Points in the Paint
The Lakers have solidified their dominance in the paint as they lead the league with 56.2 points in the paint per game. While this is outstanding, it speaks, even more, volumes when you see that the team has no big men that look destined for an All-Star game.
With a starting frontcourt of Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez, the Lakers have somehow managed to score more in the paint than Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins; Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap; and DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin – all of these tandems rank in the top-five below the Lakers.
With Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap exiting the game early, because of an ejection and injury, respectively, the Lakers took advantage and commanded the paint.
The team scored an insane 70 points in the paint, with Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle combining for 32 of those points off of the bench. As three-point scoring persists to be a problem, the Lakers will have to continue to pound the paint on a nightly basis.