The Lakeshow Review

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  • JJ Redick: A Year In Review

    Former Duke Blue Devils legend JJ Redick just completed his first season as Lakers head coach. There were some highs and lows, moments of brilliance and, well, moments of head scratching. 

    Redick accepted the job after his brief stint as a podcaster post-retirement. A stint that included a partnership with LeBron James on the Mind The Game Podcast. Despite not bringing any coaching experience, at any level, it was presumed that Redick’s enthusiasm and appetite for the job would propel him to excel at the highest levels. The fact that he’d been podcast buddies with LeBron surely didn’t hurt. Through the offseason, the Lakers explored other options, namely UConn Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dan Hurley. Who famously (or infamously) spurned the Lakers in favor of an extension at this alma mater. Surprisingly, LA did not even take a look at candidates like Mike budenholzer, a proven champion and commodity, and seemed zeroed in on Redick after the brief Dan Hurley detour. Eventually, JJ got the gig, and certainly walked into a situation filled with pressure and expectations. 

    Initially, JJ Redick faced some unique challenges after becoming the franchise’s 29th Head Coach. He pledged to establish Anthony Davis as the “offensive hub”, meaning he would be the prime focal point in the offense. More so than in years past. Perhaps signalling that LeBron James would no longer be the team’s main driving force offensively. He was also tasked with the development of young pieces such as Austin Reaves, and optimizing the fits of forward Rui Hachimura and guard D’Angelo Russell. Ultimately, Davis was traded (along with Max Christie) in exchange for Luka Dončić. I will say, during the season’s first half, AD was playing great basketball for the Lakers. He anchored the team’s defense, and helped propel the Lakers into the playoff picture since the start of the season. The 2025 Lakers were never underwater and maintained a respectable level of play all throughout. Unlike the last two seasons with Coach Darvin Ham, where the team had to claw its way into the playoffs. Much of that was due to AD’s stout two-way play, as he helped the team to an excellent 28-19 record before being traded in February. The team manned its pace after the Luka Dončić trade, and even finished with a top 3 seed heading onto the playoffs. D’Angelo Russell was also traded for Dorian Finney-Smith early in the season, which helped shore up the team’s defensive perimeter deficiencies. All in all, you have to give credit to JJ for keeping the team focused and maintaining a consistent pace, despite several in-season personnel changes. The team could have easily collapsed or dropped its pace, yet they managed to finish the year strong, with a 50-32 record (3 game improvement over last year) and a top 3 seed in the West Playoffs. 

    Philosophically, JJ proved to be a complete 180 from Darvin Ham. He brought a “modernized” offensive approach, with the 5-out offense, which sought to optimize the skillsets of the team’s role players such as Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. The latter of whom pleasantly surprised us all by manning the center position after the AD trade. Reaves in particular enjoyed a career year. Much of that a direct result of the team’s more offensive-centric approach, as well as strong mentorship from his head coach. Redick’s encouragement and belief in AR was crucial in him taking a substantial leap this season. For stretches during the season, AR was looking like a legitimate All-Star and his effect on the Lakers’ winning basketball should not be overlooked. Hachimura enjoyed a strong finish to the season and was a vital piece in the team’s floor spacing, and newcomer Dorian Finney-Smith also looked like a natural fit in JJ’s offense as a corner spot-up man. Even young journeyman Jaxson Hayes showed some flashes of brilliance. After a disappointing 2024 with the team, and frankly a disappointing career thus far, Hayes proved to be surprisingly productive in his limited minutes at center. He was excellent on the pick-and-roll as a screen-setter and roll-man, and even as an outlet man on short-roll situations. At least during the regular season, he looked like a respectable ball screen partner with Luka Dončić. JJ Redick deserves a healthy share of credit for all these things. Amidst roster turnover at multiple points during the season, he managed to keep the team locked in and got the most out of his players, regardless of the personnel. I’d say this was a decidedly positive aspect about JJ’s rookie coaching stint. 

    The area where the team surprised the most was on the defensive end. Particularly after the AD trade, when the team lost its defensive anchor. JJ managed to successfully install a defense-by-committee approach which helped the team keeps its head above water on the defensive end, post-AD trade. The Lakers were able to swarm teams with their length on the perimeter, and against bigger teams, front the post via various zone schemes, which made entry passes difficult and discourage teams from posting up. Their frantic stunt-and-recover schemes proved successful in defending the three pointer, and being able to hold teams under their averages. For the team’s success in the regular season, JJ once again takes home a bulk of the credit. The fact that the defense did not fall apart at any point, particularly after so many roster moves, was quite miraculous. His defensive schemes proved clever and resourceful, and were a big reason why the team was able to keep winning. I was impressed at how he managed to maximize his personnels’ potential and get the most out of each and everyone in the rotation. 

    Just like there was good, there was also not-so-good. The team seemed to perplexingly come out flat for certain games, and failed to display a level of consistency that in my opinion could be attributed to cockiness or over-confidence. Because of their star power, LA took certain games for granted. And at times endured rough stretches, where a humbling loss was needed in order to get the team to snap out of its funk. Most of these duds popped up shortly after the Luka trade. For instance, a 3-game skid to kick off a road trip in early March, the first one being the Celtics loss where LeBron sustained a groin injury. Then suddenly, after LeBron’s abrupt return to the lineup (he should’ve just taken the rest of the regular season off), the team dropped winnable home games against Chicago and Milwaukee. Then, perhaps the worst of all, a road loss to Chicago (again) where the team (mainly LeBron) did everything in their power to throw away the game. A true choking clinic. Lastly, a disappointing home loss to Golden State, when the no. 2 seed in the West was still in play. Overall, the team finished 7-7 after LeBron returned from injury. He could’ve used the rest. And perhaps allowed the rest of the team to develop some chemistry in his absence. Looking back, that was the stretch were the team began to show some cracks. Instead of roaring into the playoffs, the team merely strolled into them. With decent momentum, but not as much as you’d have liked. It’s times like these where one would like to see JJ step on the gas pedal and demand more out of the roster. 

    LA’s unspectacular finish to the season did not spell the best vibes heading into the playoffs. The team came out flat in their round one opener against Minnesota, who ran them off their home floor. LeBron, in particular, looked gassed. A troubling sign considering it was only game 1. As I suggested, he should have rested after the Boston loss in order to optimize his physical condition for the playoffs. Perhaps JJ should’ve prioritized rest and building chemistry with Luka, Austin and Rui, as opposed to making sure LeBron got back on the court as soon as possible. Especially at his age, 40, it’s best to go easy with those matters. The team never quite regained its sterling defensive form it had displayed during the season, often breaking down defensively because of bad tactical decisions. Such as consistently helping off the strong side corner, lazy help defense, the refusal to start Jarred Vanderbilt and stick him on Anthony Edwards, or the neglecting of the center position and insistence on going small sans Jaxson Hayes. All off these decisions proved costly. For someone who looked energetic and willing to adapt during the regular season, JJ was quite the opposite come playoffs. The team went down without any significant adjustment, and with the conceited assumption that Minnesota would eventually come back down to earth. They never did. The series was played on their terms, and LA lacked the smarts and aggression to successfully counter Minnesota’s initial punch, eventually enduring the knockout blow after the Wolves vanquished them in 5 games on their home floor at Crypto.

    It was a season of ups and downs. Roster turnover and injuries certainly played a role in defining the season’s outlook. Coach JJ Redick proved resourceful and capable of managing the grind of the 82-game season, with the occasional wart rearing its ugly head. Unfortunately, that resourcefulness didn’t exactly translate into the postseason. Experience and age took a hold, as Redick was outclassed by the more experienced Timberwolves staff, who were determined to establish their brand of physicality and aggression, which in turn, the Lakers failed to answer for. I can’t really fault JJ for these things, as experience usually wins out this time of the year. The one hope is that the right lessons will be learned. Adjustments, resilience and discipline are all things this team can bank on improving for next season. And yes, there’s always a next season, which always brings new hope and excitement. All in all, I’d say JJ Redick’s initial season as Lakers Head Coach was both encouraging and disappointing. Hopefully the bitterness of losing ignites the right mentality to bring forth next year, and perhaps the Lakers can continue to add the requisite pieces that maximize JJ’s coaching talents. Until then, we’ll have the offseason to mull things over. Let’s hope both the coaches and players are ready to continue building upon their foundation in prosperous ways. 

  • Lakers Should Exit The Klutch Sports Business

    All good things must come to an end. All bad things must come to an end. All things must come to an end. Regardless of how you feel about the seven seasons that LeBron James has spent as a Los Angeles Laker, it’s clearly obvious at this point that it’s in his best interest to seek greener pastures. As well as it’s in the organization’s best interest to build towards the future. LeBron’s timeline and the Laker’s timeline are simply incongruent at this point. The Lakers want to get younger and build around their new star acquisition Luka Dončić, while LeBron James is playing the remainder of his career for his legacy. Chasing all-time records and chasing Michael Jordan. These two visions are incompatible, nor do they ever intersect over the course of their natural trajectories. Which is why the Lakers must choose; do they continue going younger with the aim of being a perennial contender, or do they halt those plans and become a sideshow amidst LeBron’s eventual retirement tour and future family engagements? They very clearly cannot do both. They can either compete for championships or cater to their second best player. The wise play for the Lakers in this scenario, in my humble opinion, is to move on. The Lakers-Klutch Sports joint venture has run its course, and we’ve bared witness to its fruits. For better or for worse, the results are the results. Treating this past season as something to build upon will only spell trouble for the Los Angeles Lakers. They can choose to either make drastic changes, or continue deluding themselves that they aren’t merely tinkering the settings on the treadmill. It’s time to outright ditch the treadmill. It’s time to move on.  

    LeBron is set to make over $52M this upcoming season. At this salary, it’s increasingly difficult to add the necessary parts this team needs in order to improve. Plus, he’s no longer the team’s top dog. Luka is. It doesn’t make sense for the Lakers to shift so much of their attention to someone who is no longer the team’s best player. And on top of that, the Lakers employ the services of his son, Bronny, who as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, boasts a fully guaranteed contract spanning over four years. The team, in my opinion, can’t be prioritizing the James Family’s personal whims at the expense of building around their new cornerstone, Luka and their championship endgame. For a team as cap-stricken and asset-bare as LA, it’s virtually impossible to do both. If anything, LeBron should consider taking a significant paycut, if the optimal outcome of trading him can’t be achieved. He isn’t worth $52M to this team, or any team trying to contend for championship for that matter. The days of LeBron being the best player on a championship team are long gone. 

    James no longer has the ability to run through the rigours of an 82-game season plus an extended playoff run. That much was clear in 2025, when he looked like a completely different player as soon as the playoffs commenced. Even during the regular season, he was not impacting games quite at the level that he and his fans are accustomed to seeing. He was still filling up the stat sheet, but to the tune of a mediocre plus-minus of -54. Yeah the stats were there, but the sheer impact was not. Once the postseason started, LeBron looked tired. As evidenced be his meager 19 points on 18 shots performance in Game 1 of the Minnesota series, after almost a week of rest. He had some bright moments, including a 38 point performance in Game 3. But capped off the series with a disappointing 22 point on 21 shots performance in Game 5, as the Lakers dropped the series in five games. He also shot 2-9 combined in the final two fourth quarters combined (games 4 and 5). Which is a dead giveaway that he was gassed. Overall, his numbers weren’t abysmal (although his fourth quarter play in fact was), however, for a player making close to $50M, more than anyone else on the team, you’d expect more. As in much more. He simply is not quite the difference maker that he once was and can no longer be the engine of a championship offense. Not to mention, the team does not have the luxury of being able to wait for LeBron to “play his way” into a series. For a player getting payed prime money, you expect him to play like it, especially in the playoffs. It simply doesn’t make sense for the Lakers to view LeBron James as a franchise cornerstone any longer.

    Not to mention, the fit between Luka and LeBron, is not an ideal one. Yes, both are big names. And yes, you will occasionally be treated to the occasional highlight-worthy play, such as a Luka outlet pass to LeBron in transition resulting in a slam dunk. But on a consistent basis, particularly within the half-court, they are not a good fit. They have trouble playing off of each other, and while they both can compile nice looking statlines, they come by way of a your turn-my turn effort as opposed to liquid synergy. LeBron is simply not the type of scorer you want next to Luka. He isn’t a quick scorer, in the sense that you can’t just throw him the ball on the block and watch him execute a quick turnaround jumper or spinning layup. LeBron needs the ball in his hands, just like Luka needs the ball in his hands. They both play a relatively similar game, except LeBron is 40 while Luka is 26. You want the young guy who’s entering his prime to control the bulk of the offense, not the older player who’s entering his twilight. Dibs should always go to the best player, thus Luka should have the ball in his hands more. Unfortunately, LeBron simply can’t compliment Luka’s game as you’d like. This was evident in the playoffs. Against good defensive teams who can limit the highlight reel transition plays, the Lakers struggled to get consistent execution in the half-court with both Luka and LeBron. LeBron can’t post-up (he had no success backing down smaller players on mismatches), so you can’t play any semblance of an inside-out game. LeBron can’t pull through trigger from range coming off a pindown as he lacks the footwork (which is an imprtant weak-side function when Luka is operating on ball screens). And he simply doesn’t have the offensive repertoire to score in crunch time in the playoffs (an area where he’s always struggled) when the game slows down making footwork and shot-creation all the more valued. At this stage in his career he also isn’t able to do the dirty work needed to compliment a Luka Dončić, and the style of ball he likes to play. Setting picks, rolling hard to the basket, rolling hard into a post up and punishing smaller players in the post, etc. He plays a game that’s very similar to Luka’s, when what you really need is a foil, not a duplicate. 

    Of course, you also have to talk about LeBron’s age. He’s 40. And it showed. He broke down towards the end of the year, most notably during the playoffs. Where he did not look comfortable shouldering the load he’s expected to carry. After sustaining a groin injury against Boston, shortly after the Luka trade, LeBron should’ve used that time to sit out and rest. Instead, he came back almost immediately when it was evident that he was still nursing some discomfort, which hurt the team. Ideally, he could’ve used the rest. And even more ideally, the Lakers could have used a well rested LeBron as their number 2 guy. Instead he played tired and likely hurt, and his production took a dip. Outside of a gaudy Game 3 effort, he was fairly ho-hum in the rest of the series, particularly late in fourth quarters. And the bigger problem is: none of this will be getting better. Because… oh yeah, he’s 40. This is what happens to players when they turn the big 4-0, they break down. Sure, LeBron has been an outlier throughout his career when it comes to longevity. But even he is starting to feel the cracks. At his current salary of $52M, there simply isn’t any flexibility for the team to get LeBron the necessary ‘help’ to ease his burden. He’ll likely shoulder the same load next season and likely break down again. I don’t think that’s worth it considering what the Lakers are paying him. Thus, it’s time to move on. The LeBron era has come and gone. The team has young talent itching to spread their wings, and it no longer makes sense for the team to cater to the demands of a 40 year old at the expense of the teams’ franchise player and the rest of the locker room. Some concessions need to be made. If the Lakers are serious about their bid to build a postseason powerhouse, it would be in the best interest of both the organization and LeBron for both to move on and prioritize the ensuing chapters of their respective legacies. 

  • The Case For Austin Reaves

    Lakers guard Austin Reaves is coming off the heels of an extremely disappointing series versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. During the Lakers’ brief 5-game playoff rodeo against Minnesota, Reaves tallied an underwhelming 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while shooting a meek 41% from the from field and 32% from beyond the arc. Now, these aren’t bad numbers per se, but after a gaudy regular season that saw AR establish career marks in points per game (20.2), rebounds (4.5) and assists (5.8) on a minty 46/38/88 slash line, his playoff output certainly felt like a massive drop off. Not to mention a costly one for the Los Angeles Lakers, who were unable to get any sort of consistent offense from anyone not named Luka Dončić, even LeBron looked paltry for stretches. AR certainly did not help matters. His game seemed to be disrupted by the Timberwolves’ length and athleticism, and it certainly ignited many of his critics to voice their frustrations, and rightfully so. AR was not good, and his level of play was definitely a factor in the Lakers humbling loss to Minnesota, albeit not the only one, nor the main one. Thus, there is chatter that perhaps the Lakers should move on. That he has reached his ceiling, or that he has regressed. In my opinion, these takes are premature. While I do concede that Austin sucked during the Lakers short playoff stint, I still view him as somebody that the Lakers should keep around. As his offensive versatility and shotmaking are all valuable skills that this team needs more of as they build into the future. 

    For starters, AR’s contract kicks ass. In the summer 2023 he signed a 4 year, $53.8M contract, bolstered by a promising sophomore campaign. This has proven to be one of the better contracts in basketball, as his season averages have been steadily improving, while his contract stays relatively the same ($13.9M in 2026, then $14.9M in 2027). It should be noted that the last year of the deal, 2027, is a player option. 

    Reaves had an extraordinary back half of the season in 2025. Following the D’Angelo Russell trade on December 29th, AR averaged 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists on 47/38/90 splits the rest of the way, after being given a vote of confidence by Head Coach JJ Redick. He proved to be easily one of the better third options in the game, playing behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and later Luka Dončić. Certainly, the playoffs painted a different picture. His scoring dropped to 16.2PPG (-4 from regular season) despite his shot attempts roughly increasing (14.2 in the regular season versus 14.6 in the playoffs). One of Reaves’ superpowers is his ability to produce at relatively high efficiency despite low usage. A value that he has displayed all throughout his career so far. Unfortunately, he was unable to sustain this type of play in the postseason. 

    The good news is, we actually do have a fairly recent and substantive sample size where Reaves has in fact excelled in the playoffs. In 2023, during LA’s surprise run the Western Conference Finals, Austin was one of the catalysts, pouring in 16.9PPG (good for third on the team) to go with 4.4 RPG, and 4.6APG. He was particularly excellent in his first ever playoff game, a 128-112 road win at Memphis, where he scored 23 points (14 of them in the 4th quarter) to go with 4 assists, authoring the now infamous “I”M HIM!” soundbyte. He was consistent throughout the Lakers’ 16-game playoff run, including the Western Conference Finals, where the team fell to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets in 4 games. In 2024, he was again solid, scoring 16.8PPG on 47% shooting. He was, however, bad from beyond the arc, shooting just 27% from that range. This season, he once again struggled with his three pointer, shooting a below-league-average 32% against Minnesota. This could be a trend, where he struggles with his three ball come playoff time. I would attribute this year’s playoff struggles partly to a big toe injury Austin sustained before the playoffs, as well as the Lakers’ general offensive strategy which lacked the crisp off-ball movement that we’d grown accustomed to seeing from them throughout the regular season. However, Reaves’ struggles these playoffs are mostly on him. He as well as several other players on the Lakers’ roster failed to live up to their billing during the Minnesota series. All in all, I don’t think Reaves is a playoff dud. He had a terrible series, but I think his game is such where he in fact possesses the attributes to be a plus postseason performer. Like I mentioned, there is a reasonable sample size that suggests Reaves can in fact excel in the playoffs, and I am of the opinion that once he develops more chemistry with Luka, they will be able to play off of each other more fruitfully and with better results. I want to sat that I believe in Austin Reaves as a playoff guy.

    One thing I like about AR, is the kid is clutch. If you believe in that sort of thing. I certainly do. His clutch time splits have been rather good, so far in his young career. I will define clutch scoring as points scored during the final 2 minutes of 1-possession games. Under these parameters, Reaves proved sharply productive during the 2025 NBA regular season. He tallied 16 points, making 5 out of his 9 field goals (good for 55%). He also made all of his 5 free throws. The teams’ W-L record in these such games was 10-8. Keep in mind, he is the teams’ number three option, behind LeBron and AD (and later Luka). Yet he finished second on the team in clutch scoring behind LeBron James. Austin was also 50th in the NBA in clutch scoring. Not too shabby. The year before last, 2023, also saw AR finish with 19 clutch time points, connecting on all 4 of his field goals (100%) and hitting on 10 of his 12 free throws (83%) during these such moments. The team’s W-L in these games was 11-8. In my opinion this is a rather valuable and underrated skill to have, particularly from someone that isn’t the team’s top player. While these numbers are far from perfect, it’s clear that AR is someone who’s unafraid of the moment. His robust offensive skillset enables him to get high quality shots off in these situations. Even during this year’s playoffs, where he could he couldn’t hit the ocean from a boat, he was still willing to take the shots. Yeah he missed many of them. But the aptitude is there. Reaves doesn’t back down, and I think that given his attitude and work ethic, these failures will only provide the motivating fuel for AR to come back hungrier and more determined. And that’s precisely the attitude that I want the players on this team to adopt.

    Perhaps the one thing that keeps Austin Reaves from being a pitch perfect for a Luka Dončić team is his defense. It’s not pretty. His lack of athleticism and inability to keep up with players with a naturally quick first step can be frustrating. I see it, just like I’m sure everybody sees it. I think there is still room for improvement for Austin in the defensive department. But I also don’t think that he will ever develop the reputation of a ‘lockdown’ defender. Teams continue to matchup hunt him, as the Minnesota Timberwolves did these playoffs. This is compounded by the fact that Luka Dončić has many of the same deficiencies. Of course, with Luka, you can be inclined to overlook those deficiencies because his offense is so damn good. Not terribly dissimilar from another Lakers legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson. But with Reaves, those issues can, potentially, cancel out the positives. Because as good as his offense can be, it simply isn’t quite to the point that you’re willing to overlook the defensive shortcomings. This is why, I have suggested, and continue to suggest, that perhaps Austin Reaves is best suited as a sixth man. But I don’t exactly view this as a demotion. Many championship rosters have historically enjoyed the services of great bench players that have the ability to check in to a game and affect it in a positive fashion. Think Manu Ginobili. Or Toni Kukoc. Or Vinnie Johnson. Or Lamar Odom. Or Michael Cooper. I think Austin Reaves can fit into this mold. It’s already in his DNA. He’s the guy that occasionally can punch above his weight class. He’s the guy that for a stretch, or two, can catch a heater and match the other teams’ best scorer. This is why he’s better suited off the bench. He can catch lightning in a bottle, and when he does, you can ride him. When he doesn’t, or when you happen to be going up against an opponent that is a bad matchup for him, then you sit him, just like any other historically great bench player. Austin’s defense doesn’t have to be such an achilles heel for this team. Provided of course that the team stops putting him in situations where his defensive abilities can get exposed. It remains to be seen if AR would go along with this philosophy. Maybe he views himself as a starter. In which case maybe things could get interesting. Which leads me to my final point. 

    Austin has the ability to enter the final year of his contract in 2025-26. AR signed a 4 year extension in the summer of 2023, with a player option for his final season. This means that in the summer of 2026 Austin can forego the final year in his deal and opt for free agency. For this reason, I would like to see the Lakers brass actively pursue an extension for AR, in order to keep him long-term. Something in the neighborhood of 4 years/$90M. If he takes it, great. He’s still great value at that figure. If he declines, things could get interesting, and you’d have to consider placing AR on the trade block. I’m a big Austin Reaves fan. The kid clearly loves the game. He works hard. He’s a tremendous story. He can get to the rim and shoot the ball with a formidable bag to go with it. He seems to love being a Laker. However, I don’t think he’s worth anywhere near $30M to this team. Not when they still have so many holes to fill, such few assets and such little roster flexibility. As things stand, the Lakers are capped out and well over the luxury tax. I view Austin as someone who can be an essential pillar to the building of this roster, just as long as it’s at a reasonable price. But ultimately, the ball’s in his court. He will get paid what he thinks he’s worth, and if that figure happens to be anywhere close to the Lakers’ preferred figure, then he’s definitely a player to keep. You want role players with agency, and with the initiative to step into the spotlight whenever the situation or the team requires it. I believe AR has the mindset and the game to go with it. And unless he’s traded for someone like Giannis, I truly hope he can be a Laker for years to come. Despite his playoff failures, his journey and career trajectory suggests that he can be a better player because of them. He’s the type of role player you want on your team. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Look To Offseason After Early Playoffs Exit

    Another season is in the books for The Los Angeles Lakers, who just capped off the 77th season in franchise history in a somewhat unceremonious fashion. The Lakers were ousted, by way of a Gentleman’s Sweep, at the hands of a young and athletic Minnesota Timberwolves team, whose size and speed swarmed the Lakers at virtually every turn. Having entered the postseason on a moderately high note, LA seemed primed to build upon their regular season exploits and embark on a successful summer playoff tour. Those plans were obviously cut short, well short. 

    The team is now sitting at home, having failed to make it out of the first round for the second consecutive season (third time in the LeBron James era). The Lakers brass, led by Team president and majority owner Jeannie Buss, and Team General Manager Rob Pelinka, will now look to the coming months of summer to make their best bid to tinker, enhance and improve the roster, so that the organization can compete for World Championships in the foreseeable future. There will be unique challenges during this off-season for the Lakers. But if the team plays their cards correctly, they should be able to find the right avenues to field a better team by Training Camp in October. 

    Following the failures of the post-season, one would hope that the team heads into the summer with both an uncompromising ambition and an open-mind. Both will be required in order to return the franchise back to their championship standards. Should a number opportunities arise, it will be incumbent on this front office to identify the ones that will bring them closer to said standards. Hopefully, by the end of the summer they will have constructed a roster capable of squaring up against the NBA’s elite. Easier said than done, but I suppose that is the fun of it all. 

    For any team, every road to a championship must start with finding that franchise cornerstone. Luckily for the Lakers, they already have one in Luka Dončić. At least for now, that is. Dončić has a player option for the 2026-27 season. In other words, he is eligible to become a free agent soon after this upcoming 2025-26 season. Thus, it’s imperative for the Lakers to work out an extension with Luka during this summer. Any path to longterm championship contention for this franchise must start with locking up a player of Luka’s caliber. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing him for nothing and you’re simply left with a roster of overpaid role-players. Perhaps Luka wants to wait and see what kind of moves are made this summer before offering an official commitment. In any case, this should be priority number one for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. 

    The Lakers’ salary cap situation puts the team in a unique spot. Not necessarily an optimal one, either. As things currently stand, the team sits at roughly $140.25M in total salary heading into the next season. There will be potentially 12 players under contract for them, those being: 

    LeBron James ($52.63M player option)

    Luka Dončić ($46M)

    Rui Hachimura ($18.26M)

    Dorian Finney-Smith ($15.38M player option)

    Austin Reaves ($13.94M)

    Jarred Vanderbilt ($11.57M)

    Gabe Vincent ($11.5M)

    Maxi Kleber ($11M)

    Dalton Knecht ($4.01M)

    Shake Milton ($3M non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed after July 20th)

    Jordan Goodwin ($2.35M team option)

    Bronny James ($1.96M)

    After factoring in the cap hold for the Lakers 2nd round pick (about $1.28M), they’ll be left with little  ammunition, outside of the $5.7M tax payer mid-level exception, to perform any signing via free agency. It’ll be very interesting to see if the team winds up retaining the services of DFS, who is perhaps the lone 3&D man currently on the roster. He is the type of player this team will likely be going after. Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber and Rui Hachimura will all be on expiring contracts next season, as well as DFS, should he pick up his player option. Guys like Rui and Reaves can both be utilized as trade assets because of the nature of their team-friendly deals, along with future draft picks and possibly Dalton Knecht. Perhaps this trade package can net the organization another all-star talent to pair with Luka. However, none of these guys should be dangled simply for the fun of it; they should only be moved in the event that they bring back clear and legitimate upgrades. There really isn’t much for the team to do in terms of signings, outside of retaining their own guys. But they will certainly have plenty of options to execute trades that can improve the roster around the margins. 

    Let’s dive a bit into specific free agent targets. Because of the team’s limited cap room, they’ll have limited options to look at as far as signings are concerned. One player that immediately pops up is Hawks’ center Clint Capela. At 30 years of age, his style of play is very much simpatico to what you’re looking for on a Luka-centric roster. He is a dynamic pick and roll center with tremendous finishing ability and optimal lob-potential for Luka to work with on ball screen action. He’s already had significant experience playing with James Harden in Houston, whose play style is perhaps adjacent to that of Luka’s. He’d be a clear upgrade over someone like Jaxson Hayes, who at times lacks the discipline and know-how to consistently be the ideal lob threat that the team needs. Capela is also pretty good defensively, offering solid rim protection and good lateral mobility on defensive switches. 

    Then there’s somebody who’s a familiar face and former Laker, that being Brook Lopez. With things going sideways down in Milwaukee, the team might be ready to blow things up and explore other avenues to build a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lopez, who is 37 years old, will be entering free agency with perhaps his final opportunity to cash in on good money. It’s doubtful whether he would accept the Lakers $5.7 tax payer exception. But he’s certainly a fit. His shooting ability makes him an ideal foil on screen and rolls, particularly as a pop guy. He is a great fit on Spain pick and rolls, which the team didn’t run much of last season. He’s also a former Defensive
    Player of the Year, so there is some upside defensively. His age, however, does make him a question mark as far as his longevity and ability to stay on the floor. He also happens to be right at that threshold where you run the risk of the tread coming off the tires. But, at $5.7M, you could do a lot worse than Brook Lopez. I’m not sure if he’s precisely the type of ‘upgrade’ you’d want to build around Luka, but he’s certainly a quality player, still at his age.

    Houston Rockets center Steven Adams is another option that the Lakers will almost certainly take a good look at. At 32 years of age, he fits within the current timeline. His play style, however, is much different from the aforementioned names, as Adams is more of a gritty, physical presence who doesn’t provide the offensive spark of say a Clint Capela, but he makes up for it with his strong play as a rebounder and screen-setter. I would personally question his fit with Luka on offense, but defensively he is certainly a force to be recognized. With his large frame, he’s someone you could stick on a Rudy Gobert in order to cool him off. Adams is not very dynamic as a finisher on screening action, but he is capable of setting a mean pick. Though he isn’t the best fit, he is still someone I’d take as a backup in a heartbeat. Solid and reliable player. 

    There are also names like Naz Reid or Myles Turner. But these guys are integral pieces to their respective playoff teams, not to mention will more than likely be way out of the Lakers’ price range. You could always make a play at one of them via trade, as a Rui Hachimura + first round pick package would perhaps offer some intrigue to rival executives. But it’s unlikely that the team could net any of the higher end big men during free agency. 

    Then, there’s the trade market. This will perhaps open more doors for the Lakers this summer, as in my opinion, the team does have several attractive assets and could put together a strong package to entice other teams to pull the trigger on a deal. Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura are both expiring contracts, and both can be utilized as salary ballast in order to match salaries in a potential trade. Rui in particular, is an excellent player, with his ability to run the floor, finish, shoot threes, and lately, his improved rebounding. He is someone other teams could possibly view as a useful and productive player, aside from having an expiring contract. The Lakers also have Dalton Knecht, who showed promise this year during stretches, as well as future first round picks that could bolster or sweeten any trade package they can assemble. 

    Then, there’s LeBron James, who seemingly enters every off-season amidst a cloud on uncertainty. As of now, it’s unclear whether LeBron will exercise his $52M player option. It remains to be seen if LeBron actually would like to stay with the club or pursue a change of scenery for his final years before eventually retiring. LeBron, who will be 41 next December, is unlikely to garner significant interest from other organizations in a trade. As far as teams giving up young and valuable assets in exchange for a near-the-of-the-road James, that will be highly unlikely. There could be a possibility where the Lakers swap James in a veteran-for-veteran move, such as for Kevin Durant, for instance. Ultimately, any deal involving LeBron will put the ball squarely in his court. He possesses a no-trade clause, which would require his approval on any potential deal. Alas, if he isn’t fully on board with the team’s direction and future outlook, he will have to work with the from office in order to find a potential new home for himself (and likely Bronny) where he can play out his remaining years. 

    As far as who should stay, or who should go, I think there are three names that the Lakers should retain which would give them the most solid foundation moving forward. Those being Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Dorian Finney-Smith. Dončić is the franchises’s new cornerstone, he represents step one in building a championship team. It’s incumbent on the Lakers to make sure they can retain Luka on a long-term basis. Then there’s Austin. Yes, he had a terrible showing this postseason, but he is a tremendous player who has made significant strides and has worked himself to becoming one of the better role players, and one must also consider his hyper team-friendly deal. Finally, Finney-Smith is exactly what this team needs more of. He represents the prototypical 3&D wing. Ideally, you’d want to find at least one or two more DFS’s, but the fact that there’s already one on the roster is a good start. Let’s put it this way, if the Lakers let go of Finney-Smith for whatever reason, eventually they’ll find themselves on the market for a player precisely of his skill set. This team needs more players adjacent to DFS. It’s the key to being able to function defensively while playing the likes of Luka and AR. Offensively, the team needs more floor spacers. Guys who will keep defenses honest while Luka (or Reaves) attack off the dribble or on the pick and roll. All in all, the Lakers clearly have some work to do. 

    There is talent on the roster. There is star power on the roster. But championship teams cannot subsist off of those two things alone. There is great need for balance. The lack of a true big man was costly during their brief playoff run. The lack of shooting and rebounding were perhaps of equal detriment. In order to maximize their current timeline, the Lakers brass will have to go to work this summer. They’ll have to explore all avenues and possibilities to put together a well balanced and complimentary roster; one that can compete against the NBA’s elite. They’re fortunate to have certain foundational pillars already in place, but there’s still ample room for improvement around the margins in order to widen the ceiling of their existing core. I’m eager to see what the Lakers will cook up this summer, and the possibility is certainly there for them to make the necessary improvements that will elevate this roster to its fullest potential. Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Season Ends On A Whimper at the Hands of the Timberwolves

    The Los Angeles Lakers 2025 campaign came to an unceremonious end last Wednesday at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, following a 103-96 defeat in Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals. Led by Julius Randle’s 23 points, 4 boards and 5 assists, as well as Rudy Gobert’s Wilt Chamberlain-esque stat-line of 27 points and 24 boards, the gritty Timberwolves made short work of the Lakers’ undersized and undermanned attack.

    Ever since the Luka Dončić trade, the Lakers have opted to play a smaller lineup in order to emphasize their speed, shooting and trio of playmakers in Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. However, Minnesota wisely decided to counter with the exact opposite. They utilized their overwhelming size and physicality to punish the smaller and finesse Lakers. In a surprising turn of events, Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick made the decision to remove Jaxson Hayes from the starting unit, instead playing a 5 man group consisting purely of guards and wings (Luka, Finney-Smith, LeBron, Reaves and Rui Hachimura) in hopes of swarming the Timberwolves with their speed and playmaking. This strategy proved fatal. As LA was crushed in the rebounding battle 54-37, the largest margin of any game this series. The Lakers also surrendered 56 points in the paint, while not having (or refusing to provide) an answer for Rudy Gobert’s herculean performance.

    Now, LA is out of the playoffs, with their sights towards the off-season. Many questions linger as uncertainty seems to be the underlying theme of their summer. However, one thing is for sure; this team simply did not have it. Mentally and physically, they were unprepared to undertake the rigours and ups and downs of a long playoff run. Now, they look toward the next year, and will try to answer the conundrum of trying to put together a championship roster around their newly minted star Luka Dončić and their other young pieces. It was a disappointing end, but in my eyes, a predictable one, as this team felt incomplete since the trade deadline, lacking a couple of essential pieces (a dynamic big and a couple of 3&D wings) necessary to not just compliment their star players but also win an NBA championship. Time will tell if the organization will use this season as something to build upon, or if they will continue treading the same middling trajectory that they’ve been on for the past 5 years. Time will tell.

    Wednesday night’s game was uneventful, to to say the least. One would think that Coach JJ Redick’s tinkering of the starting lineup would have given the team a spark of energy or some newfound excitement. As it turns out, it accomplished the exact opposite. From the rip, the team looked sluggish, disoriented and submissively awaiting their impending doom. They were guests at their own funeral. The team pedantically raced out to to a 31-19 first quarter deficit. You knew right there it was going to be a long night. The Lakers’ defensive rotations, shot selection and overall spark (or lack thereof) did not speak to a team desperately trying to find a second wind and keep their season alive. Instead they reeked of a group that resigned itself to the inevitable fate of being unable to stay afloat and in the race. Defensively, even when LA got stops, Minnesota seemed primed to gobble up the offensive rebound and manufacture second, sometimes third possessions. The type that can break a team’s back. Knowing that even when they pull out a defensive stop, the other team will still end up with the ball. Midway through the second quarter, Gobert was already sporting double figures in scoring (11 points), mostly off of easy dunks and putbacks. LA had nobody to battle with Rudy down low, and JJ Redick’s abrupt decision to forego giving any minutes to Jaxson Hayes certainly seemed more baffling by the minute. I’m not quite sure what the goal was. But it simply came off as an exercise in sadism and stubbornness, almost like the coach was willing to go down his way, even if it meant watching the team be decimated due to a bad tactical decision. It certainly left a bad taste. And I’m not sure how this bodes for Redick’s prospects as an aspiring championship coach. Which is what he was hired to be.

    Offensively, the Lakers sleepwalked their way to a beatdown. Relying heavily on iso ball, as opposed to preaching off-ball movement. Some of their more inspiring moments actually did come off of backdoor cuts and off-ball motion. However, those were few and far between. They were led once again by Luka Dončić whose 28 points and 9 assists paced both teams. He also finished with 7 rebounds. He was the lone bright spot. LeBron slugged his way to a paltry 22 points on 21 shots. Austin Reaves continued his abysmal play with 12 points on 14 shots. Rui Hachimura contributed 23 points. The team, however, played with a lack of purpose or identity. They seemed incapable, and at times, even unwilling to build any sort of sustained run in order to wrestle the momentum to their side. Minnesota’s lead fluctuated all game. But they never appeared to lose their grip on the contest. Defensively, they were sharp, and offensively, they were anchored Gobert’s inside presence as LA’s surprising lack of backside help left Rudy primed to feast on an all-you-can-dunk buffet at his disposal for the entire duration of the contest.

    This game did not feel as one the Lakers had any plans of winning. They left the Crypto Arena floor with nothing to show for, with the season on the line, they put forth perhaps their least inspiring performance of the year. LA knew they were not the better team and played like it.

    As the 2024-25 season has come and gone for the Purple and Gold, and the summer’s off-season now looms on the horizon, a couple of questions emerge. Who will be back next year? What will this roster look like? Will this team find a way to come back better, stronger and hungrier? Will this type of humbling experience bring this group closer together? General Manager Rob Pelinka will certainly have no shortage of work on his plate. He’ll be tasked with the quandary of assessing who to bring back, who to let go and who to bring in. It will certainly be a challenge and I’m sure there will be no lack of drama and intrigue. But the goal will be to field a better team next season, one equipped to compete for a championship and capable of going toe to toe with the NBA’s elite. Easier said than done. In my personal estimation, this team needs, desperately, to somehow find a way to get younger. They have an all-world cornerstone in Luka Dončić, as well as some robust young pieces in Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht. The organization has to map out a plan to acquire a dynamic screen and roll center, as well as young players who can offer some combination of shooting, scoring or defending. These will be the keys to elevating this roster into championship contention. It’ll be exciting to see how the off-season unravels, and what kind of surprises it yields. Hopefully they’re of the pleasant variety. Until then, Go Lakers.

  • Lakers On the Brink of Elimination After Loss to the Timberwolves

    The Los Angeles Lakers were unable to exercise their playoff demons last Sunday against the Minnesota timberwolves and now find themselves on the brink of elimination from the NBA Playoffs. The defeat, 116-113, has officially put the season in critical condition. This series has been marred by the Lakers’ inability to shake off their Jekyll/Hyde syndrome. Some nights (or halves, or quarters) they look great, others not so much. Unfortunately, for this series, the latter has been the norm and the former the exception. They have been unable to bring consistent effort each game, and more importantly, they have failed to make the necessary adjustments against a rangy, athletic, energetic and well-coached Timberwolves squad. So far, the team has been unable to meet the moment and play collectively and disciplined. Too many mistakes, careless turnovers, inopportune fouls and overall lack of timely shotmaking have contributed in placing this team in a 3-1 ditch. There is always hope and the series isn’t over, but the Lakers will need to bring much more to the table, both from a tactical and execution perspective, in order to bring themselves back into this series. So far, Minnesota has controlled the pace, dictated the series’ terms and thrown the first and last haymakers. The Lakers must show some grit, some fight, some desperation, coupled with an improved game plan so that they can hang from the ropes and avoid getting knocked out. 

    Minnesota’s athleticism has made them into a dangerous team so far in these playoffs. Their (sudden & unexpected) ability to switch constantly on defense has thrown a wrench on LA’s screen and roll attack. Instead of backing up in drop coverage and allowing the Lakers to feast on midrange shots, they have successfully pressured high, at the level, and at times even hedging on screens to pressure LA’s ball handlers into costly turnovers. Their switching has also proved troublesome for LA, who still haven’s figured out a way to attack it. The Lakers simply don’t have the athleticism to turn the corner on those hedges. And the bigger problem is, they might be resigned to this strategy. As they don’t have any post-up options to throw them the ball down low. It’s unfortunate LeBron has never had a prolific back-to-the-basket game, as that would literally make him the perfect fit on this roster. The Lakers, for all their faults this series, need to find a way to get more out of their screening actions in order to have a prayer’s chance of staying competitive. More Luka/LeBron two-man game (maybe even have LeBron set the screen and short-roll on hedges), more high pick and roll, more slipping screens on switches, punishing lazy switches with three pointers, more off-ball screening and activity, etc. Lakers need to punch back. They’ve been much content being the punching bag, rather assuming the mantle of aggressor. 

    Offensively, LA did not have a horrible game. They were taking and making long range jumpers and were generally flowing offensively. Luka Doncic had his highest scoring output of the series with 38 points, while LeBron added 27 (despite disappearing during the fourth quarter to the tune of zero points), and Austin Reaves chipped n with 17 points (all scored in the second half). Their defense however was another issue. This team can’t live and die with LeBron or Rui Hachimura switched out to guard Anthony Edwards on the perimeter. That’s a recipe for disaster. The Wolves have broken down the Lakers’ perimeter defense at will throughout the course of this series, with Anthony Edwards claiming the paint as his new home. LA’s help defense has also been an issue, as they have surrendered many open three pointers based on bad gambles on the ball, thus leaving their man wide open. Both LeBron and Rui have done a poor job of this. Edwards had his best game of the series with 43 points. Julius Randle also contributed 25 points. Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid continue to be provide a steady hand, pacing the bench with 16 and 12 points respectively. Simply a very balanced attack. It all starts with Edwrds beating his man off the dribble. When the defense breaks down, the Lakers simply don’t have the interior size to offer help as the low man and provide a shot-deterrent at the basket. When the low man is Rui, or LeBron, or Dorian Finny-Smith, that spells trouble. And credit to Edwards since he’s been a virtual killer at making elite reads on his drives whether it’s for the finish or the kickout. Something I find perplexing is the fact that Jarred Vanderbilt, the team’s most well-equipped option to contain Anthony Edwards, has remained parked on the bench. At this point, it wouldn’t hurt to stick him on Edwards, if only as a last-ditch effort. Ant has cooked everybody placed in front of him. 

    Personally, I still maintain that both Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent should be inserted into the starting group. This would allow the Lakers to emphasize the two-man game of Luka and LeBron early on in games thus establishing their chemistry, while also having the athletes to defend the perimeter in Vando and Gabe. Rui and Austin Reaves can provide the much needed scoring punch off the bench. As it stands, this team remains unbalanced. Can they win playing this way? I think it’s highly doubtful. Jaxson Hayes should also be on the floor for the minutes that Rudy Robert is on the floor, as Minnesota’s size has begun to take a stranglehold on the series, after LA convincingly lost the rebounding battle 49-41 during Game 4. Regardless, changes need to be made to personnel, and a shuffling of lineups could be the jolt of energy that the team needs. However, at this juncture, I don’’t expect any of this to happen, as Head Coach JJ Redick seems set on the lineups that he likes for this team. 

    Lastly, this team has struggled mightily in crunch time scoring. They seem perennially unable to generate quality looks at the end of close games. Much of this is due to what they are running. Or what they aren’t running. Redick’s decision to go away from organized sets late in games, opting instead to let the guys “wing” it, has proven costly. The personnel, however, is there. Luka Doncic handling the ball on a high pick and roll, with Austin and/or LeBron on the weak side screening. Finney-Smith is also available for the pick and pop. But unfortunately, these plays ares simply devolving into isolations where the team aimlessly swings the ball around the arc and end up settling for a bad shot (such as a LeBron three pointer in a crucial spot, which he more often misses). This group has not been around each other for a long time, thus they don’t have the synergy required to be able to play freely off each other. In this case, oraganized sets can go a long way to giving this team some structure to make plays out of. Particularly within the pressure-packed crucible of a tight playoff contest.

    In any case, this team has quite simply failed to meet their expectations, unfortunately so. Getting back into this series will require the will of its players and the coaching staff. For a team that hasn’t accomplished much, if anything, they are a cocky bunch. But that attitude is usually reserved for teams with actual championship pedigree. Teams with the proverbial on/off switch, that they can activate seemingly on command. This team doesn’t even know what kind of switch they have, or if they have one at all. Going out and playing under the assumption that they do is a dangerous game to play, the type that makes you humbled. This team simply has to focus on showing up, mentally and physically, and allow the rest to take care of itself. Go Lakers. 

  • Lakers Blow Yet Another Chance To Take Command Of The Series

    At this juncture, it might be fair to surmise that this team has an identity crisis. After an inspiring effort in game two, where despite a poor shooting night the Lakers managed to tie the series, they came out flat during their first road contest against Minnesota. After a puzzlingly mediocre display during game three of the series, the team can’t seem to shake off its Jekyll/Hyde complex. Plagued by turnovers, lazy defense, and simply just an all-around display of poor execution, the Lakers fell to the Timberwolves 116-104, to fall behind two games to one in the best-of-seven Western conference matchup.

    As predicted, playing in front of their home crowd did in fact give Minnesota a jolt. Anthony Edwards, predictably, had his best game of the series, tallying 29 points to go with 8 boards and 8 assists, 2 steals and a block. Swingman Jaden McDaniels also erupted for 30 points (after a poor game two, following a 25-point outing in game one), while Julius Randle continued his strong play scoring 22 points. Minnesota seemed determined to break LA’s point of attack defense via Anthony Edwards’ lightning quick first step. This resulted in multiple drives to the basket where the defense collapsed and resulted in either an easy score or a kickout to an open shooter. The Timberwolves seem to have found a consistent formula by hunting for switches to make sure Edwards is blowing past his man and living in the paint. The Timberwolves played their best game of the series, where LA had no answers for them, as even when they pulled even or took a small lead, they never seemed to be in control of this game.

    Offensively, the Lakers enjoyed their best shotmaking game of the season. They made 17 three pointers, at a 42.5% clip. Execution-wise they looked capable of staying afloat during the game’s opening half. They even ran some floppy action early, in order to get Austin Reaves open looks from range, which he converted (it was encouraging to see Austin find his three ball). However, as the game progressed the Lakers seemed increasingly unable to get out of their own way. Lazy turnovers and bad defensive mistakes plagued them throughout the entire contest. So much so that absent these, it’s safe to say they very well could have won this game.

    Historically, over the course of a playoff series, trends begin to emerge. One consistent trend for this Lakers team has been their lack of effort and lack of focus, and they were on full display during this game. LA lost the turnover battle 19-11, and got decimated on points in transition (21-11) and points-off-of-turnovers (28-13). Minnesota’s athleticism, speed and length have been firmly established after last night’s game three. Their speed in particular proved tough for LA’s defensive rotations to keep up with, as breakdowns often lead to scrambling rotations that led to open threes. Edwards getting to the paint at will has left the team with no answers. The Lakers have also yet to adjust to Minnesota’s switching defense, as few could have anticipated their sudden willingness to switch everything. On a bright note, LeBron James figured some things out, having his series breakout performance with 38 points on 21 shots. However, with a struggling and ailing Luka Dončić (17 points on 16 shots) battling through stomach issues, the Lakers weren’t able to stay competitive in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, as their lack of a closer was apparent, sans an effective Luka. The team’s turnovers also proved to be costly, as they occured virtually at the most inopportune of times.

    In my opinion, a drastic change in personnel is needed. Both in the starting five and the bench. As it stands, the starting unit is too top heavy, and the bench is too thread bare. When Minnesota is trotting out legitimate firepower in the likes of Naz Reid and Donte DiVicenzo, the Lakers can’t counter with a Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt combo and expect to stay competitive. The Lakers are getting close to nothing in terms of production from their bench, while Minnesota is enjoying a consistent boost from game to game. This has been a consistent issue all series, but in my opinion, it really rose to the forefront during last game.

    I propose bringing Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura off the bench, then plugging both Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith in with the starters. Basically, we are trading offense for defense. And giving the bench a sorely needed scoring punch. As it stands, Anthony Edwards is starting to assert his dominance offensively, and the Lakers seem to have no answers for it. At least not on their starting unit. Sticking Austin Reaves or Rui on Edwards simply isn’t going to cut it. He is either too big or too agile for both of them. Having Vincent and Finney-Smith on the starting unit gives the Lakers the chance to establish the offensive two-man game of Luka Dončić and LeBron James. It gives LA room to run more Horns sets, with Lebron screening for Luka on the wing (or vice-versa), and have Gabe and Finney-Smith spaced out on opposite corners, with Jaxson Hayes on one of the elbows. The Lakers need to find a consistent stream if early offensne so that they don’t fall behind in these games. As it stands, the offense is very convoluted with Luka, LeBron and Austin. Frankly, Minnesota’s defensive length has really been bothering Austin. On the other hand, defensively, Finney-Smith can check Anthony Edwards. And Jarred Vanderbilt can spell Dorian when he checks into the game. This would give the team more balance. At this moment, this roster is very unbalanced. The Dončić trade, despite netting a true superstar, left many holes on the roster. In particular, the two-way presence of Anthony Davis and the 3&D punch provided by Max Christie. Concessions ought to be made in order to balance out the starting unit, and legitimize the bench. I don’t know if this would be on Head Coach JJ Redick’s plans, but I am personally a big proponent of this.

    Regardless, I believe this team needs some type of shake-up. Minnesota seems to have figured them out, and nothing the Lakers are throwing at them is coming at any surprise. The Lakers need to throw in some wrinkles for Minnesota to adjust to, because if they don’t, I don’t think the Lakers can pull off this series. The Timberwolves are playing their game and dictating the terms. They have all the momentum, and the Lakers need to find a way to regain some of it, if not all. Championship teams are fearless when it comes to making adjustments. Are these Lakers championship-caliber? I guess game four will bring us closer to being able to answer that question. In the meantime, Go Lakers.

  • Lakers Even The Series The Hard Way

    94-85. This is the type of score you’d have associated with a mid 2000s contest, instead of a contemporary one. But that’s the type of game the Lakers and Timberwolves played last Tuesday, when LA eeked out a hard fought and physical battle to tie the series at one apiece. The Lakers proved they can hang with Minnesota’s physicality, but one would think there would have to be a bit more in their arsenal in order to pull off this series.

    The Lakers raced out to a 35-14 lead by the end of the first. One which was propelled by exceptional energy and intensity to start the game; after a comprehensively flat performance in game one. They were able to get out and run, getting some easy buckets in transition, as well as making the Timberwolves show their help early and making them rotate their defense. Yet again, this was something that was absent during their previous loss, where they consistently attempted to attack a set defense as opposed to being aggressive in forcing them to rotate. Luka Dončić got off to his customary hot start, hitting a bank-in three from the top of the key after a high pick and roll early in the opening quarter, which set the tone for his team. Luka finished with a stellar 31 points on 20 shots, while grabbing 12 boards and dishing out 9 assists, after only having one dime during game one. This game, the Lakers were able to offer a more well rounded offensive attack, with LeBron contributing 21 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, and Austin Reaves chipping in with a 16/5/5 slash line. Ideally, you’d like to get a bit more juice from this big three, but in a low scoring affair, every contribution matters. Rui Hachimura also clocked in at double figures with 11 points.

    LA displayed some different looks offensively compared to the first game, finding early success with their horns sets (which is when the ballhandler sets up high at the top of the key, with two players on opposite elbows ready to screen and two shooters spaced out on each corner). The Lakers generally continue to successfully attack small v. big switches, whether its Luka on Gobert or Reaves on Gobert. They also were able to get LeBron some easy looks near the elbow early in the game. LeBron, however, needs to do a better job of attacking mismatches in the post, particularly when smaller guys like Mike Conley are switched onto him. He’s been mostly ineffective on these during the first two games. Improved effort also helped LA attack the offensive glass which led to more second chance points. Unlike the previous game, LA was able to win the rebounding battle 41-34. Minnesota won the turnover battle 14-13, however the points-off-turnovers tilted towards LA, 15-13. The points-in-the-paint ended in a 46-46 draw. Unlike game one, the Wolves did not dominate in all the hustle categories, as LA’s heightened intensity seemed to catch Minnesota by surprise, who came out of the gates determined to outmuscle the Lakers. This is certainly encouraging.

    Despite their hot start, and an evident uptick in urgency, the Lakers weren’t able to find a consistent source of shot-making, as the team sputtered and stagnated offensively for significant stretches during game two. The Timberwolves successfully chipped at LA’s lead both late in the first half, and early in the fourth quarter. In a crucial turn of events, the Lakers were able to win the third quarter, which secured them a sizeable cushion heading into the fourth. And it was needed, as the the team struggled to maintain its scoring pace after a hot start and end the game on a high note So far, this has proved to be a theme for the Lakers during both games. They have struggled to settle into an offensive groove. I still think they’re going to need even sharper execution out of their horns sets (the man at the elbow is usually catching the ball too far out), and they’re also going to have to continue incorporating a healthy dose of stagger screens (Luka has been very effective attacking out of these throughout his career), and even more step-up screens in order to counter ice coverages and allow the ball handler (whether Luka, Reaves or LeBron) to snake the screen and get to the middle of the floor, where the defense becomes more vulnerable. In general, more counters will be necessary for when the Timberwolves are anticipating an action, and are able to blow it up after they’ve seen it a couple of times. Which the’ve been doing so far in these first two games, thus halting the Lakers’ offense.

    The Timberwolves continue to playing very aggressively on both sides of the ball. Surprisingly, they haven’t employed a great deal of drop coverage, instead opting for more switching on both ball screens and handoffs. Throughout the regular season, Minnesota ranked 27th as the team least likely to switch defensively on ball screens. This has perhaps taken the Lakers by surprise, as they still seem to be adjusting to the Wolves’ sudden willingness to switch everything on the perimeter. LA needs to be even more aggressive in attacking these mismatches/switches, and preach even more off-ball movement in order for LeBron and Luka to rack up assists on timely cuts to the hoop.

    Offensively, the Timberwolves’ best player seems to be Julius Randle, who despite his past playoff struggles, has found success going up against the likes of Rui Hachimura and LeBron James. This game, he led his side with 27 points on 17 shots, as well as a team high 6 assists. All-league standout Anthony Edwards also had 25 points on (on 22 shots) to go with 6 boards. Ant has been kept relatively quiet (by his lofty standards). So you have to figure he will burst out for a big game in Minnesota. The Lakers did a good job of not over-helping on drives to the basket, which was a significant factor in slowing down Minnesota’s specialists such as Naz Reid (9 points) and Donte DiVicenzo (4 points). Both of whom had big nights in game one, and both are seemingly surgical at punishing reckless over-helping. The Lakers, for the most part were able to stay at home and not show their help early. It doesn’t hurt that their defensive intensity was also much improved. Minnesota’s lack of playmaking could pose an issue for them, as in this game both Randle and Edwards missed several reads on double teams, and missed key potential assists on off-ball movement (Edwards was held to 0 dimes after tallying 9 in game one). But even so, Randle’s physicality and willingness to attack Hachimura or LeBron with the ball in his hands must be accounted for. However, LA is still best served to have the help defense stay at home against Randle and force him to be a one-on-one player throughout the series. In my opinion, this is a good gamble. Time will tell with Edwards, who has yet to have one of his customary big games this series, but if/when he does, hopefully Randle won’t be joining him.

    All in all, the Lakers were able to outlast the Timberwolves in a hard fought and physical game. One that got testy at times, but to the Lakers’ credit, they were able to maintain their composure. In this game, the team rode its great effort and intensity. However, they were not able to successfully compliment that intensity with consistent shot-making. A more aggressive game plan on the pick and roll is still missing. With a ball screen virtuoso in Luka Dončić, who’s also flanked by some very capable offensive players, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be running some kind of screening action seemingly every possession. Far too often do these possessions devolve into isolations, where the Lakers don’t have the athleticism to combat and break down the Wolves. They need to do so as a unit; by incorporating screens and off-ball movement both more frequently and purposefully. You can expect Minnesota to bounce back at home in terms of their intensity. And you can expect their role players to be more involved. The Lakers should make sure that game two’s tenacity travels with them, and they should also be cognizant of the fact that improved execution will be needed to fill the scoresheet. One would be unwise to predict another slugfest, as in the case of Minnesota, teams usually play more energized and focused at home. I credit the Lakers for being able to bounce back after game one’s humiliation. But the question remains, can they build off of their momentum, or will their offensive output continue to stagnate? Either way, the series is tied, and the onus is now on the team to capitalize on the opportunity to reclaim the home court advantage. Now is not the time for complacency.

    Go Lakers.

  • The Curse Of Complacency

    In the NBA, failing to show up will get you embarrassed. That’s what happened to the Los Angeles Lakers during last night’s playoff opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ever since trading for Luka Dončić during mid February’s trade deadline, the Lakers have been riding high, with a feeling of invincibility. Having won 19 of their last 32 games since the Luka trade going into the postseason, the team has maintained an air of confidence that emanates from JJ Redick’s coaching staff trickling down to its players. Even though there were some certified stinkers along the way (blow-out loss at Boston, a choking clinic against the Bulls, a baffling no-show versus Golden State to name a few) the prevailing thought has been that the good has outweighed the bad and when the team is on, it can beat anybody. That is not, however, a champion’s mentality. Championship teams take every loss to heart. They don’t hang their heads on the good, but rather on the bad. And they obsess on how to fix it. Think of Kobe’s Lakers or Jordan’s Bulls. You knew after a loss, those teams would be out for blood on the following night. You could almost anticipate the course correction, and come to expect it. 

    The Lakers’ gameplan during a 117-95 beatdown at the hands of Minnesota was riddled with flaws. The type that scream unprepared, lackadaisical, unfocused and nonchalant. This year’s Lakers, however, are not the type of team who can just show up and win. At least they’ve yet to prove that they are, and we shouldn’t assume that they can. Because despite the star power and marquee attractions, this team hasn’t accomplished much. Following a 50-32 season, they’re just another playoff team in a loaded Western Conference. Their opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves, are only separated by a single game from the Lakers, sitting at 49-33. These are two evenly matched teams, for all intents and purposes. After a loss like tonight, it would serve the coaches and the players right to look themselves in the mirror and demand more, because it will take more to overcome a team that was hungrier and more focused during last night’s Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals. 

    The Lakers were behind the eight-ball for most of last night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite coming out of the gates swinging, led by Luka Dončić’s 12 out of the team’s first 18 points. However as time went on, it was clear that the Wolves came to play a 48 minute game and LA did not, as they chipped away at the Lakers’ lead and never looked back, leading at one point by as much as 26 points. The main culprit, in my opinion, was the haphazard execution on defense. Missed rotations and assignments made this game seem like a random early January contest, as opposed to one in late April. The team seemed to be walking on mud, and plagued by fundamental mistakes such as helping from the strong side on drives to the basket. Which resulted in a host of open shots for the likes of Minnesota’s Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels. It would behoove Redick and his staff to identify and assign sensible help responsibilities, so the team isn’t needlessly hemorrhaging corner threes to the opposition. Help should come from the weak side, and the low man should not be the man helping off of the strong side corner. This type of philosophy will get you bounced from the playoffs quickly and efficiently. Despite his rookie status, Head Coach JJ Redick has thus far proven smart and resourceful. So I reserve confidence that he and his staff will address these glaring issues. 

    Offensively, the team was merely predictable. Relying heavily on isolation, and making minimal use of ball screens (an area where Luka Dončić feasted against the Timberwolves during last year’s playoffs). Moving forward, the Lakers will need to employ more pick and roll. But not just more ball screens, but rather better ball screens. More sophistication on the types of ball screens utilized will go a long way. Loop action, stack pick and roll, flare screens, stagger screens, etc. all need to find their way into the playbook. High pick and rolls are fine, but when that’s all that’s implemented, teams can quickly sniff it out and blow up the action. The Lakers need more counters to those automatics. Those high pick and rolls can’t devolve into isos as soon as they don’t go anywhere. Actions, even if unsuccessful, need to flow into other actions, in order to keep the defense guessing. Conversely, that’s precisely what the Timberwolves were able to accomplish. Aside from their hot shooting, they also combined crisp ball movement and execution to consistently keep LA on its heels. Led by Jaden McDaniels’ 25 points and 9 rebounds, and Anthony Edwards’ 22/8/9 slash line, Minnesota filled the box score by committee. Bench ace Naz Reid also chipped in with 23 points on 6 made threes (many of them corner ones after the Lakers helped off the strong side). Following the Wolves’ third quarter blitzkrieg, the game had been seemingly put away. 

    The gameplan deficiencies were also complemented by mental deficiencies, and the Lakers did not come in ready to match the Timberwolves’ grit. Missed defensive boards, poor defensive rotations, unnecessary over-helping, dumb closeouts, weak picks and bad shot selection were all on full display last night. The Lakers were out-rebounded 38 to 44 and lost the turnover battle 10 to 13. Minnesota also won the points-off-turnovers battle 18 to 9 and outscored the Lakers in transition 25 to 6. Clean sweep in all the hustle categories. LA needs to find a way to counter Minnesota’s swarming athleticism with smarter play, better effort and a more tenacious approach to the finer details. With the home court advantage dissipated, a sense of urgency is needed to even the series and go into Minneapolis with an eagerness to return the favor. That is a champion’s mentality. Go Lakers. 

  • Role Players Are Key In Lakers Playoffs Hopes

    As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves to kick off the 2025 NBA Playoffs, all eyes will be on their two mega-stars Luka Dončić and LeBron James. However, the teams’ title hopes will rest on the shoulders of those lower on the food chain. Names like Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jaxson Hayes will all have a say as far as how far the team goes in this year’s playoffs.

    This series in particular will be a crucial one for big man Jaxson Hayes. He is the only ‘true’ center currently on the team’s rotation (I don’t expect Alex Len to get any meaningful minutes outside of garbage time). Offensively, Hayes’ value comes in the form of his ability to dive to the rim on screens and finish. As well as him utilizing his athleticism for lobs and put-backs. This series looks to be a Jaxson Hayes series. Given that Minnesota is a team that likes to hedge and blitz on ball screens. They also like to play drop coverage a good deal, but might be deterred from doing so, as Luka Dončić usually thrives in those types of coverages. Minnesota also happen to be one of the teams least likely to switch on defense, as they rank 27th in the NBA in ball screen switches. This provides ample opportunity for Hayes as a roller, finisher and potentially as an outlet man on the short roll as well. His ability to set good screens, occupy the defense as a roll man, as well as his finishing at the rim will absolutely be key. As we know, Hayes isn’t much of a pick and pop threat, nor does he score consistently or effectively on post isolations. So the entirety of his value offensively is predicated on being dynamic on the pick and roll and utilizing his athleticism to finish strong at the rim. This is the series for him to showcase those qualities. It won’t surprising if the Lakers decide to shelve Hayes in crunch time scenarios, as they usually like to go with their “death” lineup, i.e. their “smaller” lineup during such moments. With this in mind, against a bigger and physical opponent in Minnesota, it will be important that Hayes’ minutes, whether it’s 15 or 20 or 25 minutes a night, are maximized to their fullest.

    The pick and roll is the ultimate team game (within the game). Its impact is predicated not only on the synergy between the ball-handler and screen-setter, but also on the sharpness in which the off-ball players cut, spot-up and space the floor. Which leads me to my next role player whose impact the Lakers could potentailly benefit greatly from: Rui Hachimura. Rui is someone who’s nonchalantly been a key figure in the Lakers’ strong finish to the regular season. Since the Dončić trade, he’s been shooting close to 39% from beyond the arc, with over 5 attempts per game. He’s also been scoring over 13 points per game, to go with 5 rebounds per game, doing so on 51% from the field. These are robust totals for a fourth option, to flank Dončić, James and Reaves. The Lakers will need some semblance of *this* Rui to show up against Minnesota. With pick and roll savants like James and Dončić on the ball, guys like Rui will almost certainly get a healthy dose of clean looks which could be a swing factor of sorts, depending on the efficiency in which he can knock down these looks. Aside from Finney-Smith, Rui is perhaps LA’s most important pick and pop option. And against drop coverage, these are worth their weight in gold. Defensively, Rui is also crucial. As he is likely one of the bigger players when the Lakers decide to play small. Can he successfully guard someone like Julius Randle? Can he battle with Rudy Gobert down low when the team is playing small? Can he make the defense pay with timely cuts when they help off of him? Can he run the floor during transition? These are all questions that’ll determine how effective this team can be. Of course, you want guys like Gabe and Vando contributing high caliber minutes as well, but if Hachimura can be a top six player in this series, then that’s big upside for LA.

    They say defense wins championship. But any great team needs balance in order to make a deep run. The Lakers’ ability to extract maximum value from their depth chart beyond their top three guys will go a long way to strengthening the team’s title aspirations. The Rui’s, Vincents’ and Hayes’ are just as vital to the team as the Luka’s and LeBron’s. Go Lakers.