Lonnie Walker IV had found myself leaving Los Angeles Lakers‘ five start to the bench, As missed the first 14 games of the season due to knee tendinitis, and L.A. overhauled its roster during the trade deadline., lost his place in the rotation IIn February, he posted a post on his Instagram account that read like he was giving a TED talk himself.
On Monday night, Walker was the most productive player in the game, along with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Stephen Curry in uniform. He shot 66.7 percent from every 15 points. Key in helping the Lakers go 3-1 up in a 104-101 win in the second round series against Golden State Warriors,
Walker started every game while healthy for the Lakers from Opening Night until December 28. This includes the Lakers’ 2-10 start, as well as their quick 10-2 run to save their season. James missed the first five games of that turnaround. The Lakers went 3-2 while he was out and Walker averaged 18.8 points per game on 51.4/44/87.5 shooting splits. For the first half of Walker’s season, He averaged 14.7 points per game on a 45.5/38.7/87.5 split.
Once Walker was healthy enough to play again, the Lakers were fighting for their lives after the season and traded for Rui Hachimura. They were not done Because they will also add Jared Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, and Mo Bamba before the trade deadline.
As Darwin Hamm tampered with the rocker, Walker fell from it. He hasn’t started a single game since the injury, Even Walker was leapfrogged in the rotation by Troy Brown Jr. – one of the reserves who remained on the roster through the deadline.
darwin ham went with troy brown jr over walker
I’ve never understood why Hamm decided to go with the Browns over Walker for the second half of the season and most of the playoffs. When the Lakers signed Walker to a one-year deal in the offseason, he was a perfect fit, and early in the season proved to be one of the team’s few reliable two-way players. My eyes, and Walker’s stats, must be working together to deceive me.
Walker played a total of 15 minutes in the Lakers’ six-game series win against the memphis grizzlies in the first round. He caught his third DNP-CD of the playoffs in Game 1 of the second round against the Warriors. The Lakers had a lot of garbage time in Game 2 for the Warriors, but Walker played well, Shooting 50 percent from the field in 12 minutes.
He impressed Hamm enough to make the jump to the Lakers. Sixth man in the rotation during the Lakers’ Game 3 rout of the Warriors, 127-97. Walker scored 12 points on 66.7 percent shooting.
of those Walker scored 15 points in Game 4, every one of them coming in the fourth quarter. It was a game the Lakers could skip as the Warriors fought to travel the Golden State Freeway – by charter jet, Of course – 2-2 in the series. Davis didn’t duplicate his first-half impact in the second, and some costly turnovers put the Lakers in a spot to lose that game.
Walker opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer. Furthermore, for nearly four minutes of action in the final period, his three field goals were the only points for the Lakers during that period. While Curry was talking big trash after that 4-point play, it was Walker who nailed a 22-foot 2-pointer to tie the game.
As much i hate d-level acting performances by nba players, Draymond Green spread his arms when Walker tried to go around him to counter a Klay Thompson 3-pointer. It was a clear foul that might not have been called if Walker had taken a spin into the hardwood as NBA players are used to doing during contact.
In addition, with the game in the balance during the final 15 seconds, Walker grabbed a rebound after a Curry 3-point miss. Walker then converted his only two free throw attempts of the game to put the Lakers up by three points.
“Don’t be discouraged by what you see. It may be a huge obstacle in front of you but don’t forget that the bigger the test the bigger the reward.”
That was part of Walker’s IG story post when he was falling out Rotation in late February. It is now the beginning of May, and the Lakers are 2-2 on their way back to the Bay Area, without denying that Walker is frustrated.