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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 positive takeaways from first quarter of season

By Kenneth Teape

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: The Los Angeles Lakers stand with locked arms during the National Anthem prior to the start of their NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 22, 2017 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 22: The Los Angeles Lakers stand with locked arms during the National Anthem prior to the start of their NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 22, 2017 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers: 5 positive takeaways from first quarter of season
SACRAMENTO, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 22, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Paint Dominance

The Los Angeles Lakers biggest move this offseason was the trade made with the Brooklyn Nets. D’Angelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov were sent to Brooklyn in exchange for Brook Lopez and the No. 27 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. That selection turned into Kyle Kuzma, and both players have played a big part in the turnaround.

The Lakers have been killing it in the paint. They are scoring 55.2 points per game in the paint according to NBA.com, which leads the NBA. The next closest team is the New Orleans Pelicans at 52 points per game. The biggest difference is that the Pelicans have Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, two all-world players. The Lakers do not have any interior players of that caliber.

A big reason for the increase in paint points is the Lakers getting out in transition. Los Angeles is averaging 15.2 fast break points per game, second only to the Warriors. Getting out in transition plays into the strengths of many of the Lakers players and results in easy baskets at the rim.

In addition to the scoring, the Lakers are also rebounding the ball better this season. They are fifth in the NBA with 46.2 rebounds per game, which is an increase over last season’s 43.5, which was 17th.

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