The Lakers' use of Howard this season has been controversial, often deprecated, with little playing time. However, against the Grizzlies, the Lakers changed their starting lineup and let Howard start, hoping that he could defend the Grizzlies against Adams and Jackson. Howard did a good job, and although his playing time was still not much, when he came on, the defensive effect was very good. Unfortunately, in the crucial final quarter, Howard was abandoned, did not get playing time, and finally the Lakers lost the game. Although Howard only got 6 points, 1 board and 1 assist in the whole game, but the plus-minus value was +17, and he scored 17 points on the game, the highest plus-minus value in the whole team, and was abandoned. While Westbrook and James had 23 rebounds, he had only 1.
Howard did not play before, but this time he started, which shows that the Lakers' lineup rotation is really unstable, and the test of the players is also very large. After Howard started, the defense was very good, Adams was prevented by him to score, and Jaren Jackson Jr. was an excellent interior scorer, and he also did not play. Howard protected the penalty area well, and Morant tried to block Howard, which turned out to be a mistake. After Howard went down, the Lakers were immediately grabbed by the board continuously, the Grizzlies grabbed the board many times, and the Grizzlies also seized the opportunity to score under the basket many times. In Howard's absence, the problem immediately arose.
However, helplessly, when Howard appeared in the second quarter, there were consecutive foul problems, and it took only 2 minutes to have 2 fouls, and he had no choice but to be replaced, and this section was not replaced again. After Howard was gone, the Grizzlies also seized the opportunity to chase points continuously, and the Lakers did not pull away the point difference. Howard continued to start in the second half, with Howard present, the Lakers' defense immediately improved, Howard also ate cake under the basket many times, James hit a three-point line, and the Lakers opened up the point difference again. However, when Howard went down, the Grizzlies immediately hit the basket to score. No Howard sitting on the inside line, really not, Jackson even grabbed the board 2+1, hit the Lakers inside line.
Without Howard in, the Lakers were clearly chased. However, just so obviously, the Lakers coach did not see, and in the final quarter, he actually insisted on playing a small lineup, directly abandoned Howard, and did not let him appear. This operation is also served, Howard is so effective on the field, why not continue to use it? After Howard was abandoned in the last quarter, Morant and others continued to play hi, breaking through the inside line many times, and the Lakers' inside line was obviously unable to hold back. At key moments, Morant also grabbed key rebounds and completed the layup score. At that time, it was only 3 points, if Howard was there, the rebound could be protected, and the result became a 5-point difference, and finally it could only lose.
Seeing the Lakers' lineup rotation, they lost this time! Howard scored 17 points, but he was still abandoned, and he really deserved to lose. Howard has really sacrificed too much in the Lakers now, and many people are not worth it for him. The first time in the offseason chose to come back to the Lakers, hoping that he could help the Lakers, but he did not play much time and was scolded by his teammates on the bench. And now I play well, and I still don't have much time to play. And when on the court, Howard also sacrificed his own data, he was responsible for the card position, James and Westbrook grabbed a lot of rebounds, both rebounded in doubles, Howard only had 1 rebound, and many rebounds were taken away by the big two.
The Lakers want to play a counterattack, and it is normal for the two ball carriers to grab the board at the first time. It's just that Howard has fallen prey and personal data has gotten worse. No shots, not many rebounds, Howard got 6 points, 1 board and 1 assist, and the data looks average. From the data point of view, Howard is average, but fans who have watched the game know that Howard is actually very effective on the court, seeing the Lakers use Howard like this, it is really chilling, you still let Howard leave! Now that McKee is in the sun, howard is discarded, which is ironic.