Player Grades: Lakers vs. Pelicans
The Lakers are firmly in the thick of the season, where winning at all costs is the primary goal. After two straightforward victories over the Warriors and Kings, they had to grind it out on Tuesday to defeat the Pelicans.
After a rather uninspired first three quarters, the Lakers stepped up their game in the fourth, showcasing a level of defensive play that should instill confidence in their future prospects.
As a result, grading this game will be quite intriguing. How does one assess three poor quarters and one stellar final quarter? Surely, we can all reach a consensus on these grades, right?
Let's delve into the win. As always, grades are based on individual player expectations. A 'B' grade signifies average performance for that player.
LeBron James
33 minutes, 21 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, 5 turnovers, 2 fouls, 8-12 FG, 1-5 3PT, 4-8 FT, +3
LeBron had a decent start in the first quarter, an excellent beginning in the second, but then faded into the background for most of the rest of the game. In essence, it's the polar opposite of everyone else's performance in this game.
Grade: A-
Marcus Smart
30 minutes, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 2 fouls, 3-9 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, +13
Smart had his most impactful game of the season. Even on a night where he only made 3 out of 9 field goals, he was everywhere. Seven stocks, seven assists, and a crucial 3-pointer late in the game. It was peak Smart performance.
Grade: A+
Deandre Ayton
25 minutes, 13 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 4 fouls, 6-8 FG, 1-1 FT, -7
While his center counterpart had an exceptional game, Ayton wasn't bad. Especially compared to his recent performances, Ayton had a good showing. It wasn't great, but it was a significant improvement.
Grade: B+
Austin Reaves
37 minutes, 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-15 FG, 2-7 3PT, 5-5 FT, -1
Reaves embodied this game. For three quarters, he was a mix of invisible and poor, a concerning trend over recent weeks. But in the fourth quarter, he knocked down two three-pointers, made a significant stop on Zion Williamson, and nearly tore his arm off.
However, those first three quarters were so bad.
Grade: C-
Luka Dončić
38 minutes, 27 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block, 7 turnovers, 2 fouls, 10-22 FG, 3-10 3PT, 4-5 FT, +1
As is often the case, Luka was at the center of both the good and the bad. He had seven turnovers, was inefficient in his shooting, but still hit some crucial shots down the stretch, including the game-winning three.
Grade: B+
Rui Hachimura
19 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 foul, 0-4 FG, 0-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, -6
Rui had a very quiet game, never finding his rhythm, and as a result, didn't factor into the fourth quarter, where he didn't play at all.
Grade: F
Luke Kennard
21 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers, 3-5 FG, 2-3 3PT, 1-1 FT, +16
Luke stepped up when Rui struggled. The Lakers haven't had that luxury this season, with multiple bench players providing scoring punch. But Kennard has seamlessly integrated, to the point that he was closing the game and knocking down crucial shots.
Grade: B+
Jaxson Hayes
23 minutes, 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 1 foul, 3-4 FG, 2-2 FT, +16
Hayes had an incredible game, and not in any way that would be expected. The box score doesn't do him justice, as it was his defense that stood out. He was outstanding on Zion down the stretch, as was the entire team, helping the Lakers secure stop after stop.
Grade: A+
Jake LaRavia
15 minutes, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, +10
LaRavia had another solid outing, albeit in limited minutes. With Kennard and Rui as the primary scoring options, LaRavia's role is more about bonuses than necessity.
Grade: B-
JJ Redick
Redick did an excellent job of refocusing his team when things looked dire in the first three quarters. The officials were in the spotlight, but LA regrouped, put together one of their best defensive stretches of the season, and did it with a mix of bench players and starters.
Grade: B+
Tuesday’s DNPs: Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero, Jarred Vanderbilt
Tuesday’s inactives: Drew Timme, Nick Smith Jr., Chris Mañon
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude (https://twitter.com/JacobRude) or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/jacobrude.bsky.social).
