Lakers trying to figure out how to secure close…
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Lakers trying to figure out how to secure close games consistently
Lakers center Timofey Mozgov, right, reacts after being called for a foul, as Jazz forward Gordon Hayward stands in the background during the second half of Tuesday's game at Staples Center. Utah won, 102-100. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Jazz forward Joe Ingles drives past Lakers forward Julius Randle during the second half of Tuesday's game at Staples Center. Ingles made a pair of crucial 3-point baskets in the final minutes of Utah's 102-100 victory. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES – The experience was painful enough in real time. For the sake of self-reflection, though, the Lakers held a lengthy film session on Wednesday, part of which entailed reviewing the final moments of Tuesday's two-point loss to Utah.
Lakers coach Luke Walton said he saw several "opportunities that would have given us a chance to win the game." The Lakers (12-23), who have lost 13 of their last 15, get their next chance to show improvement when they play host to the Dallas Mavericks (9-23) on Thursday at Staples Center.
Walton said he regretted his final playcall in Tuesday's loss, which did not anticipate Utah center Rudy Gobert missing both free throws with 13 seconds remaining. Lakers guard Lou Williams could not get free from a screen, so the play ended with point guard D'Angelo Russell hoisting a long 3-pointer from the top of the key. The shot airballed as time expired.
"We appreciate it as players that we're all on the same page," Williams said. "But at the end of the day, we're the guys who are out there. We still should've made a play."
Walton also lamented that the Lakers did not grab a rebound off of Julius Randle's missed free throw with 14 seconds remaining and noted the team's poor defense resulted in a pair of open 3-point shots for Utah guard Joe Ingles. Ingles' first basket gave the Jazz a 95-93 lead with 2:58 left, and the other gave the Jazz a 102-99 cushion with 21.6 seconds left.
"It's a characteristic of a young team," Walton said. "But the challenge to our young guys is, 'Let's not let that be us.'"
It sounds like the players received Walton's message.
"I don't like to use that as an excuse," Randle said.
Instead, the Lakers have noticed their communication has usually dictated the outcome of close games. The Lakers are 2-4 in games decided by six or fewer points.
"If we don't communicate, we have defensive lapses," Russell said. "We don't talk plays out when it easily could be talked out to limit the confusion."
The reasoning for those lapses seems simple.
"When you get caught up in the moment," Williams said, "sometimes you tend to watch and rely on the next person to make the play instead of everybody being on one accord."
GRADING ON A CURVE
Russell's game-ending 3-point airball was glaring given what the box score revealed – four points on 2-of-11 shooting (0 for 3 from 3-point range), but Walton reached a different conclusion on Russell's performance.
"D'Angelo really played well," Walton said. "He was more active (defensively) than he's been when he was talking out switches and fighting (through screens). Offensively, he had more of a push to his game as far as setting the tone with the pace we wanted to play with."
Walton then described Russell's missed shots as "good looks."
"Shooters always figure it out. If it was me missing like that, I would be very worried about it," said Walton, referring to his 11-year NBA career. "For someone who has some shooting touch like that, he'll be fine."
Walton had Russell on the court for the final 4 minutes, 11 seconds.
"I struggled on the offensive end, but on the defensive end, I tried to make every play," Russell said. "Coach has a variety of guys he can pick from to finish the game. So I'm trying to be one of those guys every game. Defensively, I thought I earned it."
The Lakers declined to confirm an ESPN.com report that said they recently held a workout for 7-foot free-agent forward Donatas Motiejunas. The Lakers reportedly are mulling whether to add the former Houston Rocket to help the team absorb the four-week absence of forward Larry Nance Jr. (left knee).
Contact the writer: mmedina@scng.com