In the modern NBA no lead should feel safe. Up 11 with about 4 minutes to go? Meaningless, a couple stops and a couple of threes can get the other team right back in it and ramp up the pressure. It’s why I’m still annoyed Redick bailed on the Atlanta game at the end of the 3rd quarter. That game alone could mean the difference between home court advantage in a key playoff matchup. At any rate, the team has been finding ways to win, despite the math of the modern game, although it feels pretty unsustainable. At some point the guys who need to make shots need to start making shots.
- Laker’s three point futility and feebleness. If the name on the back of the jersey isn’t ‘Hachimura’ it’s likely you suck at shooting three’s so far in the 2025-26 Lakers season. Luka is shooting an atrocious 31.1%, Reaves is shooting an equally atrocious 31.1% and Marcus Smart is shooting a pathetic 24.2%. It would be one thing is these guys were shooting one, maybe 2 threes/game. They lead the team in attempts by a wide margin and it’s killing the offense on a nightly basis and providing a launching pad for teams to make comeback runs against us. Luka launching 11 3’s game is expected but, at the rate he’s missing, it feels like that’s unsustainable. He either needs to start making shots or adjust his attack and get closer because he’s shooting 61.4% from 2. Reaves at 7.9 (making 2.5) is a slightly less egregious offender but what makes it worse is he’s even better inside the arc than Luka is (63.1% on 2 point shots). Lastly, Smart on only 4.9 attempts (making 1/2) is even better than Doncic and Reaves inside the arc at 66.7% (add in that he’s leading the team in free throw percentage at 93.8% and his three point launching becomes even more mystifying to me). Bronny James and Jared Vanderbilt have better shooting touch from three than Smart does, so far. That’s a problem. These guys need to turn this part of their game around or make the adjustment and get aggressive driving the ball into the paint.
- The Lakers are, once again, really good at scoring in the paint. It’s the main reason I’m befuddled as to why we shoot so many three pointers when, other than Rui, we’re not good at making them. We’re the #1 scoring team inside the arc. We’re 2nd in generating free throws (15th at making them). There needs to be an emphasis from the staff to simply let success be your guide. If the three ball is falling, by all means fire away. But consider the open space in front of you as something more than an invitation to shoot, consider it to, maybe…just maybe, be an invitation to take a step or three in and take the easier 2 point shot. Even better, drive the ball into the paint and attack the rim as much as humanly possible. It’s what makes our offense work the best because the whistles will dry up the longer the season goes.
- The defense is nowhere close to where it needs to be. Considering our schedule it feels like we can be better. Letting inferior teams back into the game isn’t the hallmark of a great team. What I’m trying to see as a hopeful sign is how effective we are in crunch time. We’re finding a way to win despite all the early issues. The other thing I’m taking as a positive, for now, is that, regardless of the issues, we’re finding ways to win. This is important because not every game is going to be a cakewalk and having the “slog it out mentality” is one of the hallmarks of a playoff team.
- Maxi Kleber. I like that we’re giving Maxi some early run. As an expiring contract you might as well give him a few minutes, especially early on, and see if he can drum up some mild interest. It feels like we’re a bit guard heavy, as currently built, so you can call me intrigued with any and all trade proposals built around Gabe Vincent and/or Kleber. he hasn’t scored much but he’s been solid in his minutes on D. It’s come at the cost of Vanderbilt and Knecht’s minutes (and Knecht seems to only hurt his trade value when he plays) but that was always going to happen once LeBron returned. It gives us nice option in small ball lineups, I don’t expect it to last, though. I think this is a short run for some guys and we’ll see the script flipped in a couple weeks and get more Vando and Knecht, again, unless we’re utterly balling out against quality teams.
- The Buss Brothers. Just wanted to say thanks for all the good work Jesse and Joey did for the Lakers. it’s unfortunate that so much drama amongst the family led to them never getting a shot at running things because you can make a pretty decent argument they were the most accomplished in terms of any Buss, besides, Jeannie, in terms of what they brought to the team. They ran the scouting dept. really well and we have had a lot of late round success stories thanks to them in no small part.
Next up is a cross-town battle against the Clippers and a slew of home games. Let’s keep the party train rolling people.
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