Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Postgame Grades and Analysis for LA

The Cleveland Cavaliers (14-24) bombarded the Los Angeles Lakers (14-24) with a barrage of three-pointers on the way to a 120-118 win at the Staples Center on Tuesday night.



The Cavs finished 13-of-17 from long range, holding off a late rally and exploiting poor rotations and generally lazy defense on the perimeter by the Lakers.



Luol Deng led the way for Cleveland with 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting (including 5-of-5 from three-point range).

Jodie Meeks and Nick Young did their best to try and keep pace with the hot shooting Cavs, but their 54 combined points ultimately weren't enough to make up for the pitiful team defense.



 

Key Player Grades

 

Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, Power Forward/Center



Offensively, Pau Gasol was excellent on Tuesday, going 9-of-13 from the field for 20 points. But as good as he was on that end, it didn't make up for what he surrendered on the other.

Cleveland's Anderson Varejao has never been known as an offensive juggernaut, and yet Gasol gave up 18 points to him.

And what might be even worse, he did nothing to keep Varejao off the boards. The Cavs' big man grabbed 18 rebounds, seven of which were offensive. 



Grade: C

 

Kendall Marshall, Los Angeles Lakers, Point Guard



Obviously, playing in D'Antoni's system inflates the numbers of most point guards, but that shouldn't discount the incredible playmaking ability and willingness to pass of Kendall Marshall.

After posting 32 assists in his previous two home games as a Laker, Marshall dished out 16 on Tuesday against the Cavaliers.

He has incredible vision, always looking up the floor in transition and surveying it in its entirety in half-court situations. If Marshall has the ball and a teammate is op...

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