Lakers vs. Warriors: Three adjustments that helped L.A. win Game 3, and what they mean for Game 4

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The Los Angeles Lakers may have won Game 1 of their second-round series against the Golden State Warriors, but in the process, they might have picked up an even bigger victory. Coaching can make or break a series this close, and by winning Game 1, the Lakers put the Warriors on the defensive. Suddenly, Game 2 was a must-win game for them, and as such, they were forced to deploy their adjustments first.

The biggest was the decision to start JaMychal Green over Kevon Looney. That move wrecked havoc on the Laker defense, as it made it far more difficult for them to sag off of non-shooters and emphasize rim-protection. The Warriors won Game 2, 127-100, but in the process, they showed the Lakers their cards. Suddenly, the Lakers knew what they were up against for Game 3.

And when Saturday’s game arrived, the Lakers were ready. Darvin Ham unleashed his adjustments in response, and the results were spectacular for Los Angeles: a decisive 127-97 victory. So what did he change? And what does it mean for this series moving forward? Here are the three biggest adjustments Ham’s staff made on Saturday.

1. They took their best defender off of Stephen Curry

It sounds somewhat counterintuitive, doesn’t it? The Lakers largely used Jarred Vanderbilt to defend Stephen Curry in the first two games of the series. Vanderbilt is the best perimeter defender the Lakers have, and stopping Curry is obviously the team’s defensive priority. Yet when Game 3 began, it was Austin Reaves, not Vanderbilt, guarding Curry. Instead, Vanderbilt defended Draymond Green.

The logic behind the switch became clear almost immediately. Check out this early first-quarter possession for Golden State.

Sure, Curry no longer had to face Vanderbilt one-on-one every time down the court. That saved him from Vanderbilt’s relentless energy, size and speed. Reaves isn’t nearly as imposing one-on-one. But with Vanderbilt on Draymond Green and Anthony Davis on JaMychal Green, the Lakers had effectively defanged Golden State’s pick-and-roll attack. Whenever Curry called for one of his big…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lakers-vs-warriors-three-adjustments-that-helped-l-a-win-game-3-and-what-they-mean-for-game-4/

Author : Sam Quinn

Publish date : 2023-05-08 20:09:55

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