Editor’s note: This is the Monday, Nov. 11, edition of the Purple & Bold Lakers newsletter from reporter Khobi Price. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.
Hey everybody, it’s Khobi Price with the Southern California News Group, here with another edition of our Lakers’ newsletter, the Purple and Bold, including 10 things we’ve learned in 10 games so far this season while the Lakers have gone 6-4.
The Lakers are one of the NBA’s best halfcourt teams – but they’re playing a fullcourt game.
Before their 123-103 home win over the Toronto Raptors, the Lakers had a net rating of plus-7 in halfcourt possessions, the league’s seventh-best mark. Their halfcourt possessions net rating grew to plus-7.8 after Sunday’s win.
The Lakers have the Western Conference’s best and the league’s fifth-best halfcourt offensive rating (103), which is a testament to their talent but also the buy-in coach JJ Redick has gotten from the roster into the team’s offensive structure and process only just a few weeks into his first regular season. Even though their defensive rating of 116.9 ranks 21st, their defense on halfcourt possessions (95.2; 13th) is promising.
Transition defense, which the Lakers rank last or close to last in multiple categories in, remains a weakness. They also haven’t been as efficient when pushing the ball up the floor offensively even though they run often, especially off of missed shots.
Here are 10 more things we’ve learned, by the numbers
1. Cam Reddish has made the most of his increased playing time, averaging 7.3 points (73.3% shooting, 66.7% on 3-pointers), 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 24.1 minutes per game while also mostly guarding opponents’ primary perimeter scorer since being added to the rotation last week.
2. Austin Reaves, who would previously guard the opposing team’s primary perimeter scorer, has had strong back-to-back offensive performances since Reddish stepped into the starting lineup two games ago. Reaves averaged 23.5 points on 56.7% shooting (47.4% on 3s on 9.5 attempts) and 6.5 assists in the last two games.
3. After a slow start to the season, at least by his standards, LeBron James has stepped up his play in the last couple of games with back-to-back triple-doubles. James, who is in his 22nd NBA season, hasn’t had impactful starts to games but seems to ramp up his intensity in the third quarters.
4. After having one of the lowest-scoring benches in their first eight games with 20.6 points, the Lakers’ reserves averaged 36 bench points since D’Angelo Russell was moved to a bench role. Russell (16.5 points, 52% shooting and 38.5% on 3s) has found his rhythm as a scorer since becoming a reserve.
5. Anthony Davis is shooting a career-high 49% on shots between 4-14 from the basket, according to Cleaning The Glass. His improved touch in the short midrange area is helping him average a career-high 31.2 points.
6. The transition defense remains an issue even though it’s been better the last couple of home games compared to the five-game road trip. The Lakers have allowed an average of 17 fastbreak points per game – which is still high – the last two games after allowing 22.6 during the trip.
7. After a strong start, the Lakers’ offensive rebounding rate has dipped. They’re rebounding 27.7% of their misses – 21st in the league but still better than their 24.4% offensive rebounding rate last season.
8. The Lakers have had great ball security, only turning the ball over on 12.4% of their possessions, the league’s fourth-best mark. Winning the possession battle was a priority for Redick and taking care of the ball is an important factor in achieving that.
9. The Lakers are not only No. 4 in free throw volume (27 per game), but they’re also No. 4 in accuracy so far at 81.5%. LeBron James (81.6%), D’Angelo Russell (90%), Jaxson Hayes (78.9%) and Rui Hachimura (83.3%) are among the Lakers shooting career-highs on free throws.
10. Despite Redick emphasizing 3-point volume coming into the season, the Lakers are attempting 32.8 3s per game through 10 games compared to 31.4 last season.
Editor’s note: Thanks for reading the Purple & Bold Lakers newsletter from reporter Khobi Price. To receive the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here.