- Being unable to rebound and counter Ayton means the Lakers could employ a zone defense and force Portland to shoot threes while gobbling up crucial defensive rebounds. On an average night, it doesn't work since Portland would make 33% of their threes. But on a night like this, Portland needed to transition into the mid-range with Sharpe, Jrue, and maybe even Deni if it's clear the team cannot hit their threes. Just a few less 3s and a few more mid-range shots made (Sharpe and Jrue having elite mid-range FG% at various points in their careers) and this is much closer.
- That is where I think Clingan or Rob should've played more minutes. Have them set picks for mid-range shots and fight more aggressively against Ayton. If Clingan doesn't play as well as he did in the last match up? Let Rob play more.
- I continue to think Sharpe's game is not congruent with Tiago's offensive system. He has been raised to play the half-court style and barely played the game to begin with.....but just like Warriors ball shifted things, the sub heavy rotation style that OKC & Indiana used may be the new trend that teams are chasing.
Now, Sharpe will eventually catch up and match up to Tiago's system, to varying degrees, as seen in this game and the prior two (and a half) games. However, I think Tiago will have to adapt to Sharpe (and Deni), as well. His system cannot purely be 'equal sharing', relying on passes and shots and intense pacing (at least, not until the playoffs). Not that the team cannot do that but it also needs a pecking order for when things aren't going according to the system. Imo, it's Deni>Sharpe>Jrue=Grant.
And you'll need players to set these guys up with actual plays, having some moments of half-court basketball. This is where Jrue, Scoot, the big men, Murray, etc can play important roles to help facilitate the leading scorers and control team play or set picks.
- From what I understand, this is basis for the lockerroom tension between Ja Morant and Coach Iisalo, too, and may be why a high flying, athletic, non-shooter guard like Morant's FG% has been abysmal this season. A Sharpe and Morant may be averaging 24ppg elsewhere but seem to suffer with this analytics ball meets international style. Sharpe doesn't appear the same ego as Morant so maybe that can be circumvented but this may have to be something to manage. For all the attempts to make this like soccer, it's still basketball and star heavy and therefore, finding ways to make your star feel confident as a scorer.
For example, in OKC's case, SGA is playing 32mpg and not capped out at, say, 28mpg like Ja Morant is so there has to be some of way replicating that aspect, too. And I think, if Sharpe is playing offensively like he was the last few games and is healthy (he's still got a calf issue), I don't see a reason to limit his minutes.
- Losses like this will happen. Even historic teams usually suffer a few losses to bad teams. This team was predicted to be a .500 team or near it so you can expect a few more of these.
