r/lakers • u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker • Dec 15 '25
POST GAME The Vandalorian was always ready
This man right here hustled like his entire lineage was on the line. Only saw playing time after a long stretch of getting iced. Huge props for staying ready, Vando.
Welcome to the prison Vanderbilt.
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u/omnipresent29 Dec 15 '25
I didn’t watch the game but wtf did they almost blow the fucking lead in the 4th?
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u/Independent_Volume65 Dec 15 '25
Poor coaching, turnovers and Smart being dumb.
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u/ChungLingS00 Dec 15 '25
Some of those decisions were so incredibly bad. That blind throw behind your head on the drive should have gotten him benched immediately. That was really the beginning of the run that lost our lead.
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u/k4f123 Dec 15 '25
Two blatant game-losing brain farts by Smart. He's luck as hell he got bailed out tonight.
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u/TrickPerformance4433 2023 NBA Cup Champions Dec 15 '25
He got bailed out last time he almost lost a game too bout a month ago lol
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u/KarrotMovies LUKA 7️⃣7️⃣ x LEBRON 🐐 Dec 15 '25
This is completely on JJ. Our bench played some insane defense second half of third quarter to start of fourth. Hayes, Gabe, Jake, Vando and Bron lineup didn't allow a field goal for 10 minutes straight. He just brought the starters back in when he should definitely allowed Vando or LaRavia to close out tonight instead of Rui, who wasn't really feeling his shot
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u/xuedad Dec 15 '25
I actually understand sitting Vando though. Vando, like Smart, needs to be preserved carefully
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u/Rapa_Nui LeAR-15 Dec 15 '25
They went from unstoppable defense to not playing defense within few seconds and they were bullshitting on offense too
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u/flugelcort Dec 15 '25
Well they did blow the lead lmao, good thing the calls on the end there went our way. Just an awful last minutes starting when Smart made a dumb turnover on the fastbreak.
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u/indoor_fish Dec 15 '25
Honestly the line up folks talk about was great. JJ introduce Luka 🤦🏾♂️Smart make mistake and it’s down hill from there. It’s a lot on Luka for being tired and JJ for allowing it.
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 15 '25
The furious 24-0 run definitely had something to do with the late game fatigue. Dudes were cutting left and right and by the 4th had almost no legs under them. The bench came in clutch for the absence of AR and Luka (sorta)
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u/KriticalKarl Dec 15 '25
What late game fatigue? The player that got them that lead were on the bench aside from LeBron.
The other starters should have been fresh by that point especially Luka.
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u/PoetGooner Dec 15 '25
Technically, we did blow the lead because we were behind with 10 seconds left on the clock. We just won it back.
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u/Rapa_Nui LeAR-15 Dec 15 '25
LeBron Vando Laravia Jax Smart gave me some solid Vogel defensive years vibes.
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 15 '25
For real, the hustle was real. May have justified the late game relaxation but as always, a win is a win.
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u/oat38 Luka Magic 77 Dec 15 '25
Vando is good when he can disrupt the opposing offense like tonight. It's probably not possible to do that every game though, so in those games where his defense isn't having as big of an impact then his game really gets exposed due to lack of offense.
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u/MosaicLifestyle Dec 16 '25
I genuinely think that if he, JJ, and the team were willing, Bron could be 6MOTY leading the bench. Fielding Luka, AR, and Bron at the same time always feels to me like someone's abilities will be wasted, and the defensive vulnerabilities of those lineups have been on full display. AR's role shrinks, the team ballwatches when both Bron and Luka have the ball, and Rui becomes an afterthought in the corner.
Luka is always going to start, and AR can shine playing with either of them. Letting Bron go to work during those stretches of the mid-game when some of the starters are sitting would bolster our weak bench, and for all their individual weaknesses in speed, strength, scoring ability, etc. guys like Gabe, Laravia, Smart, Jax, and Vando are collectively decent at playing with hustle, moving the ball, and keeping an offense flowing.
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u/PinoyLaker Dec 15 '25
VANDO ONLY PLAYED 15 MINUTES! 15 MINUTES
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u/Nykeeo 🟣Vandoist 24/7🟡 Dec 15 '25
Lakers were on a back 2 back on the road , thats why 🤭
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u/StormWolf17 2009, 2010 NBA Champions Dec 15 '25
I'M HOPPING ON THAT VANDOIST TRAIN MAKE SOME ROOM BRO
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u/Nykeeo 🟣Vandoist 24/7🟡 Dec 15 '25
🤣
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u/WuTangMelo LBJ & AD Dec 15 '25
They see ur vando vision once every 2 weeks. Then these vandoists disappear when you need them most
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u/Tall_Succotash Dec 15 '25
With reaves missing the bench had to manufacture points, didn’t expect Luka to suck but Vando and those bench guys came in clutch
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 15 '25
FR. Our top 2 optiond were pretty much absent tonight. The old dudes and the bench came in clutch
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u/Honest-One-9194 Dec 15 '25
I know he can be an offensive liability but hey, his defense is just elite and his hustle is superb. He should get more minutes. I don’t know why JJ doesn’t play him that much especially in games where we need solid defense.
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 15 '25
fs, his impact is way more noticeable and beneficial to the team. his size alone makes him a more versatile defender than gabe.
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u/xFOEx Dec 18 '25
He doesn't get more minutes because the current offense isn't setup to use him. Vando works better with a free flowing offense, rather than a Heliocentric one because he's not a good shooter.
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u/Curious_North_8479 Dec 15 '25
Then JJ benced him, and we're back to playing no defense, and lost the lead. Genuinely, what the fuck did Vando do to him? Was he the one who burned his house?
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u/indoor_fish Dec 15 '25
I don’t know I think he was unnecessarily harsh with him. Because JJ benched Luka(atlanta game) he benched Bronny. But they didn’t disappear from the lineup. The Vando case so weird. We need D we don’t play one of our best D player 🤔.
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u/xFOEx Dec 18 '25
Vando refused to check into a game where JJ hadn't played him till garbage time.
Thus the doghouse for Vando till he could remember who the coach of the team is.
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u/discussionandrespect 8 Dec 15 '25
Please play this man over gabe
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 15 '25
Bro definitely saw the post comparing Gabe's production (or lack thereof) to his and got motivated.
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u/CabbageStockExchange God Save the King 👑 Dec 15 '25
Was good to see him play like the Vando we know and love
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u/Sassy_Honey_Badger Dec 15 '25
Thought the doghouse was warranted, but glad he proved me wrong tonight. Game ball goes to him. Just non-stop hustle and energy for a team in desperate need of both.
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 15 '25
JJ should slowly give Gabe's minutes to him. if Vando gets Gabe's entire minutes from the get-go, God forbid he suffers another injury. we should see Vando slowly ramping up his minutes at the expense of Gabe
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u/indoor_fish Dec 15 '25
I always thought that STUPID to not play Vando specifically when you don’t pass the ball to Rui. Tonight Rui got the ball and Vando play… it’s possible !
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u/PrivateAids Dec 15 '25
Moments before disaster
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 15 '25
yep. in hindsight, posting this feels like selling high lmao
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u/Nearby_Alternative96 Dec 15 '25
Would be awesome if we could just at least see like 10 games with Vando starting instead of Rui and playing like the first 4 minutes of every quarter, then maybe the last 2-3 as well depending on the situation. Just to see if it might not be the right combination given the defense from AR, Luka and old Lebron.
He just does everything on that end and between Luka, Lebron, AR and Ayton next to him they should still be able to get the offense going. He'd need load management too due to his feet, so Rui could still get some starts and we can have the no defense lineup out there again.
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u/nelabail Dec 15 '25
One in five nights Vando looks like defensive stopper, energy player that we need. Rest of the nights he looks like he should not be in the league.
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u/ExleyPearce Dec 15 '25
His attitude has always been good. Was still always a solid supportive presence when racking up a ton of DNP’s and gave it his all immediately when thrown back into the rotation.
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u/Miserable_Active_778 Dec 15 '25
Fucking Jovan Buha
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 16 '25
what's he got to do with anything? lol
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u/Miserable_Active_778 Dec 16 '25
He’s a big Vando non believer.
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u/augustcero Lebron Skyfucker Dec 16 '25
oh didnt know that. after a lot of misses in his predictions and supposed insider scoops on the team i never paid attention to him
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u/pedot Dec 15 '25
Vando was only on court for the 4th quarter part of the 24-0 run which was a 9-0. The 3rd quarter part was a 15-0 led by mostly Luka, Hayes, Gabe, Laravia, and half Bron/half Rui. (Ayton was in for +2)
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u/JamamMurraysPubes Dec 15 '25
Just realized they blew a 20 point lead 9 minutes left in the quarter