The Los Angeles Lakers are in rarefied air. Their 0-4 start is the worst start in over 60 years. On top of that, the schedule is lending itself no favors to the purple and gold. After four games in five nights to start the season, the Lakers had two days off to prepare for the Phoenix Suns again.
Last time these two met less than a week ago, the Suns shot their way to a 119-99 victory. This time around, the Lakers host the Suns and hope to break the goose egg in the win column tonight.
To do so, there are three keys to victory…
1. Defense, Defense, Defense
In reality, I could have written this on all three points, but the point remains, the Lakers HAVE to defend better to get into the win column.
The Lakers have been a better defensive team at home, although it’s hardly something to brag about considering they’re giving up 113 points at home versus 123 points on the road. Neither average is going to win the Lakers many games, and the team MUST bring it on the defensive end of the floor.
Against the Suns, guarding the three-point line is key. Last game, they went 16 for 32 from deep, outscoring LA 48-12 from three-point range. Both Marcus Morris and Isaiah Thomas knocked down five threes for Phoenix, and slowing those two down would go a long way toward victory tonight.
2. Consistency from the offense
In the Lakers game against the Clippers, their best game this season, three Lakers had 17+ points. Coincidentally, that is the only time that has happened this year, and that is the only game the Lakers have lost by less than double digits.
Most notably, Jeremy Lin‘s up and down struggle has mirrored the Lakers up and down struggles. His best game, against the Clippers, was non-surprisingly the Lakers most competitive effort. When he can be assertive AND efficient, the Lakers are a different team. No longer can defenses simply focus on Kobe Bryant and instead have to also pay attention to Lin.
Jordan Hill‘s recent success in the mid-range is another intriguing aspect of the Lakers. If he can step out and stretch defenses, that opens up driving lanes for Lin and Bryant, which have been limited in previous games.
3. Three-point shooting
The Lakers three-point struggles have been well-documented. It’s not simply a matter of Byron Scott‘s philosophy, but the Lakers do not have shooters. Wayne Ellington, on paper, is the team’s best shooter, but he’s struggled from deep this year. Luckily for them, Ryan Kelly is set to return tonight, and his specialty is shooting.
If the Lakers are to win tonight, they can’t be outscored 48-12 from the three-point line like last match-up between them and the Suns. While stopping (or slowing down) the Suns is one solution, hitting shots of their own is just as big.