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Los Angeles Lakers: Unselfishness making Lakers must-watch

By Charlie Fischer

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets on October 25, 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Denver Nuggets on October 25, 2018 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Due to their extreme unselfishness on the court, the Los Angeles Lakers are a must-watch for NBA fans.

Ever since Dr. Jerry Buss bought the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, and drafted Magic Johnson the same year, the NBA has never been the same, as the “Showtime”  era was born. Buss brought in cheerleaders and a live band to become more entertaining, while Magic Johnson orchestrated the on-court action, eventually helping hang five banners for the Lakers.

The girls, celebrities, and music were just small ingredients into what made Showtime such a phenomenon; it was the passing that got everyone affiliated with the game fired up. While Magic has produced some of the most amazing passes in NBA history, and a few assists records that still stand today.

While they may not be showtime, the 2018-2019 Lakers have become must-watch T.V. because of how they share the ball among each other. With a roster compromised of new eight new players, the Lakers are still currently fourth in assists per game at 26.9 per contest, already upping their average from last season by four assists per game.

Seventh in assists per possession, sixth in assist to turnover ratio, and fourth in field goal percentage; the Lakers are sharing the ball well and getting great shots because of it. Their fastbreak has been the best so far this season, which is a reflection of their fifth-ranked pace up to this point in the season.

All the statistics in the world cannot show how well this Lakers team has been sharing the ball right now. The Lakers push the ball after a made basket, swing it around the perimeter in the halfcourt and will pass up a decent shot for a better shot anytime. Oversharing as been an issue at times, but that shall improve as chemistry builds.

Having a team with LeBron James is enough to build excitement with his passing skills, but adding Lonzo Ball and Rajon Rondo to the mix increases things tenfold. Passing would be one hundred percent more effective with more consistent shooters around them, but they have made it work well so far, deficiencies in other areas have been a bigger problem.

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Sharing of the ball and pushing the pace is still a work in progress for this team, but the basketball IQ’s and veteran leadership should expedite this process. The Lakers might come up short on a championship this season, but they will be fun to watch every game, and that is a step in the right direction from what fans have seen the past six years.

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