Player Grades: Lakers vs. Wolves
Grading every Lakers player’s performance from the team’s 97-87 loss to the Wolves.
If you were in search of an optimist take from Friday’s loss to the Lakers, it would be that they were far more competitive than their last trip to Minnesota. However, moral victories get you nothing in the NBA and the Lakers went home with a loss all the same, falling to the Wolves 97-87.
It was an odd game that never felt like it had much rhythm or flow. It looked like two teams that had just had an extended layoff in the middle of the season. It also looked like one team that was actually good and one that was not.
The Lakers have some issues that have been prevalent in recent weeks. But so long as they remain injured and less than 100%, they won’t fully know what solutions they have on the roster and what they still need answers for.
So, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Max Christie
37 minutes, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 5-9 FG, 2-3 3PT, 3-3 FT, -4
The Lakers didn’t have many people that looked good offensively on Friday, but Christie was one of them. Between his shot-making, his aggressiveness attacking the rim and his reads, it was a fine night from him.
He also had a tough defensive assignment, often guarding Anthony Edwards. While Ant missed a chunk of the second half due to an injury, he was also just 9-20 from the field.
Grade: A-
Rui Hachimura
39 minutes, 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4-13 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -18
After head coach JJ Redick complimented him as one of the most consistent players in applying what coaches tell him, Rui responded with a dud of a game.
On top of just an all-around bad shooting night, his inability to hold onto a rebound late really hurt and will likely be remembered the most from this one. He also had a mixed bag of results against Julius Randle defensively.
Grade: D+
Anthony Davis
36 minutes, 23 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 10-21 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-5 FT, -22
With LeBron James out, the Lakers really needed a big AD game. He absolutely did not respond.
Just looking at the box score shows a double-double, but he had some really tough plays on the night. His four turnovers included some incredibly frustrating ones as he continues to have mental lapses that are proving really costly.
He also just never got into a flow offensively. He had chances and opportunities but didn’t deliver. For a player of his caliber, AD has to be better.
Grade: C-
Gabe Vincent
25 minutes, 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2-7 FG, 2-4 3PT, -5
It’s nice that Vincent isn’t unplayably bad anymore, which will surely help his trade value in a couple of days.
Jokes aside, he has been a useful bench player over recent weeks. However, the Lakers need more than that from someone on his salary. They also need more of that from someone starting, but that is more of a Redick problem, which we’ll address later.
Overall, six points on seven shots isn’t getting it done enough.
Grade: C
Austin Reaves
30 minutes, 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 6-16 FG, 4-8 3PT, 2-2 FT, -2
Reaves both looked like someone the Lakers sorely missed and someone who hadn’t played basketball in multiple weeks.
Overall, he had a good game but it took him a bit of time to get his footing. If anyone deserved some leeway, it was the guy who just returned from a back injury after two weeks out.
Grade: B+
D’Angelo Russell
20 minutes, 5 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2-10 FG, 1-7 3PT, -8
Just a real disaster of a night for D’Lo. He very quickly got three fouls and was forced to the bench for most of the first half.
He then looked like someone out of rhythm as he missed shot after shot on the night. His 3-pointer from the logo at the end of the third quarter looked like someone unaware of how much time was on the game clock.
Then, most will remember his two chances late on open 3-pointers to give the Lakers a lifeline and both missed badly.
Again, the Lakers needed guys like D’Lo and AD to have big nights, and the former did not deliver at all.
Grade: F
Dalton Knecht
19 minutes, 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 2-4 FT, -7
The rookie wall is kicking Knecht’s ass. He’s struggling offensive to knock down shots he was hitting earlier in the season. And if he isn’t scoring, it makes it hard to keep him on the court defensively.
While the rebounding is nice, it’s not enough to give him big minutes. Redick could help the situation with some more play calls for Knecht, but he also needs to play at a level worthy of having more plays called for him.
Grade: C-
Cam Reddish
23 minutes, 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2-5 FG, 0-3 3PT, 1-1 FT, +4
There’s not a lot to say about Reddish at this point. It’s beating a dead horse. He’s a massively flawed player who is getting minutes because the Lakers are injured.
Grade: C
Christian Koloko
12 minutes, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocks, +12
Would it be an exaggeration to call Koloko the brightest spot of the night for the Lakers? He was terrific in his limited minutes and possibly should have played more. Regardless, he earned some trust on Friday.
Grade: A+
JJ Redick
On certain things, I’m willing to give Redick a little leeway because he’s a first-year coach trying to figure things out. But we have gone way past the point of plausible deniability regarding some of these lineups.
His starting lineup in the last two games has been awful. It puts the Lakers in a big hole from the start. It doesn’t work offensively, it sets a bad tone, and it shouldn’t be a lineup that sees the floor at all, let alone to start games.
If LeBron doesn’t play on Sunday, the lineup can’t stay the same.
Grade; D-
Friday’s DNPs: Maxwell Lewis, Quincy Olivari, Armel Traore
Friday’s inactives: Jaxson Hayes, Jalen Hood-Schifino, LeBron James, Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.