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3 reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers could have the best offense ever

By Kevin Germany

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Reason #1: Russell Westbrook will make the Lakers play much faster this season

I expect the Los Angeles Lakers to play fast enough to be within striking distance of Denver’s record. Lakers Head Coach Frank Vogel has said the Lakers will push the pace this season. 

"“We want to be the best fast-breaking team in the NBA,” Vogel said. “We have dynamic players, and then adding a guy like Russ and the speed that he brings to the table, we want to support him and get everybody running. That’s when we’re going to be at our best, that’s when we were at our best two years ago when we led the league in fast-break points, and I think those two things, along with some different early offense looks that we put in — that are a little bit different than who we were last year — to open things up.”"

During their 2020 championship run, the Lakers’ fast break offense came almost exclusively from their defense. Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, and Javale McGee aggressively patrolled the rim while the Lakers guards were actively playing the passing lanes for steals and deflections.

Those Lakers led the league in blocked shots and were among the top five in steals per game. I see the Lakers fueling their fast break differently this season.

The Lakers defenders are not as strong on the perimeter as they were two seasons ago. Losing Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a big blow defensively. Caruso and KCP’s ball pressure was a big reason why the Lakers ranked as the NBA’s most efficient defense last season, even though they were clearly lacking rim protection.

With the personnel changes this offseason, I expect the Lakers to rely on both their transition offense and their half-court defense to speed up the game.

They ranked eleventh in total pace of play during their championship run two seasons ago. LeBron James and Rajon Rondo were the only primary ball-handlers on that roster.

Now the Lakers have multiple players who can engineer a fast-paced offense.

Russell Westbrook will speed the Lakers up considerably. LeBron and Rondo always find guys running the floor in transition (especially AD).

Westbrook will be the primary ball-handler. He has long been known for rebounding the ball, pushing the pace, and then passing the ball to a teammate running ahead in transition.

His teams are always going to play fast because he always plays fast. His previous team, the Washington Wizards, led the NBA in pace last season.

With Westbrook at point guard and a deep roster all in need of minutes, the Lakers are a strong candidate to finish in the top five of pace.

Of course, the Lakers will score more points as the pace gets faster.

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