3. Rebounding
This is easily the most surprising weakness that the Los Angeles Lakers have had thus far this season. This weakness, more so than the free-throw shooting and the defense, could simply be a case of a small sample size that will correct itself as the year goes along.
However, if it doesn’t, it could be something that bites the team in the playoffs. Entire playoff series can be won or lost on the glass and the Lakers have been a team in recent years that has dominated the glass. Heck, that was the team’s biggest advantage (outside of simply having LeBron and AD) during the 2020 title run.
On paper, the Lakers should be great at rebounding. While LeBron missed some time with an ankle injury the team still has Anthony Davis and the best rebounding guard of all time in Russell Westbrook. They have two traditional centers as well, so they have size.
The Lakers are averaging 44 rebounds per game, which is good enough for 24th in the entire league. To make matters worse, the Lakers allow an average of 12.3 offensive rebounds per game, the second-most that a team is allowing this season.
This is a problem. The Lakers have allowed an average of 15 second-chance points per game this season, which ranks 25th in the NBA. Meanwhile, the team scores an average of 11.3 second-chance points, which ranks 19th. That difference of 3.7 second-chance points absolutely can swing the game.
The Los Angeles Lakers have to get better on the glass. They are already stretching what we thought could be a successful rotation in the NBA and if they do not take advantage of their size then the playoffs will be a struggle.