3 biggest Lakers issues that will lead to massive ’22-23 disappointment
By Jason Reed
![SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Injured Anthony Davis #3 (left) and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers sits on the bench during their game Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on April 07, 2022 in San Francisco, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 07: Injured Anthony Davis #3 (left) and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers sits on the bench during their game Golden State Warriors in the first half at Chase Center on April 07, 2022 in San Francisco, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6e3db58a84a8be6e785f772d476b1eb6dce40c8f9bfe1edfe46e67c480752e14.jpg)
3. The Los Angeles Lakers have awful floor spacing
The modern NBA requires the ability to space the floor and hit three-point shots and that is something that this Lakers roster is not equipped to do. Patrick Beverley has the best career three-point percentage on the entire roster. That should be extremely concerning.
It is more than just not having shooters in Los Angeles, either. It would obviously help if the team had guys who could hit off-ball threes at a high rate but that alone won’t fix it. Heck, the team had some decent off-ball options in Malik Monk and Carmelo Anthony last year and that did not fix the spacing issue.
The problem is that the team has Russell Westbrook, who drives to the rim and does not offer any floor spacing, paired with Anthony Davis (who was the worst jump-shooter to start the season last year) and most times, a traditional center.
AD does not seem keen on playing the five full time and as a result, you get a driving point guard with no shot, a big who is extremely talented that isn’t being utilized properly and a traditional five that only clogs the paint even more.
That forces LeBron James to take the most threes on the entire team and last we checked, LeBron is not that great of a three-point shooter. He is fine, but this is restricting his ability to reach his ceiling as well.
You simply cannot play this way in 2022.