The current starting line up for the Lakers is full of veterans. With Steve Nash injured, Ronnie Price has been starting in his place. Carlos Boozer starts over Julius Randle. Jordan Hill starts over Ed Davis.
The most impactful line up on the floor, tends to be with Jeremy Lin, Ed Davis, and Julius Randle.
Jeremy Lin and Ed Davis execute the pick-and-roll the best on the Laker team. They built a connection early on in the preseason, and Lin goes out of his way to ensure Davis gets the pass. The conversion rate seems high, as team field goal percentage has risen to near 50% the past several games.
When Jeremy Lin does not play, team field goal percentage hovered around 41% from the field. Kobe Bryant went into isolation mode. Ball movement gets stagnant. Players space the painted area. It becomes a one-dimensional offense. Ed Davis is the primary target for Lin, but he doesn’t average double-digit points every game. Lin simply does a great job of breaking down the defense, taking high percentage shots, getting points in the paint, and getting to the free-throw line.
He’s a great complementary player to what Ronnie Price provides on defense.
Ed Davis gets all of his points in the painted area. He has great dexterity from the high post. He’s able to drive, spin, or set-up a jump hook. More importantly, he screens Lin’s defender off effectively. There’s a passing lane created, and he’s able to finish at the rim often. Defensively, he’s easily the best shotblocker on the team.
When the halfcourt offense gets a bit stagnant, Julius Randle steps up. His jumpshot has become more consistent over the past two weeks. He has shown range out to 21′ and looks confident in his jumpshot. That sets up his crossover dribble-drive so he can finish in the paint as well.
The question you may be asking is, why don’t they start?
The veterans set the tempo for the team from the get-go. They’ll play a moderated style of basketball, with slower pace, opportunistic transition opportunities, and keep the score close. When the second unit comes in, there’s a large difference in energy and philosophy on both ends of the floor. The second unit is more willing to push out in transition, rotate quickly on the defensive end, and take shots early in the shotclock. The Lakers essentially run two different teams on the floor.
This has been an effective strategy to catch teams off-guard. I’ll give up five points in the first quarter, but I’ll gain back nine points in the second quarter. This has worked the past couple of games to great effectiveness, and it’s establishing cohesion with not only the second unit, but for Laker players of the near future.
The championship Laker teams of the 2000’s were not known for bench firepower, but the past two Laker seasons have. The loss of Steve Nash hurts the team that much more, but it’s not too long until Nick Young comes back and can provide additional firepower for the second unit.
They have been doing a great job. They’re key to the Lakers’ success this season.