The Lakers badly needed a reset after a pretty rough stretch of games over the holidays. Fortunately, the Grizzlies offered themselves up as a middling team ready to take a couple of losses.
Nothing about the last two games changes the problems or long-term outlook. But it does improve the mood ever so slightly.
LeBron James looks to have really gotten into a rhythm these last two games and while Luka Dončić struggled in the two games, he still can put up counting stats like few others. They are surviving
a stretch with a whole lot of injuries and have seen Jake LaRavia re-emerge after finding his shooting stroke again.
Again, none of this impacts the Lakers’ long-term outlook, but it does mean they keep beating the teams they should and that’s at least a good baseline.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
LeBron James
37 minutes, 26 points, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 8-14 FG, 2-7 3PT, 8-10 FT, +6
Perhaps the most encouraging long-term takeaway from these two games against the Grizzlies is that LeBron continues to look more and more in shape and in rhythm.
Grade: A-
Jake LaRavia
35 minutes, 26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 2 fouls, 9-16 FG, 4-10 3PT, 4-4 FT, +15
We’ve seen Jake have solid scoring games earlier this season, so this isn’t necessarily a surprise. The challenge now is for him to remain consistent. He won’t be asked to score 20 points nightly, but finding a middle ground between this and some of his 0-fer nights is the goal.
Grade: A+
Deandre Ayton
34 minutes, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 6-8 FG, 3-6 FT, +6
After a bit of a slow first half, Ayton was really good in the fourth quarter. He found LeBron for a couple of baskets and grabbed some big rebounds. Out-rebounding Jaren Jackson Jr. isn’t that difficult but it was still a nice bounce back game.
Grade: B+
Marcus Smart
31 minutes, 6 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 1-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 4-4 FT, +3
A more reserved Smart was generally a good thing, though his turnover in the fourth quarter made me want to pull my hair out. Ultimately, it was a fine game.
Grade: B-
Luka Dončić
39 minutes, 36 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 2 fouls, 10-20 FG, 4-10 3PT, 12-13 FT, +9
It was an odd game for Luka. He had a pretty great first quarter, then was seemingly pretty quiet for much of the middle two quarters. Then he hit two enormous threes that more or less sealed the win and you look at his box score and he’s flirting with a 40-point game.
Grade: A-
Jarred Vanderbilt
22 minutes, 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 3-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, -3
Some well-deserved fourth quarter minutes for Vando. Up until his missed 3-pointer in the fourth, he was the correct pick to close the game. Goign to Smart after that to get a better shooter and offensive threat on the floor was the right call as well.
Grade: B+
Nick Smith Jr.
15 minutes, 2 fouls, 0-4 FG, 0-3 3PT, -6
All the promise there was after NSJ’s game against the Kings has completely evaporated. He had 21 points in that game and 11 points in three games since.
Grade: F
Jaxson Hayes
14 minutes, 1 point, 6 rebounds, 3 fouls, 0-1 FG, 1-2 FT, +0
Not quite the game he had on Friday, but Hayes grabbing six rebounds is always encouraging.
Grade: B-
Dalton Knecht
13 minutes, 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, 1-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, +0
I understand head coach JJ Redick saying Knecht would get some run in the coming week if for no other reason than the team doesn’t have any other healthy players. But I’m fully out on Knecht at this point. Between not knowing plays and having zero confidence in his shot, it’s time to cut bait this trade deadline.
Grade: F
JJ Redick
I liked some of the adjustments Redick made in this game. He immediately started trapping Cam Spencer to start the second half with the Grizzlies out of ballhandlers. The Lakers also were more deliberate in the second half with LeBron working out of the post and creating.
He played basically everyone he could tonight. I don’t really blame him for the minutes or playing time. The team just doesn’t have good options on the bench right now.
Grade: B+
Sunday’s inactives: Chris Mañon, Rui Hachimura, Adou Thiero, Drew Timme, Austin Reaves
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
