Player Grades: Lakers vs. Spurs
Grading every Lakers player’s performance from the team’s 119-101 win over the Spurs
Finally, the Lakers get back in the win column, beating the Spurs in dominant fashion 119-101.
This victory was much-needed after three straight losses, with two defeats being blowouts.
JJ Redick pushed all the right buttons, starting Dalton Knecht instead of Cam Reddish and reducing Gabe Vincent’s minutes to just six for the entire game.
Overall, it was an easy win on the road and it demonstrated that this team plays better when it relies more on its offensive identity.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Rui Hachimura
26 minutes, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 5-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 4-4 FT, -1
Hachimura was active against the Spurs, scoring 16 points, was perfect from the free throw line and crashed the boards, grabbing five rebounds.
He did everything he was asked, not more but not less. If he can continue playing this way, this team’s ceiling will be raised.
Grade: B+
LeBron James
33 minutes, 16 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 8-18 FG, 0-2 3PT, +4
LeBron is becoming a triple-double machine this season. He had another versus San Antonio, making it his sixth of the year.
While that is impressive, he also had some bad moments in this game. He took some questionable shots and struggled to control the ball, having a game-high five turnovers.
If he can be less careless with the ball and smarter with his field-goal attempts, LeBron will be back to his typical level of performance.
Grade: B-
Anthony Davis
35 minutes, 19 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 8-14 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-3 FT, +16
AD had a slow start during the first half but picked things up later in the game and ended with his usual double-double numbers.
Overall, it was a typical Davis performance, but that’s not a bad thing. It was also nice to see him making all his free throws, which has been a problem the past week.
Grade: B
Dalton Knecht
31 minutes, 20 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 8-15 FG, 4-10 3PT, +9
If Knecht is back on the bench anytime soon, Redick will have to answer some tough questions. The rookie was sensational once again, scoring 20 points, shooting 40% from 3-point range and giving this team a much-needed boost offensively.
He has already played at a level even his biggest supporters couldn’t have imagined a month ago. Now, Knecht is cemented as the starter and the best shooter on the roster.
Grade: A
Austin Reaves
32 minutes, 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 5-11 FG, 3-6 3PT, +8
Reaves is in a funny place where he is good enough to score in double figures but rarely dominates a game. That’s understandable, given two of the players on the team are LeBron and AD, but now, with Knecht entering the starting lineup, there might be fewer chances for Reaves to get going.
This game was a mediocre one for Reaves. He was very good from deep, making three three-pointers, but he had long stretches where you’d forget he was on the floor.
Grade: B-
Cam Reddish
17 minutes, 0 points, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, +16
Reddish’s return to the bench was okay, I guess. He didn’t produce much on the stat line, but his value is in his defensive presence and he did well in that department.
Honestly, his minutes are still a bit too high for my liking, but given some of the options on the bench, I understand it.
Grade: B-
D’Angelo Russell
26 minutes, 17 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 1 steal, 7-11 FG, 3-6 3PT, +19
This was, arguably, the best D’lo game of the season so far. He was aggressive, attacking the paint, scoring on floaters and went 50% from 3-point range.
He was one basket away from his season-high of 19 points and what makes this game encouraging is that Russell can absolutely play this well consistently. He just has to do it.
Grade: A
Max Christie
22 minutes, 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 4-6 FG, 1-3 3PT, 3-3 FT, +16
This game reminds you why the Lakers signed Christie to a 4-year, $32 million deal this past summer.
He was flying all over the place, making plays on both sides of the ball. He had a one-legged layup, two-handed jam and a nice back-to-back sequence where he blocked a shot on one end, scored, and was fouled on the make on the other.
More games like this from Max and that contract will look like a bargain.
Grade: A
Christian Koloko, Gabe Vincent, Maxwell Lewis, Armel Traore
I find it very interesting that Vincent played less than ten minutes in San Antonio. Is he now down to a shift per game with Dalton getting more run and Reddish on the bench?
Koloko was good during his short shifts and Lewis and Traore just came in during garbage time to close things out.
JJ Redick
It takes guts to change your starting lineup for the second time this year in only 18 games of action. However, Redick won’t sit idly by and watch his team drop games. He’s proven he’ll try something and see if it works.
Redick's decision to put Knecht with the starters certainly worked on Wednesday and for that and shrinking Vincent’s minutes, he earned a high grade.
Grade: A
Wednesday’s inactives: Jaxson Hayes, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood, Quincy Olivari
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.