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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Lessons from win over Dwyane Wade and Miami Heat

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat pose for a photo after exchanging jerseys, as Wade plans to retire at the end of the season, after a 108-105 Laker win at Staples Center on December 10, 2018 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat pose for a photo after exchanging jerseys, as Wade plans to retire at the end of the season, after a 108-105 Laker win at Staples Center on December 10, 2018 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. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

These guys are fun to watch…especially when they stick to Magic’s plan

The Los Angeles Lakers are next to unstoppable when the ball is moving quickly. It is a common fact that the ball moved around quickly is faster than the best defense. This is what Magic Johnson and Luke Walton had planned in the offseason. Can’t say that there wasn’t hick-ups in the plan.

Let’s go back a week when LeBron was accused of ignoring Walton’s calls from the bench…

My take…

"The Lakers want to speed up the pace by playing good defense, rebounding the ball and running the fast break. Well, at least that’s what Magic Johnson envisioned. A lot of this was dependent on LeBron changing his game and mindset from the way things were in Cleveland."

For the record, Magic Johnson came out and vehemently denied that was happening. But since then, the ball has been flying all over the court and the Lakers are scoring with ease. Now for the last few games, it seems the offense is two quick passes to another player cutting for a dunk…

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1072340651243524097

Case in point…

Kyle Kuzma brings the ball up and passes the ball to LeBron James. James sees Tyson Chandler cutting to the basket for an easy slam dunk. Notice how quickly the ball moved and with the constant cutting to the basket, you are taking advantage of a great player in LeBron James, who is a willing passer.

That was in the halfcourt set. How about in transition?

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1072345604271988736

Here you see Svi Mykhailiuk stealing the ball and starting the fast break. Svi could have easily euro stepped his man and tried the reverse lay-up, but he sees Josh Hart trailing the play and he hits him with the pass for the easy lay-up.

Two things are in play here…

Josh Hart ran hard to trail the play because that is what players are supposed to do. But what is great here is that Svi passed on a good shot for a great shot. This sets the tone for the rest of the team. Good teams will do the little things like cutting and running back if they know their teammates are unselfish.

Let’s end this lesson on a high note…

LeBron James is leading the break with everyone running the lanes hard. James goes all “Patrick Mahomes” and hit Lonzo Ball with a perfect alley-oop pass.

What makes the play so great is that JaVale McGee is running his lane with purpose so it seemed to everyone, especially the Heat that the pass was for him.

When there is an unselfish vibe around the team, little things like this makes the team more dangerous and everyone has fun playing together creating chemistry.

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