On March 14, the Lakers lost 111-140 to the Suns, including the Suns scoring 48 points in the first quarter. The Lakers still started with five small starts, and the result was blown up by the Sun. After the game, Suns center Ayton domineeringly said that he would punish the team that used his small lineup.
Lakers coach Vogel has failed again in his platoon, knowing that Suns center Ayton likes to play high and short players are difficult to deal with, but still use five small starts.
Ayton said after the game that when a team uses a small lineup against him, he will feel disrespected. "That's what I'm going to do, I'm going to punish teams like that." Ayton said.
In a win over the Lakers, Ayton played 27 minutes, shooting 11-of-14, with 23 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. The Suns made it 48-22 in the first quarter, and Ayton broke the Lakers on the inside. Lakers coach Vogel changed sides in the second half, using Howard to start, but still could not compete with the explosive Ayton.
In this game, the Suns rebounded 51 to 37 to have the absolute upper hand, and the frontcourt rebounds were 14 to 7. The Suns scored 76-36 on the inside line to complete the Lakers.
Obviously, there is a big problem with the Lakers' platoon. Lakers coach Vogel explained why he used a small lineup after the game: "The small lineup is our best combination of offensive players, but when facing a team with Ayton, using a small lineup, the game will really be very difficult to play. ”
The Lakers' platooning and on-the-spot command this season have exposed big problems. Obviously, the departure of two excellent assistant coaches, Kidd and Hollins, is too harmful to the Lakers. Vogel seems to have lost his right and left arm, and the newly joined Fitzdale can't compete with Kidd and Hollins.
The addition of John Lucas III was even more inexperienced. The coaching staff is weakened, and it is up to the management to blame for its lack of strength. A championship-level team, but can not recruit excellent assistant coaches, Pelinka really can't say.