Los Angeles Lakers: 10 important storylines for 2019 – Part 2
2019 will be an important year for the Los Angeles Lakers. We finish up our series of the 10 most important storylines involving the team with our top five.
The Los Angeles Lakers most important storylines series we began last week with No. 10-6. Please have a look if you missed Part 1.
Here are the five most important factors for the Lakers in the new year.
5. Brandon Ingram
Brandon Ingram has been awful on offense. He has 55.8 field goal percentage on his shots within 5-feet of the basket, which ranks 12th on the Lakers. He takes the most shots on the team between 10-19 feet and he misses most of them.
Ingram has a 22.7 usage rate, but only a 9.4 assist percentage. Compare that to LeBron James, who has a 30.6 usage rate and a 33.7 assist percentage. Or Lonzo Ball, who has 16.2 usage rate and a 21.7 assist percentage.
Ingram has the 2nd worst Effective Field Goal percentage on the team at 48.9 percent, and he’s only hitting 63 percent (59 percent over his last 15 games) of his free throws.
Ingram is a selfish offensive player who misses shots all over the court, but he’s been a beast on defense. Over the last 15 games, Ingram’s 8th in the league (minimum 20 minutes per game) in Defensive Rating.
For the season, Ingram is holding opponents to 43.2 percent shooting, and over the last 15 games, he’s holding opponents to an incredible 41.8 percent shooting. He’s currently in the top 20 in the NBA, in Opponents Field Goal Percentage (minimum 15 games played).
Ingram is proving that he’s a lock-down defender, but the question is: Can Brandon figure it out on offense? If Brandon Ingram can become a league average offensive player who swings the ball, drives and kicks to open players, and takes quick jumpers, then the Lakers could reach a whole new level.