If in case you have been finding out the Lakers’ offense microscopically for the reason that workforce acquired Luka Doncic, when you have seemed on the spacing, the motion, the effectivity and the group charges, there’s just one query you possibly can presumably have after the Lakers’ 125-109 win Monday night time towards the Spurs.
Is it “butt naked” or “buck naked”?
Almost a month in the past, Dorian Finney-Smith launched the phrasing into the Lakers’ lexicon after a uncommon observe, saying both “butt” or “buck” when describing the nudity degree Doncic’s new teammates would have to be comfy with.
Nobody performs close to you when Doncic is on the court docket, Finney-Smith mentioned, the opposing protection leaving you alone, uncovered and uncontested in ways in which simply don’t occur within the NBA.
“I’m back getting wide-open shots where I feel like I gotta rush when I really don’t have to, I got plenty of time,” he mentioned. “The last couple of years, I ain’t been playing with guys like Luka, so I’ve been getting hard closeouts, but now I got that time. You (???)-naked wide-open.”
That was clear — simply the descriptor wasn’t.
“Excuse my language,” he mentioned with a smile. “You wide-open.”
Taking part in for the fourth time in 5 days and enjoying, once more, with out key starters in Rui Hachimura and LeBron James, the Lakers’ offense operated with the type of ease that simply doesn’t occur in most video games, the workforce creating the sorts of bare alternatives that may make anybody blush.
This was NC-17 ranges of offense for the Lakers (42-25) towards the Spurs (28-39), issues trying simple even when Doncic had a tough capturing night time, lacking a two-pointer from the paint together with his first shot.
Lakers guard Dalton Knecht is fouled by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Fortress as he drives to the basket within the second half Monday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
The field rating numbers have been terrible, Doncic making solely 5 of 20 from the sphere (a sport salvaged by 10 for 13 from the road). However it hardly mattered, the eye centered on Doncic resulting in simple nights for others.
The Lakers’ offense at all times appeared as if it will be the secondary piece. The defensive identification they solid within the months earlier than the Doncic deal carried them as they tried to maximise one of many NBA’s most unstoppable offensive weapons.
For a lot of the sport Monday, the Lakers seemed as if they’d unlocked the code, chopping on the proper occasions, flaring to the corners for open photographs and filling the precise lanes in transition.
Austin Reaves feasted, the Lakers’ main scorer getting wide-open appears to be like at three. He tried a career-high 13, making 5 on his option to a 30-point sport. Jordan Goodwin, beginning once more, hit three of six. Finney-Smith made 4 of eight and Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht mixed to make 5 of 12 off the bench.
The Lakers, regardless of trailing by seven early, largely managed the sport, save for some sloppiness within the fourth quarter when their power considerably lagged.
Annoyed with San Antonio’s uptick in physicality as they tried to rally, Jarred Vanderbilt and Spurs wing Jeremy Sochan have been ejected after Sochan threw the ball at Vanderbilt and the Lakers ahead responded with a shove.
However by then, the Lakers had already established the phrases, a sport the place they shot seemingly from in every single place — the protection nowhere to be seen. Butt or buck, the Lakers have been undoubtedly bare, the offense main the way in which as they streaked right into a win for the second sport in a row.
