2. Offensive Balance/Consistency
The Lakers this season have been Kobe Bryant and everyone else for the majority of games. Coming into tonight, Bryant leads in scoring at 27.6 points a game and Jordan Hill is a distant second at 14.8 points.
In the Lakers most competitive game against the Clippers, Bryant had 21 points, Hill had 23 points, and Jeremy Lin had 17 points. It’s not a coincidence that balanced scoring nearly equated to a win.
Similarly, when it’s a one-man show with Bryant, the Lakers have often been defeated fairly easily. While fans may enjoy watching Bryant light up opponents a la 2007 Kobe Bryant, the team play suffers. Too often, Bryant has been forced into making difficult shots due to ball-watching teammates.
The Lakers have to be active and balanced tonight. Taking some of the scoring load off Bryant’s shoulders will go a long way, and that onus falls primarily to Lin and Hill as the Lakers two best offensive weapons. The inconsistent play of Lin must be eradicated and an aggressive and assertive Lin must show up tonight. Hill will need to continue knocking down mid-range jumpers, which has been a pleasant addition to his game this year.