Los Angeles Lakers: Brandon Ingram is ready for jump shot opportunities

Los Angeles Lakers forward, Brandon Ingram, is preparing to make the most of some of the easy opportunities that will be coming his way.

With the start of the regular season inching closer for the Los Angeles Lakers, many are getting very excited to see what this team will look like. After a solid season last year with their young core, the Lakers are poised to take a big step forward with LeBron James.

The addition of James should make things a lot easier for the younger players surrounding him. Opposing defenses will obviously be focusing on James like they always are, and that should present his teammates with some easy opportunities.

As we have seen with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, the attention that James draws creates a lot of open looks for other players. One of the players that will surely benefit from having James as a teammate is Brandon Ingram.

Recently, Ingram talked about the chances that James will create for him and others and if he feels any pressure. Here’s what Ingram had to say via LakersNation.com.

"“I don’t think of it as pressure,” Ingram said after practice. “I naturally just try to find the open spot. I think it’s a matter of me being ready to catch the ball, with all the guys that can pass the basketball.” “I’m ready for that,” he said of potential catch-and-shoot opportunities. “I’m ready to score the basketball.”"

One of the criticisms of the Lakers’ offseason is that many didn’t feel like they added enough shooting around James. However, while Ingram doesn’t have the reputation as a knockdown shooter, he really improved in that area from his rookie to sophomore seasons.

After shooting under 30 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie, Ingram got that percentage up to 39 percent last season. In addition to that increase, Ingram also increased his percentages from 10-16 feet and 16 feet to the three-point line.

With James coming to the Lakers, Ingram will likely have plenty of open chances from the outside to hit jump shots. While he is a great attacker, he will have to knock some of these chances down as well. As an improved shooter from his rookie season, Ingram should thrive next to James.