OKLAHOMA CITY — The Lakers have made it clear through their words and actions that they are a paint-first team.
They entered Thursday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the final stop of a four-game road trip, fourth in the NBA in points in the paint (55.8) and sixth in free throws attempted per game (25.2).
But their lack of 3-point shooting volume – and accuracy – is one of the reasons why the Lakers entered Thursday tied for the 23rd-best offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) in the league at 111.3.
The Lakers went into Thursday averaging a league-low 29.4 3-point attempts per game, several attempts short of the 35-40 attempts per game that Coach Darvin Ham said he came into the season hoping they’d be taking. Their accuracy from behind the arc (33.9%) is the league’s third-worst mark.
It hasn’t helped that players who were expected to take a mid-to-high volume of 3-point attempts for the Lakers in Rui Hachimura (nasal fracture), Cam Reddish (right groin soreness) and guard Gabe Vincent (left knee effusion – swollen joint) have been sidelined for significant stretches. Anthony Davis has not been hoisting from deep either, entering Thursday attempting 0.6 3s per game – the lowest mark of his career since 2014-15.
“We have the ability to play fast,” Ham said. “We have the ability to play at any speed, but it is just the focus of it. Sometimes the game doesn’t allow for that to happen. And so we have to make solid plays continue and continuously, uh, just look in search for ways we can get [them] without it being forceful.
“It has to be organic because we don’t want to give up or turn down a layup just so we can get more 3s. I want to get the best shot available. It’s something that we’re mindful of and something for sure we’ll get better at as we start to get bodies back in the lineup. We’re well aware of it and something, one of the many things we want to focus on and get better at again. But right now we’re just trying to get the best possible offense, most efficient offense going consistently as we possibly can.”
SHORTHANDED
The Lakers were without Hachimura, Reddish, Vincent, backup big man Jaxson Hayes (left elbow soreness) and forward Jarred Vanderbilt (left heel bursitis – inflammation) against the Thunder. This forced Ham to use an eight-man rotation of D’Angelo Russell, Max Christie, Taurean Prince, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Christian Wood and Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Ham provided an update on Hachimura before the game and was optimistic that the team will receive good news on his status once they return to Los Angeles.
“He’s back home, working out, getting his workouts in. I think he may have gotten fitted for a mask here recently. Um, so, you know, we’re hoping to get some good positive news when we return after this road trip.”
Ham added that he most missed Hachimura’s spirit and versatility.
“Rui is an interesting piece, man, and a great kid,” Ham said. “First and foremost, I miss his spirit. He’s fun, really fun to be around. And just his smile and all of that – the group loves him. We all love him to death.
“But just his versatility on both sides of the ball. His ability to switch different defensive coverages, his ability to get big strong rebounds to push the ball himself off of defensive rebounds and increase our pace, his shot-making. Again, his ability to just create plays and open up space by attacking the paint and just the overall versatility that he brings on the defensive side of the ball as well as the offensive side of the ball.”