Lakers: First Look At LA's Full New Lineup Yields Blowout Over Pelicans 120-102
Last night, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star power forward LeBron James got in on the fun, joining his totally reshaped roster as the club absolutely steamrolled a solid-if-incomplete New Orleans Pelicans club. Both teams were borderline desperate for a win as the Western Conference's play-in tournament race intensifies, but only one came to play. Both teams would like to nab at least the West's No. 6 seed (while both are currently out of play-in tournament range) this season!
Things looked good literally from the jump. The first step: head coach Davin Ham appeared to either (a) heed fans' cries for adjusting his new-look starters or (b) realize that his prior starting five ain't it. With James returning from a three-game absence, Ham opted to start three of the team's new players around The King and Anthony Davis: D'Angelo Russell at the point, Malik Beasley at shooting guard, James at small forward, Jarred Vanderbilt at power forward, and Anthony Davis at the five.
When the game clock actually started ticking, LA's new-look first five got off to a quick start, opening things up on an 8-0 run before New Orleans responded. Here's the first basket of the fresh Russell/Davis/James group:
All the same, a hot start from AD against his old club, with James seeming deferential early while logged four assists, helped key the Lakers to a 38-25 start at the end of the opening frame.
A 26-17 second period helped the Pelicans close out the first half in style, as they trimmed LA's lead to just four points, 55-51. That doesn't mean there weren't still some moments to like from LA, particularly Davis, who was able to hone his defense around the rim with more capable teammates beyond the paint:
Reserve 3-and-D center Mo Bamba, making his Lakers debut, had a solid on-court impact in his limited minutes. He basically has now-ex-Laker Thomas Bryant's offensive game, but can actually defend around the rack.
Heading into the break, Davis (13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor) and Russell (10 points on 3-of-7 shooting) were already in double figures for LA.
The Lakers managed to build out a huge lead by the end of the third quarter, 89-75. By the top of the game's fourth and final frame, that margin got as high as 20, and was never lower than 13. LA was able to rest its best players down the game's closing 3:51.
The team got huge performances from LA's new "Big Three" -- Davis (28 points on 14-of-17 shooting from the field, plus eight rebounds, five assists)), James (21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, six assists, six rebounds, and a block, and Russell (21 points on 5-of-12 shooting, seven assists, a rebound and a steal).
Russell seemed to particularly revel in his return, and was active all over the floor.
Welcome back, D-Lo. LA has missed you.
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