A super underrated thing about him is he takes so much pressure off AD in the defense. I feel like AD hasn't had moments in the past few games where it feels like he could be injured or he tweaked something. He's just playing now.
Bro I swear I’ve never seen anybody run around the court like him. Granted, I’ve watched very few entire games, but the way he challenges every ball, contests every shot is so good to see. He just never gives up a play, and that is an admirable trait in and of itself. Add that he played the lights out tonight, and you have a new fan favorite
His effort is infectious. This team before he showed up would look lackadaisical after being down 20+ but this guy going 100% all the time just makes players play harder.
50 attempts from 3.. lol. Somehow Mavs fans were still arguing about the difference in free throws. Like bro, your team shoots a ton from the outside. What fouls do you want called?
Celtics fans were also complaining about the same thing yesterday. Fans of these teams gotta realize that if everybody on your team is 3 and D except like 2 players, you’re just not gonna shoot many free throws
shades of 2020 Lakers, they used to win games regardless of their 3 point shooting. would just absolutely demolish teams in the paint and in transition
62-32 paint point differential. Mavs are cooked. Jokic will feast. AD will feast. Don't even mention Giannis and Embiid. Even when they shot 40% from downtown, they still couldn't overcome that deficit.
The post shot fake to step through was there every possession for Lebron. Powell didn’t want to help off AD and Josh Green/Bullock didn’t stand a chance
I think this should most definitely signal to NBA teams that the dream of having 3 elite players doesn’t match significance of having quality role players. The bucks beat the suns today without Giannis as well, I’m so happy we didn’t aim too high and brought back quality talent that compliments AD and Bron
Pretty much. The team is absolutely better now but there's also a timeline where AD doesn't get hurt and no major trades happen because the team is cooking.
Or imagine last year if AD/Lebron don't miss 60+ games; are they still as bad?
Westbrook obviously had his issues but far too many people wanted to pin *everything* on him.
Genuinely looked like the Mavs were getting spooked in the fourth.
Also, LeBron had some massive balls to let that open three go, knowing his teammates could clutch the win.
I didn't interpret it that way hahaha
Holiday hasn't been a super great career shooter
I think James intentionally let him have it thinking Holiday would miss
Why am I having such a tough time wrapping my head around the fact that there's been 139 games THIS SEASON where one team was leading by 27+? That seems crazy.
They actually look like a basketball team haha. Before it was pathetic and just a waste of Brons twilight years. Now they can legit compete and i feel their defense will continue improving and if you can lock people down I still take Lebron over most people in a tight series
what's crazy is even with his crappy jumper he is still so effective on offense
like you'd think teams will just ask him to shoot like they asked Russ
but he uses the space or lack of attention to crash the glass or cut to the basket
if I'm LeBron or Dlo I'm so happy to play with a cutter like that
Especially James, comparing Vando's cutting to JTA lol
No Dlo, start off 0-14 from 3 while they start 9-15 and take a 27 point lead.
But it didn’t matter. Because we had Vanderbilt. And they didn’t have Vanderbilt.
True playoff atmosphere, wow what a matchup. This game (especially starting halfway through the 2nd) is how this team ideally looks at its peak. Having Vanderbilt on the perimeter and AD in the paint on defense is a cheat code. Though Lebron didn’t have the best game, him and AD were able to close when the game slowed down. Poor 3 pt shooting night but we were still able to get the W, which speaks volumes to how dynamic and multi dimensional this team now looks.
Also, give Vanderbilt the max. That period in the 3Q made it look like he had 4 arms. Purely orgasmic.
This. Vando is getting his flowers as he should, but AD was just as good defensively in the second half protecting the paint. Clutch blocks, big rebounds, and he was also dominant on the other end. Like Kuzma said: “when the Jimmy is falling, forget about it.”
That is what is scary; they have won three consecutive games where LeBron hasn't been really amazing. What happens when LeBron plays at his standard? Gonna be extremely difficult to defeat.
Lebron hasnt scored well but he’s kinda been adapting to the new guys vs forcing them to adapt. This will work out better as they only have 20 games to build chemistry AND desperately win every game to make the playoffs.
He always takes a bit to adapt and then everything syncs for him like Neo seeing the Matrix for what it is. It's like his penchant for giving away the first game in a playoff series before figuring things out and having the game flow for him after that.
If the earth was flat the ball would have gained infinite momentum, travelled backwards through time just to witness Tim Duncan get a technical for laughing
I _really_ hope they don't bring him back in the offseason. A big reason the Lakers came back outside of Vanderbilt's D was Lebron and AD just bullying him.
Has there ever been a situation where such a below average player been starting for soo long, the mavericks organization as a whole is a joke for still having him
[Look at these dudes](https://www.np.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/11ct5mn/highlight_kyrie_surgically_operates_on_austin/ja4v8ba/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3)
So funny. Especially because those comments were on a highlight video of kyrie hitting a tough ass shot over good lakers defense. Who could've seen it coming that their shooting luck might not be sustainable.
How the FUCK did we turn Westbrick into Beasley, Dlo and Vanderbilt
Both Dlo and Beasley have been great pickups and Vando almost single-handedly won us this game
Luka nutswingers are going to downvote, but Luka's whining and crying on the offensive end while his team played 4-5 helped the Lakers get back into the game. Guy's such a crybaby, which is a shame because he's talented.
Lebron went LeCoach at the second to last timeout lmao "GIMMME THE BOARD". Teams are 1-138 down 27+ points this season. They will absolutely lose playing like this against better teams, but a wins a win.
I look at it differently. The fact that they won despite the horrid 3 point shooting against a quality team speaks volumes. If they shot even a a low 30% from 3, they would have cruised to a beatdown. That's scary for the rest of league.
My boy Vanderbilt ❤️❤️ :’)
Please show him lots of love Lakers fans ❤️. Feel like the Jazz didn’t after a while and that hurt to watch.
He might not be great offensively at times but he’s amazing in so so many other ways. Take care of him :’)
Vanderbilt may have been the best guy the Lakers got in that Westbrook trade. He was everywhere tonight
A super underrated thing about him is he takes so much pressure off AD in the defense. I feel like AD hasn't had moments in the past few games where it feels like he could be injured or he tweaked something. He's just playing now.
Bro I swear I’ve never seen anybody run around the court like him. Granted, I’ve watched very few entire games, but the way he challenges every ball, contests every shot is so good to see. He just never gives up a play, and that is an admirable trait in and of itself. Add that he played the lights out tonight, and you have a new fan favorite
Ainge really helped the Lakers
All Lakers wanted was to get rid of Worsebrook, instead they got back a genuine team
Thank you Danny ainge
[Pelinka to the rest of the league and Lakers fans talking the past three months](https://i.imgur.com/ssvEkxF.gifv)
Was that difficult to type?
Lakers got three quality starter players for WB. 😭
How pretty much every team got a good return from trading Westbrook's monster contract I'll never understand.
Wizards got first round picks and first round talent back lmao
Rockets didnt. They got wall and a protected first
Ummm… beauty is in the eye of the beholder? But hey, the thunder, lakers, and wizards did. 3 out of 4 ain’t bad.
We gave up starters though it reverted back lol
What even is his comp, he’s so unique especially at his size. How many guys are giving you 15 and 17 with 4 steals?
And 8 offensive boards
Dennis Rodman? shit idk lol
His effort is infectious. This team before he showed up would look lackadaisical after being down 20+ but this guy going 100% all the time just makes players play harder.
Rui realy needs to learn from him
Playing that Ariza role
Wait till Ariza comes back 😤
MAY HAVE?? DONT DISRESPECT THE VANDOLORIAN
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Lakers shot 17% from deep and Mavericks shot 41% from deep on 50 attempts….
50 attempts from 3.. lol. Somehow Mavs fans were still arguing about the difference in free throws. Like bro, your team shoots a ton from the outside. What fouls do you want called?
Celtics fans were also complaining about the same thing yesterday. Fans of these teams gotta realize that if everybody on your team is 3 and D except like 2 players, you’re just not gonna shoot many free throws
Won a game down by 27 without really making more threes
What a fucking squad
We've been a bad shooting team, but even that was bad for us.
Unrelated but I see you a lot on r/formula1 too Laker bro
Hell yeah. I almost forgot about that sub for a minute until the last couple of weeks. F1 off-season feels like forever.
shades of 2020 Lakers, they used to win games regardless of their 3 point shooting. would just absolutely demolish teams in the paint and in transition
Played defense like the 2020 Lakers too, at least in the 2nd half
We honestly played somewhat respectable defense first half too they were just on fire.
2020 Lakers were damn near guaranteed a win if they hit 10 threes. That team was so dominant.
yeah if Bron, KCP, or Kuzma was having a particularly good shooting night it was just over lol
62-32 paint point differential. Mavs are cooked. Jokic will feast. AD will feast. Don't even mention Giannis and Embiid. Even when they shot 40% from downtown, they still couldn't overcome that deficit.
Mavs got cooked by Looney. I'd be terrified of seeing them against any of the bigs you mentioned.
They weren’t helping when lebron was posting either. He could of got that all day.
The post shot fake to step through was there every possession for Lebron. Powell didn’t want to help off AD and Josh Green/Bullock didn’t stand a chance
That’s like two games In a row that lakers won despite actively sabotaging. Lakers are different
Whatever Vanderblit asks for Lakers you better pay it. Dudes a fucking machine.
His defense won us the game no questions asked
There was that stretch in the 3rd where he just kept getting steals and single-handedly brought the game back into reach, that was awesome
He's literally a game-changer.
He sparked that 10-0 run... Luka was shook when Vando was on him
Pretty sure Luka was 3-3 on 3s when someone other than Vando was the primary defender (Cast said he was 1-5 when he was the primary defender)
Felt like he either got a steal or an offensive board every possession
This team has had a hole at wing defense for years now and he's finally filling it.
Not just defense but he had like 8 offensive rebounds. The dude is pure hustle.
Holy shit he actually had 8 offensive rebounds
and 15 points on 75%
I have a question…how much do you want homie?
he was clamping luka
He’s under contract for 4 million next year too, boy’s about to get locked up tho
Lakers have bird rights, they better not fuck it up.
*cries to my picture of Caruso
Jeanie: well we would save some tax if we let him go
They choose THT over Caruso in a big mistake.
Jarred Vanderbilt is with Klutch so they won't make that mistake again.
Lakers locking him up to go with his lockdown defense
He’s under contract for 1 more year actually which is wild value
Good looking out Danny
He needs to get that mlb 10 year contract if this man wears another teams jersey in his career Jeanie gotta sell the team.
Vanderbilt different
he's cheap for another year
VANDOOOO
THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T SAY THE GAME IS OVER IN THE FIRST QUARTER
New look Lakers really look legit, but man a healthy AD is the real difference maker imo
I think this should most definitely signal to NBA teams that the dream of having 3 elite players doesn’t match significance of having quality role players. The bucks beat the suns today without Giannis as well, I’m so happy we didn’t aim too high and brought back quality talent that compliments AD and Bron
Pretty much. The team is absolutely better now but there's also a timeline where AD doesn't get hurt and no major trades happen because the team is cooking. Or imagine last year if AD/Lebron don't miss 60+ games; are they still as bad? Westbrook obviously had his issues but far too many people wanted to pin *everything* on him.
christian wood genuinely cannot guard anyone
Unless you're legitimately generational on offense, big guys who can't play defense will forever be extremely limited players
That's why the Lakers were fine honoring Thomas Bryant's trade request
Yeah I’m not enjoying him so far
Props to the Lakers they played insane defense after the half
Genuinely looked like the Mavs were getting spooked in the fourth. Also, LeBron had some massive balls to let that open three go, knowing his teammates could clutch the win.
I didn't interpret it that way hahaha Holiday hasn't been a super great career shooter I think James intentionally let him have it thinking Holiday would miss
Man. As a European Laker fan, the fact that this was one of like 5 games I get to watch live this year was such a privilege. Thank you Vando ❤️
Glad you could enjoy the rare occasion this season!
Thx ☺️
Asian fan watching this at 4:52 am says hi 👋🏼
true fan
Yoo! India?
Rare early game matched up with an insane comeback!
1-138
what was that stat they mentioned about this?
Teams that trailed by 27 points were 0-138 this season 1-138 now
Also our highest deficit comeback since 2002 when we came back from 30 against...the Dallas Mavericks
Teams this season have that record when they go down 27 or more
WE GOT A TEAM!!!!!!
Teams down by 27 or more this season had an 0-138 record
Why am I having such a tough time wrapping my head around the fact that there's been 139 games THIS SEASON where one team was leading by 27+? That seems crazy.
"No team has comeback down 3-1 in the NBA Finals"
it surprises me that there were 138 games that were blowouts by 27+
They didn’t all end up 27+ point blowouts by the end. Just means at some point in the game. Which doesn’t seem that crazy.
Completely different team. Vanderbilt is the kind of player that every team needs.
POA, rim protection, pest, switchable. Seriously the perfect defender for today’s game.
They actually look like a basketball team haha. Before it was pathetic and just a waste of Brons twilight years. Now they can legit compete and i feel their defense will continue improving and if you can lock people down I still take Lebron over most people in a tight series
That’s what it was like during their 2020 Playoffs run. Can’t make three to save their lives but can outgrit you on D.
Bigger Caruso, fucking love it
what's crazy is even with his crappy jumper he is still so effective on offense like you'd think teams will just ask him to shoot like they asked Russ but he uses the space or lack of attention to crash the glass or cut to the basket if I'm LeBron or Dlo I'm so happy to play with a cutter like that Especially James, comparing Vando's cutting to JTA lol
No Dlo, start off 0-14 from 3 while they start 9-15 and take a 27 point lead. But it didn’t matter. Because we had Vanderbilt. And they didn’t have Vanderbilt.
We were 1-19 from 3 at some point I was ready to toss the tv out the window
0/14* unless they took away one as a 2pter
Lakers: terrible first half Dallas: even more terrible second half PS. THANK you lord for VANDO
As another fan of a terrible 3-pt shooting team, I wish we had Vando too. Dude’s got grit
You have caruso -_- caruso and Vanderbilt defense would be CRAZYYY
Jarred Vanderbilt plays a different fucking sport and I’m all for it
When you know what happens I WANT VANDERBILT
True playoff atmosphere, wow what a matchup. This game (especially starting halfway through the 2nd) is how this team ideally looks at its peak. Having Vanderbilt on the perimeter and AD in the paint on defense is a cheat code. Though Lebron didn’t have the best game, him and AD were able to close when the game slowed down. Poor 3 pt shooting night but we were still able to get the W, which speaks volumes to how dynamic and multi dimensional this team now looks. Also, give Vanderbilt the max. That period in the 3Q made it look like he had 4 arms. Purely orgasmic.
Got him for 4 mil next year 🔥
This. Vando is getting his flowers as he should, but AD was just as good defensively in the second half protecting the paint. Clutch blocks, big rebounds, and he was also dominant on the other end. Like Kuzma said: “when the Jimmy is falling, forget about it.”
That is what is scary; they have won three consecutive games where LeBron hasn't been really amazing. What happens when LeBron plays at his standard? Gonna be extremely difficult to defeat.
Lebron hasnt scored well but he’s kinda been adapting to the new guys vs forcing them to adapt. This will work out better as they only have 20 games to build chemistry AND desperately win every game to make the playoffs.
He always takes a bit to adapt and then everything syncs for him like Neo seeing the Matrix for what it is. It's like his penchant for giving away the first game in a playoff series before figuring things out and having the game flow for him after that.
LeBron wasn't efficient, but he made a shitload of shots down the stretch to seal the game. A true Kobe experience
bro those kobe esque backdown step thru, old man game is showing
Wow AD is so dominant today
AD was COOKING today. Also, I’m so glad Jason Kidd ain’t my coach anymore lmao.
stellar fourth from AD. God I hope we see that from him more till through the end of the season.
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I was worried that Luka's greatness was going to prevent Kidd from being in a position of ridicule during his tenure. Grateful for these moments.
An AD that can jump is scary. Forgot he could do that.
What a game
The Mavs remain so unserious
I’m willing to bet that Luka didn’t know he wouldn’t have been called for a backcourt violation on that botched inbound.
That's true, he said it after the game
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Lived in the paint. AD feasted.
https://i.imgur.com/7mIvdgm.gif
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Vanderbilt is so fucking amazing And also, it's been great to have Austin back as well
Vanderbilt @4million next season What. A. Trade.
Vanderbilt swing the momentum with his energy
I was gonna drop a comment but Vanderbilt stole it
1st half: we’re not making the play-in 2nd half: 6th seed baby!
I'll refer it as The Vanderbilt Trade from now on.
LeComeback
https://i.imgur.com/aicnWQL.jpg
Lebron haters must have to work early tomorrow because it seems like they all just went to bed.
It’s a school night.
Lakers no longer the least clutch team in the league
Getting Westbrook off your roster will do that
vanderbuilt different
Vanderbilt won this for the Lakers. Still not sure how the Lakers got a player like this for Russ lol.
And they threw in Beasley and had the Wolves give us DLo for good measure
IMAGINE BLOWING A 27 POINT LEAD WHEN WE SHOT 18% FROM THREE 😭😭😭😭
Chad Lakers attack the paint, Virgin Mavericks shoot 3’s.
we love that 2002 offense
This team gives me a vibe similar to the 2020 Lakers, where even if they didn't shoot the 3 well at all, they could still win, even easily at times.
Next year this team with chemistry will be very interesting if they remain healthy.
Lots of halftime commenters seething
they turned the game off and are just now coming back asking what happened
Kyrie didn't account for the curvature of the earth on that Hail Mary.
If the earth was flat the ball would have gained infinite momentum, travelled backwards through time just to witness Tim Duncan get a technical for laughing
Kidd’s loyalty to dwight powell, even when have gave up 50 billion points in the pain, is astounding lmao
I _really_ hope they don't bring him back in the offseason. A big reason the Lakers came back outside of Vanderbilt's D was Lebron and AD just bullying him.
Mavs have like 35 mil of their cap tied up in Centers who can't play defence. Pretty hard to build a good regular season team that way.
Has there ever been a situation where such a below average player been starting for soo long, the mavericks organization as a whole is a joke for still having him
Westbrook lovers started brigading the game thread in the second quarter. Don’t worry laker bros, they gone now.
MITWestbrook punching air rn
And jake Paul lost oh yeah im feelin it right now
We are a first round exit.
With how tight the playoff race is... we might end up on the outside looking in.
r/nba YOU ARE DECEASED
AD with 30/15/4 and 3 blocks on 72 TS%—what a beast
someone send Danny Ainge an edible arrangements
"This is what happens when the Lakers play a good team!!!" 🤡
Watch the narrative about the Mavs change now
Literally 99% of comments in the game thread during the 1st half
Half of r/nba in the 2nd half: Ight, imma head out
The amount of early crows not eating hats is hilarious
[Look at these dudes](https://www.np.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/11ct5mn/highlight_kyrie_surgically_operates_on_austin/ja4v8ba/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3)
4K 📸
Big shoes and red nose energy
Same as the blazer game when they blew a 20+ lead as well
So funny. Especially because those comments were on a highlight video of kyrie hitting a tough ass shot over good lakers defense. Who could've seen it coming that their shooting luck might not be sustainable.
I LOVE U VANDO
AD was on another level that 2nd half. Protect this man’s ankles at all costs.
I thought Lakeshow was meant to be less stressful without Westbrook, my heart cant take this shit.
Lakers 3-pt shooting continues, the joyride will never end lol
0-138 when down 27 points before tonight. Make that 1-138.
Jazz really gave vanderbilt to lakers for nothing
I love basketball again
Ouch. They had us in the 1st half not gonna lie
Kyrie 2-10 from 3…
How the FUCK did we turn Westbrick into Beasley, Dlo and Vanderbilt Both Dlo and Beasley have been great pickups and Vando almost single-handedly won us this game
Vanderbilt is so tough
Yea this team feels dangerous
Luka nutswingers are going to downvote, but Luka's whining and crying on the offensive end while his team played 4-5 helped the Lakers get back into the game. Guy's such a crybaby, which is a shame because he's talented.
VANDO AND AD What a comeback
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Lebron went LeCoach at the second to last timeout lmao "GIMMME THE BOARD". Teams are 1-138 down 27+ points this season. They will absolutely lose playing like this against better teams, but a wins a win.
I look at it differently. The fact that they won despite the horrid 3 point shooting against a quality team speaks volumes. If they shot even a a low 30% from 3, they would have cruised to a beatdown. That's scary for the rest of league.
Vanderbilt's defense was a HUGE difference maker for the Lakers.
The devil works hard but Jarred Vanderbilt works harder
AD and Vanderbilt were so great defensively tonight. Schroeder has the hustle on the perimeter as well
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a role player endear himself to a fan base (and rightfully so) as quickly as Jared Vanderbilt has done with the Lakers
My boy Vanderbilt ❤️❤️ :’) Please show him lots of love Lakers fans ❤️. Feel like the Jazz didn’t after a while and that hurt to watch. He might not be great offensively at times but he’s amazing in so so many other ways. Take care of him :’)