MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Lakers got exactly what they wanted (and needed) from Rui Hachimura during their victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. They wanted aggressive play with the ball in his hands, and he delivered as needed with 29 points.
Hachimura tied Mychal Thompson for the most points by a Lakers reserve in a playoff game. Thompson scored 29 points in a May 1, 1988 game. Or more than a decade before Hachimura was born in Toyama, Japan, and more than 35 years before the Lakers and Grizzlies squared off.
Hachimura had 21 points in the second half on 8-for-9 shooting.
By the end of the game, it was difficult to know which of his baskets stood out most of all.
Most likely, it was the driving dunk he had over Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr.
All of them were important, though.
“Just yesterday or two days ago, the whole team, we got in – not an argument – a conversation about my dunk package is kind of weak,” Hachimura said. “And I was showing all my highlights on YouTube and they were like, ‘No.’ They don’t like that. So, I told them, I said, ‘Look, this series, I’m going to have one. Just watch.’ So it happened today. They just told me, I got one. So, just the way we’ve been talking, they told me to be more aggressive. They want me to be aggressive on the offensive side and defensive side. Both sides. So, yeah, that’s what I did tonight.”
All joking aside, the Lakers wouldn’t have won Sunday without Hachimura. He’s been a steady contributor since Lakers coach Darvin Ham “went rogue” and left Hachimura out of the rotation for a loss to the Chicago Bulls on March 26, and his shooting in Game 1 was not entirely unexpected.
At least, Ham wasn’t surprised, anyway.
“I love Rui,” Ham said. “I mean, he’s one of the brightest young men I’ve been around and had the opportunity to coach in my life. He’s multi-faceted. He’s strong. He’s got great hands. He can…
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