Lake Show Life
Fansided

3 reasons why the Lakers should sign Isaiah Thomas for the season

By Kevin Germany

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: Isaiah Thomas #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket while Patrick Beverley #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on December 17, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 110-92. 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 David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: Isaiah Thomas #31 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket while Patrick Beverley #22 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter of the game at Target Center on December 17, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 110-92. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Los Angeles Lakers free agency
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Reason #1: The Lakers need a reliable offensive jolt to wake them up now.

The Lakers as presently constructed do not have an offense good enough to move past the first round of the playoffs. Their transition offense is fine but their half-court offense is atrocious.

The bad habits they have accumulated this season (i.e. standing around, jacking up the first shot available, dribbling the air out of the ball) are not going to be changed overnight.

But it only takes one player to reverse a bad trend. Isaiah Thomas is the man to make positive changes to the Lakers offense. Thomas is the conduit to keep the offense moving even when the game slows down.

And when the game slows down, this often happened…

To recap that possession, LeBron had the ball with the other four guys just standing around. AD tried to get the ball at the top of the key but the ball was deflected, which resulted in an easy dunk for Minnesota guard Malik Beasley.

The Lakers only ended up scoring 92 points that game. Isaiah Thomas scored 19 of those points in only 22 minutes of action.

So who else can wake up the Lakers offense? Isaiah Thomas is that spark to get them out of the traffic jam that is the Western Conference playoff picture.

As the sixth seed, they are perilously close to their doomsday scenario: finishing the season in the 7-10 seed range as they did last season.

If this happens, the Lakers have to win a play-in game and then face either Golden State (currently the #1 seed) or Phoenix (currently the #2 seed) in the first round of the playoffs.

If that happens, it’s a wrap on their title hopes.

Home/Lakers News