This season’s Los Angeles Lakers‘ biggest problem is their offense, not their defense – and Isaiah Thomas is part of the solution!
Yes, you read that correctly: offense is the Lakers’ biggest problem. Contrary to the popular narrative, the Lakers’ defense is doing just fine. In what can only be described as an NBA miracle, the Lakers are seventh in defensive rating.
The Lakers are the fifth-worst offensive team in the NBA in terms of offensive rating. They play the fastest pace in the NBA but are horribly inefficient at getting buckets. Only the tanking Houston Rockets turn the ball over more than the Lakers.
Nobody is talking about the Los Angeles Lakers anemic offense!
Their transition offense is electric when everyone is plugged in. Russell Westbrook is relentlessly pushing the ball. Austin Reeves earned himself a cult following inside the Lakers fanbase because he always runs the floor hard and can knock down threes in transition.
On the flip side, their half-court offense often resembles a pickup game at LA Fitness. Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and LeBron James take turns playing 1-on-5 while the other four Lakers stand around and jack up a three the moment they catch the ball.
Lakers sixth man Carmelo Anthony is guilty of this as well. Anthony is struggling (only 13 points per game this season!) as of late. Anthony often forces shots because he does not trust that Westbrook will get him the ball again.
The Lakers’ offense is horrible right now. They desperately need a spark in order to give themselves a chance to contend for an NBA Championship.
Here are three reasons why that man is Isaiah Thomas.
Side note: the Lakers will have to release a player to sign Thomas for the remainder of the season. Kent Bazemore is the best candidate to be released. Bazemore has done nothing to suggest that he deserves a spot in the Lakers rotation. He has played horrible this entire season and does not fit alongside any of the Lakers stars. He only signed a league-minimum contract for one season so cutting him would not be very costly.