Lakers Offseason: Breaking Down LA’s Offensive Struggles
By Eric Yee
Jan 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives past New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham (44) and guard Eric Gordon (10) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
2. Wasted Cuts and Weak Screens
What makes the Princeton offense successful is strong, deliberate back cuts to the basket, something that the Lakers infrequently do. This is to say that, even when the Lakers are moving, they are not moving with a purpose.
When watching Summer League, I can’t remember how many times I watched D’Angelo Russell initiate the offense then jog to the basket with his head down, when he could have had a wide open layup had it been a sharp cut while looking for the pass. The same can be said about the regular season.
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More frequently than not, players are simply going through the motions instead of trying to find opportunities to actually score the basketball. In an interview with Lakers Nation earlier this year, D’Angelo Russell even said that “[Julius Randle will] be open a lot of times and not even know it.”
The Princeton, like most offenses, relies heavily on getting easy scoring opportunities, and it is important that every Laker understand this.
Another thing that separates elite teams from the rest of the pack is that contenders set solid screens with intent. The moving screen currently plagues the NBA and it is due mainly to laziness and misunderstanding of a screens’ value.
Screens are meant to get teammates open, resulting in easy points but are undervalued due to the lack of an actual stat assigned to setting a good screen — think taking a charge or diving for a loose ball. Until the Lakers start setting good screens, the Princeton offense cannot thrive.
Next: Poor Perimeter Shooting