3 Lakers who need to step it up in the second half of the season

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with teammates Wesley Matthews #9 and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 during the game against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on February 20, 2021 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 Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Wesley Matthews

When the Los Angeles Lakers signed Matthews during the offseason, they envisioned him not only being that productive wing defender they needed, but they also felt he would provide some reliable 3-point shooting.

Well, it hasn’t worked out so far this season.

On the season, he is hitting just 33.3 percent of his 3-point attempts, and a pathetic 35.5 percent of his field-goal attempts in general.

Matthews may not be as important as several other players on the team, but the Lakers do need him to at least be an above-average shooter.

After shooting very well from downtown in December and January, the Lakers have simply gone ice-cold since then. In February, they made only 29.6 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc. Ouch!

During that time, Matthews shot just 30.6 percent from out there, and he is yet to hit from there in March.

Matthews has always been a good 3-point shooter, as he has shot 38.0 percent from downtown for his career, so one would expect him to produce in that department for L.A.

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