4. The transition game
The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten worse in the fastbreak
When they’re playing to their potential, the Lakers are probably the NBA’s best running team. Unfortunately, they’ve gotten away from that bread-and-butter of late.
Last season, they averaged 18.4 fastbreak points per game, which was second in the league. But so far this season, that number is down to just 14.8 a game, as Showtime has turned into Slowtime.
One of the advantages Davis gives L.A. is that he’s something of a security blanket on offense. When the team doesn’t have anything or its offense breaks down, it can simply give the ball to him on the wing or in the mid-post area and let him work his magic one-on-one.
When a player like him is out, everyone has to pump things up to pick up the slack. Not only that, but the team needs to get more easy basket since its injured superstar won’t be there to bail the team out.
The Lakers have an additional problem in this regard, as starting guard Dennis Schroder is out after being placed in the league COVID-19 health and safety protocols, and he may be out for a little while.
Frank Vogel says that Dennis Schröder (health and safety protocols) will miss a minimum of the next three games, including tonight’s game.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 20, 2021
Schroder is just the player to help L.A. up-tempo the game while also preserving James for the long run.
If the Lakers don’t get back to Showtime soon, more and more losses could pile up like grapes: in bunches.