NBA Game Notes: AD helps get Lakers back on track

Notes from LAL-TOR, CHI-BKN, SAC-ATL, IND-NOP, DEN-MIN

November is off and running in the NBA. Here’s what I saw in the games I watched from November 1!

Los Angeles Lakers - 131 at Toronto Raptors - 125

• Anthony Davis looks as good as he’s ever looked. He’s a destructive defensive force. Offensively, he’s doing it all. Toronto didn’t have a prayer of slowing him down.

• The Lakers bench was a little shaky in this one. They’re still looking for consistent contributors off the pine.

• JJ Redick has done a nice job staggering his lineups to give everyone plays with the ball. D’Angelo Russell has benefitted most from this so far, as he’s done well when he’s the primary or secondary guy.

• Outstanding game from RJ Barrett. He helped get Toronto back in the game and then kept them in it. The Raptors are going to need more of that until some of the other guys get back.

• Big-time shooting from Gradey Dick. He showed a variety of ways he can score. He looks a lot more comfortable in Year 2.

• Even if Anthony Davis was rolling, it doesn’t mean Jakob Poeltl played poorly. He made a bunch of plays of his own, including some nice moves where he had to take a couple of dribbles to get to the rim.

• Ja’Kobe Walter looked pretty good in his debut. Shot looked rusty, but that’s a timing thing. Thought he was competitive defensively and did a nice job on the glass.

Chicago Bulls - 112 at Brooklyn Nets - 120

• This was the most Ben Simmons has looked like himself in a long time. Defense was terrific. He made a bunch of excellent passing reads. Got on the boards. Didn’t shoot much, but he wasn’t passing up too many obvious shots either.

• Nets bench was excellent. Everyone contributed. Special shout-out to Keon Johnson, who has been giving Brooklyn some solid guard play.

• Cam Thomas is something else as a scorer. He’s going to be in the mix to lead the league in scoring. And the efficiency isn’t bad either. There is no shot that Thomas won’t take and can’t make.

• It’s odd, because no one would call Nikola Vucevic a speed merchant, but the Bulls faster pace is really working for him. He’s benefitting from going against a lot of non-set defenses. He’s an excellent trail shooter, and Vucevic knows when to cut to the rim for hoops.

• It’s good to see that Coby White hasn’t been too minimized with others back in the Bulls lineup. He’s too important to have his role lessened too much.

• Patrick Williams on the other hand…you there? Williams is in a tough spot, as he’s often just sort of waiting in the corner for a ball that never comes. That lack of engagement has led to some letdown on defense from Williams too. It’s up to Billy Donovan to get him out of this funk.

Sacramento Kings - 123 at Atlanta Hawks - 115

• Mike Brown is figuring out how to stagger his stars. That’s helped the Kings offense to get going. DeMar DeRozan gets time to run the show, while Sacramento is still keying many minutes off the De’Aaron Fox/Domantas Sabonis two-man game.

• Fox was simply too quick for anyone the Hawks tried to put on him. He probably could have scored even more but kept the ball moving. The only downside? Some sloppy turnovers.

• The Hawks tested Domantas Sabonis a lot on defense, and he ended up fouling out. That’s something to keep an eye on, as the Kings backup big are still finding their form.

• With a bunch of guys out for Atlanta, Jalen Johnson can’t take just 10 shots. He was a little passive as a shooter in this one. Johnson did do a terrific job as a passer. This was nice work to us the pump fake to lift Keegan Murry. Johnson than completed a nice drive-and-dish to Onyeka Okongwu

• The Hawks guard rotation is a mess with several players out. That gave two-way player Keaton Wallace a chance to get some run. Wallace took advantage by playing a nice game. He was aggressive getting up his shots too. Atlanta has been open to promoting two-way players before, so keep an eye on Wallace.