Bench D’Angelo Russell and 2 more tweaks Lakers must make vs Nuggets
By Jason Reed
Lakers tweak No. 2: Run more dedicated offense for Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura
A big reason why the Los Angeles Lakers are even in the Western Conference to begin with is because of the solid role players on the roster. Both Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura had huge series in the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies and were able to steal games from the Grizzlies.
Lonnie Walker IV was the story of the second round. Without Walker, the Lakers may not have won that series. Despite the role players being the most impactful thus far, we are yet to see the same kind of reliance on the depth of this roster.
We saw it a bit in Game 2 with Hachimura having a great first half. Reaves also had a solid scoring game all things considered. But when it mattered the most in the fourth quarter it became a LeBron and AD choke show instead of relying on the role players. The only big shots hit in the fourth quarter were by Reaves.
The Lakers need to rely on their role players more, especially behind the arc.
The Lakers are not a prominent three-point shooting team but you still cannot shoot 8-30 from three and expect to win. Moreover, you cannot allow LeBron James to shoot 0-6 from three and win games.
It makes no sense to let LeBron jack up three threes in the fourth quarter only to miss them all and then turn Anthony Davis into a corner-three specialist. LeBron and AD are the best players but the Lakers will only go as far as the role players will take them. If D’Angelo Russell is going to play less, Hachimura and Reaves need to have more dedicated offensive sets.