Five Things the Lakers Must Do to Make a Playoff Run This Season

3. The Ball Needs to Move on Offense

NBA offenses are not the same they were ten years ago nor is Bryant, 37, the same player he was at 27. For both reasons, the Lakers must get everyone involved in the offense, and that means the ball must move from side to side.

This will be hard for Bryant, who has made a career of dominating the ball as a post-up scorer and not trusting teammates.

The extent to which he is willing and able to adjust, by fitting in rather than standing out, will go a long way in determining whether the Lakers play effectively on the offensive side of the ball.

The name of the game is to score more points than the other team, and whether the team wins 85-83 or 126-124, a win is a win.

For the Lakers to succeed, the team has to fill up the scoreboard. That means players such as Young, Russell, Clarkson, Randle, and Lou Williams have to be an integral part of the offense.

The point guard should be the set-up man. By all accounts, Russell’s best talent is playmaking. If that is the case, Russell has to be the one with the ball in his hands.

If everyone sits around watching Bryant go one-on-one, it will not only mean fewer wins for the team, but it will impede the development of the younger players which would be counterproductive to the organization’s best interests.

Next: Russell And Randle Must Emerge As Future Stars