3. Foul shooting improvement
One of the biggest issues facing the Lakers this season is their foul shooting or lack thereof. The team’s performance at the foul line has been abysmal all season and has cost them a number of games.
Los Angeles is middle of the road in attempts per game, ranking 15th with 23.4 free throw attempts per game. However, they are 23rd in the league in free throws made per game at 16.1. That equals out to an NBA worst 69 percent on the season. That number got even worse after a 17-of-28 performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
A team has never shot under 70 percent from the foul line in a season, but the Lakers look like they will legitimately challenge that this season. Two Lakers, LeBron James and Brandon Ingram, average over five free throw attempts per game, but make only 68 and 63 percent respectively.
Kyle Kuzma, at 78 percent, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, at 89 percent, are the only players on the team that attempt multiple free throws per game shooting over 70 percent.
Free throw shooting is something the whole team has to work on. They are leaving too many points on the court with their poor free throw shooting and it will catch up to them in the long run. If the Lakers truly want to contend, they have to take full advantage when the other team cannot defend them without fouling.