gonzaga and played well there as a PF and still only 25. Undrafted and played well definitely in G-League last year on offense, AND with the Nets for 11 or so games on offense. Looks like a heads up player and has smarts scoring the ball close to basket and can shoot the 3 a bit with room for improvement. On D I guess is where he's not real quick footed, but probably room for improvement. I'm curious why the Nets didn't hang onto him for their G-League team? Is that what you're referring to ..... with no 2-way contract, the Lakers were able to "woo" him away from Nets G-team? Not sure what the process is there. I thought you had to offer a 2-way or roster spot to take someone else's player. But yeah he looks way more valuable on offense than Koloko and probably has a little more in his back pocket leverage wise down low.
timme was a badass in college. he's basically the same size as olynyk (shorter, but same standing reach and weight coming out). guy's a gamer/winner. don't know what the book was on him that made him undrafted.
Something I've had my eye on, even back when I was doing detailed lineups, is which combos of PF/C work together better or not. Based on the eyetest + the limited data I had from the first few games, it seemed to me that Rui/Ayton often did not work very well together, while Rui/Hayes was okay. In contrast, Vando/Ayton did work okay together, but Vando/Hayes did not. And surprisingly, smallball Vando/Rui worked even better. Now that it's been another 10 games since I formed those impressions, I decided to look at 2-player lineup data through 11/16/25 to see how those combos are working out. PlayerCombo Games Minutes ORtg DRtg NetRtg +/- Rui/Ayton 12 324 113.6 118.3 -4.7 -3.0 Rui/Hayes 10 79 111.3 111.3 0.0 0.0 This confirms that Rui/Ayton have not been good together, with a -4.7 NetRtg and a -3.0 +/-. Rui/Hayes have been fine at 0.0 and 0.0. Rui/Ayton have been playing mainly against starters, while Rui/Hayes have been playing mainly against backups, so this is not definitive data to say that 1 works and the other doesn't. But it is interesting and possibly points in that direction. Vando/Ayton 11 86 115.8 111.7 4.1 0.2 Vando/Hayes 10 93 97.5 119.3 -21.8 -4.8 This confirms that Vando/Ayton have been fine to good together, at 4.1 and +0.2. While Vando/Hayes have been atrocious at -21.8 and -4.8. These are both backup units, with Vando/Hayes presumably playing the same or worse backups as Vando/Ayton. And the Vando/Hayes data is so bad that it seems likely that this is accurate directionally, and that Vando/Hayes should not be playing together. Which most of us guessed a priori, even before the season started. Vando/Rui 11 102 117.4 104.9 12.5 1.9 Meanwhile, Vando/Rui have the best #'s of any of these combos, and by a wide margin: the best ORtg at 117.4, best DRtg at 104.9, best NetRtg at 12.5, and best +/- at +1.9. This is the combo that should be getting most of the backup minutes at the turns of the quarters (end of 1Q/beginning of 2Q, and end of 3Q/beginning of 4Q). With Kleber back and playing well, this adds more combos to look at in the future. I would guess that Kleber could pair well with most of them, due to shooting and spacing. - Another thing I noticed and that others have commented on as well, in player threads, is that Reaves may actually unlock Ayton more than Luka does, while Luka lobs to Hayes may work better than Reaves and Hayes. Here is the 2-player lineup data on those combos: Luka/Ayton 9 241 117.7 116.5 1.3 0.4 Reaves/Ayton 10 261 118.1 108.7 9.4 4.6 This confirms that notion, with Luka/Ayton at a 1.3 NetRtg and +0.4 +/-, while Reaves/Ayton is much better at 9.4 and +4.6. Luka/Hayes 9 103 123.4 110.6 12.8 3.1 Reaves/Hayes 8 97 108.3 108.6 -0.3 -0.6 Again confirmed. Luka/Hayes is a stellar 12.8 and +3.1, while Reaves/Hayes is -0.3 and -0.6. So in the 1Q/3Q, when Reaves & Ayton sub out, they should come out together, letting Hayes come in and work with Luka. Then when Luka subs out, Hayes should also come out, and Reaves & Ayton should go back in together. Or Vando/Rui as the PF/C.
Made a sample rotation that utilizes the above, focusing on Luka, Reaves, and the big man spots. 1Q/3Q 6 Luka/Reaves/Rui/Ayton 3 Luka/Hayes 3 Reaves/Rui/Vando 2Q/4Q 2 Luka/Rui/Vando 2 Luka/Hayes 4 Reaves/Ayton 4 Luka/Reaves/Rui/Ayton Also confirmed it with 2, 3, or 4 man data. All positive by NetRtg and +/-, some of them extremely so. PlayerCombo Games Minutes ORtg DRtg NetRtg +/- Luka/Reaves/Rui/Ayton 6 116 116.7 112.1 4.6 +1.5 Luka/Hayes 9 103 123.4 110.6 12.8 +3.1 Reaves/Rui/Vando 7 69 119.2 105.9 13.3 +2.6 Luka/Rui/Vando 7 26 111.1 93.1 18.0 +0.9 Reaves/Ayton 10 261 118.1 108.7 9.4 +4.6
yeah, if we have forwards go down, vando and knecht are totally playable, imo. gabe is good insurance for when smart's not available, and even nick smith and bronny can squeeze into small roles as needed.
The results so far do seem to suggest we actually have a pretty deep squad this time around. We still are relatively shallow at the C spot but even there we could probably survive some time without Ayton by going small some with Bron, Rui or even Vando at the 5. I am wondering whether the coaching staff can figure out the defense with the cutrent S5. It doesn't seem realistic, but what do I know? For the time being I'm with the majority rooting for Smart as a starter and Rui the microwave off the bench.
yeah, i agree that center doesn't have a third playable option. koloko hasn't progressed enough for me to feel good about him playing 15-20 minutes. we do have the option of going small with vando, though.
With the squad's interchangeable personnel, Redick does not have an excuse to not give the starters rest minutes.
