Reloaded Lakers may have finally fixed their biggest weakness: 3-point shooting

LOS ANGELES – In their quest to revamp their middling offense, the Los Angeles Lakers focused on optimizing their SEO, enhancing creativity and uniqueness, improving syntax and tone, increasing perplexity and burstiness, all while retaining their HTML tags.

The Lakers’ success in the Western Conference finals, driven by an elite defense, motivated them to prioritize their offense during the offseason. And based on their performance in the preseason, it seems their efforts are paying off.

Before the Lakers’ recent preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors, head coach Darvin Ham admitted, “Our offense might be a little bit ahead of our defense right now.”

Traditionally, opposing teams would pack the paint against LeBron James and Anthony Davis, relying on the Lakers’ limited shooting ability to outscore them. However, with the emergence of Austin Reaves as a legitimate third option, the additions of D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, and Christian Wood, the Lakers now possess an offensive firepower unlike any other season in the James-Davis era.

While it’s important to recognize that preseason performance doesn’t always transfer to the regular season, the Lakers’ offense has shown promise. In their limited playing time during the preseason, they have consistently scored over 30 points per quarter, creating open shots and drawing fouls at an impressive rate.

The improvement can be attributed to the team’s continuity, roster improvements, and Coach Ham’s fine-tuning of the offensive system. The Lakers’ unselfishness, ball movement, and strong camaraderie have contributed to their offensive success.

Against the Warriors, six Lakers players scored in double figures, showcasing their depth and offensive prowess. Notably, the team’s three-point shooting has significantly improved, with multiple players contributing to the success. Even their starters have offensive ratings that would have ranked among the best in the NBA last season.

Russell and Reaves have been crucial in orchestrating the offense, allowing James and Davis to conserve energy for key moments. The Lakers are also playing at a faster pace and exhibiting more ball movement, resulting in better shot quality.

According to Reaves, playing together for a longer time has built chemistry and translated into cohesive gameplay. The addition of talented shooters has also elevated the team’s offensive capabilities.

While there may be concerns about potential defensive trade-offs, especially with the backup point guard position, the Lakers recognize the importance of having an elite offense in today’s game. A strong defensive foundation coupled with a revamped offense gives them the potential to be serious championship contenders.

Coach Ham emphasized the need for every player to contribute offensively, acknowledging the long journey ahead for the team.

(Top photo: Kiyoshi Mio / USA Today)