Los Angeles Lakers: 3 goals for the remainder of the season
2. Continue pace of play and solid defense
Despite their 23-34 record the Los Angeles Lakers currently have, they are playing better on both sides of the ball in their second season under head coach Luke Walton. The Lakers were the worst defense in the NBA a season ago, and were a top-10 defense when Lonzo was in the lineup for the first two months of the season.
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The Lakers look comfortable with their defensive rotations and are better equipped to handle switching on the perimeter with this roster. I know they have looked lost defensively since the trade for Isaiah Thomas and Channing Frye, but I hope the Lakers get back to their strong play now that they have another option in the backcourt.
The Lakers play best when they’re running fast breaks off their defensive stops. Their pace of play, assists per game, 3-point attempts per game and points per game have all increased from a season ago. This has made their offense a more enjoyable product to watch as well.
Everybody touches the ball and the paint is wide open with the Lakers usually opting to play five shooters. Julius Randle is the worst shooter in their main rotation, but he takes advantage in the post with the extra space around him.
I hope to see this brand of basketball continue over the final 25 games, but find a way to balance out their scoring percentages with nearly half of their points coming in the paint, leading the league by four percent. It would be impressive to see the jump the Lakers can make in one season playing a revamped rotation consisting of young players.