Sports

The Lakers weren't as good (or as bad) as you thought in Game 1

Published

2 weeks ago

April 22, 2024

The Lakers weren't as good (or as bad) as you thought in Game 1

DENVER —

There was a feeling around the arena and in the media room Saturday night that the Lakers had fired their best punch and that, maybe, it just wasn’t good enough.

But fresh eyes on Game 1 combined with some time gave coach Darvin Ham and the Lakers the ability to properly contextualize what happened in their 114-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

“We got great looks that we just didn’t knock down. Shots that we’ve been knocking down. And then our pace is off,” Ham said in a call with reporters Sunday. “There’s no question, we just watched with the team, of us walking up and down, walking back toward the offensive end and not getting in and out of our actions quick. We’re a completely different ball club when we’re sprinting up the floor. Even after a made basket, we have to have urgency offensively.

“That has to be a part of our defense as well. How to defend this team is to put more pressure on them on offense. Try to put them on their heels too.”

The Lakers’ Game 1 offensive woes were overshadowed, in part, by the 59 combined points of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but the two also had nine turnovers (seven by James).

And the Lakers shot eight for29 on three-pointers, scoring only 103 points. During the regular season, the Lakers were held to 103 or fewer only eight times. D’Angelo Russell, in particular, was one-for-nine shooting from three-point range after making 41.5% of his shots from deep in the regular season.

Denver coach Michael Malone even pointed out Sunday the quality of shots the Lakers got — and missed — in Game 1.

Ham said he thought the Lakers’ half-court defense in Game 1 looked better on film — the bigger issues coming in transition.

“They made some tough shots, but we didn’t do a bad job defensively. We forced them into some tough shots,” Ham said. “They made a couple tough shots. But our biggest problem was transition defense, getting back, getting matched up so we weren’t crossmatched.

“We didn’t do that as well as we should and obviously giving up second-chance points and some untimely turnovers on our part.”

Those problems in the playoffs, especially against a team that’s as good as Denver, are critical.

“So it’s the intangible game and that’s the game you really have to fight with good teams like Denver, championship teams like Denver. The little things matter,” Ham said. “The details and the discipline. It’s more so that than anything else, than the big stuff or the post coverage or pick-and-roll coverage. It’s the intangible things.

“So that’s what’s what really came to light as we went back to the hotel after the game and rewatched the film.”

Regarding Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, a two-time league MVP, Ham said the Lakers have a practically impossible task.

“It starts with trying to limit his touches, which is damn near impossible,” he said. “But that’s what it takes if you’re trying to win.”

Wood nearing a return?

A report from the Athletic’s Shams Charania said reserve big man Christian Wood is “planning to return to action” for Game 3 on Thursday in Los Angeles. Wood, who has been out since the All-Star break because of a knee injury that required surgery, isn’t with the team in Denver.

“All I say is he’s still going through his recovery process from injuries, rehab process,” Ham said. “…Obviously, he has size, he has length, he has rebounding capabilities, he can stretch the floor. But first and foremost, he has a couple more boxes to check before we even consider that.”

The team is still without forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who is recovering from a foot injury suffered on Feb. 1.

Sports

Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby in photo finish

Published

59 mins ago

May 5, 2024

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Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby in photo finish

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Mystik Dan (18-1) won the 150th Kentucky Derby Saturday in a photo finish.

It was the first time in 28 years the Kentucky Derby was won by a nose and just the 10th time ever.

Track Phantom (41-1) and Just Steel (21-1) led up until the ¾-mile mark, with Fierceness, the 3-1 favorite, in third. Mystik Dan, though, held the inside right behind them.

Mystik Dan, ridden by jockey Brian J. Hernandez Jr., crosses the finish line to win the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs May 4, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Mystik Dan, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., busted through the pack after the final turn. After the turn, Fierceness fell way behind.

Mystik Dan led by several lengths in the final stretch, but Sierra Leone (9-2), the second-highest favorite, crept up from the outside, pushing Japanese horse Forever Young toward the railing.

Those three horses were within noses of each other, but it was Mystik Dan’s that crossed the line first.

Sierra Leone finished second and Forever Young finished third, while Fierceness finished 15th, 24½ lengths behind.

A general view of Churchill Downs ahead of the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby May 6, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

This year’s race came with much less controversy than last year’s. A dozen horses died at Churchill Downs in the days, and even hours, leading up to last year’s race.

Notably absent from this year’s race was Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who’s two-year ban was extended through 2024, making this the third straight Kentucky Derby a Baffert-trained horse did not compete.

A six-time winner at the Derby, Baffert was banned after 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit was stripped of the title due to a failed post-race drug test. The horse died of a heart attack that December.

Visitors check out the new $200 million paddock at Churchill Downs Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Mystik Dan will now begin the quest for a Triple Crown at the Preakness Stakes at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course May 18.

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Sports

Sondheimer: Jonas Meskis is living the teenage dream of international surfer

Published

1 hour ago

May 5, 2024

Press Room

Sondheimer: Jonas Meskis is living the teenage dream of international surfer

Jonas Meskis, 17, acts like every day is a good day.

“I’m living the good life,” he says. “It’s incredible.”

He’s a surfer traveling the world and visiting surfing hot spots with his twin brother, Jackson.

“Oh my gosh, it’s incredible. It’s so cool,” Jonas says.

This weekend Jonas is in Surf City, El Salvador, competing at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. Last month he was in British Columbia winning the Canadian junior national championship.

He’s got his own YouTube channel. He’s an influencer on TikTok and Instagram. He has an endorsement deal from a French wetsuit maker and another for Sun Mud sunscreen. He’s enrolled in an independent study program through Oak Park Independent School, leaving time for surfing in the morning or whenever.

“It’s great, all fun,” he says.

His father, Jason, is assistant principal at Oak Park High. His mother works for the school district. His brother didn’t qualify to compete in El Salvador but joins Jonas as a morning surfing partner for trips to Zuma Beach or Ventura Harbor.

Jonas says nothing produces a better adrenaline rush than riding a wave and nothing is more relaxing than sitting on a board in the middle of the ocean.

“It’s pretty cool. You’re putting yourself in a dangerous situation a lot of people couldn’t handle,” he says. “I love it so much. I like how it separates me from the regular world. I’m going to a whole different environment. I get to clear my mind. No wave is the same. It’s always new, it’s always changing.”

Jonas talks like an A student, which he is. The stereotype of surfers not being the brightest (think “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”) just doesn’t fit. He does embrace all the surfer phrases, though. He’s got the lingo down to perfection.

Moorpark resident Jonas Meskis is surfing at the World Championships in El Salvador this week.

(Jayden Beedie)

“You’re shredding” means surfing is good.

“Sick” means awesome.

“Gnarly” means large.

Surf competitions come down to finding a big wave, riding it and impressing the judges. Winning the Canadian junior championship was important to Jonas. His parents and many relatives are Canadian.

“I was so happy. I worked so hard the past three years to win that,” he said.

His parents have supported the twins by paying for trips, but Jonas works during the summer giving surfing lessons. The twins intend to enroll at Moorpark College after high school.

Teenage surfer Jonas Meskis is in El Salvador this week as part of the World Championships.

For now, Jonas is obeying a strict surfing schedule.

He started a streak of surfing every day and keeping his fans informed via social media. The streak reached 144 days Saturday, even after storms came to Southern California and made going into the water unhealthy. He brought out earplugs and a hood to wear with his wetsuit and took long showers afterward to avoid getting sick.

He has visited Mexico, Brazil and Costa Rica to surf. How long he keeps competing remains to be seen. But he makes clear his love for surfing will never end.

“I don’t know how far I want to take it competitively, but I know for a fact I’ll always be surfing,” he said.

As they say in surfing lingo, that’s sick.

Sports

Tyronn Lue says it's 'great to be wanted' amid Lakers speculation; he's focused on coaching Clippers

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Press Room

Tyronn Lue says it's 'great to be wanted' amid Lakers speculation; he's focused on coaching Clippers

NBA champion head coach Tyronn Lue remains focused on his future with the Los Angeles Clippers — not the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Clippers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs after the team lost 114-101 to the Dallas Mavericks May 3.

According to The Athletic, the Clippers plan to pursue a contract extension with Lue this offseason. After Friday’s loss, Lue was asked whether he expected to remain with the Clippers.

Head coach Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers talks to the media after Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks April 21, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

“I hope so. … You know, I hope so. I didn’t come here to bounce around and go all over the place,” Lue, who turned 47 Friday, said.

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The coach also spoke about his strong relationship with Clippers ownership and the front office.

“Mr. Ballmer, Lawrence (Frank, president of basketball operations), Mark Hughes (assistant general manger), Trent (Redden, general manager), Gillian (Zucker, president of business operations) … they’ve all been great to me. This is where I want to be, and hopefully they feel the same way. I haven’t had a better experience since I’ve been here. Mr. Ballmer showed me a lot of different things that I wouldn’t be privy to if I wasn’t here.”

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Lue declined to directly address speculation the Lakers would target him in their search after firing Darvin Ham.

“I don’t really have a comment on that,” Lue said when asked about his name surfacing in the Lakers’ search. “It’s great to be wanted. That’s a really good feeling. Like I said, I want to be here. Hopefully, we’re able to solidify that.”

LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Dec. 31, 2022. (Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports)

Lue has two years remaining on his contract.

The Clippers were without star forward Kawhi Leonard in four of the six games against the Mavericks due to his right knee inflammation. He missed three of five games in a first-round loss to Phoenix last year.

“I give our guys credit for just sticking with it through all the ups and downs and all the negative scrutiny and all the things that they went through this season,” Lue said. “Having to go into a series again short-handed.”

Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers during Game 2 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks April 23, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Lue coached Cleveland to the 2016 NBA title with LeBron James, who left for the Lakers in free agency two years later. Lue was gone just six games — all losses — into the season after James’ departure from the Cavaliers.

Lue was an assistant on Doc Rivers’ staff with the Clippers before taking over when Rivers and the club mutually parted ways following the 2019-20 season. Rivers ended up in Philadelphia.

The Clippers reached the Western Conference finals in Lue’s first season and have a 184-134 record in the regular season under him.

“This was a good year,” Lue said. “Overall, I wouldn’t trade it for anything, outside the early ending. I like the guys in the locker room. They respect me. I respect them. I’m ready to move on to next season and get better.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.