Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves — they just don't fit together. That is what some analysts and pundits wanted everyone to believe earlier in the season. Small sample size? Who cares? Context is not important when it comes to pushing a convenient narrative.
That was the attitude the Lakers trio was being met with. Whenever the team struggled, so much attention was being put on Doncic, James, and Reaves just not being able to operate with one another. Many were happy to ignore that both Reaves and James missed significant time due to injuries. That surely had nothing to do with any perceived struggles.
If you're still reading and do not hear the sarcastic tone above, it can just be spelled out here. With a shift to seriousness, the Lakers and their stars needed time to mesh. The three figureheads settled on more comfortable roles and responsibilities. Meanwhile, JJ Redick identified which role players best supported them in what doses.
What have the results looked like since? Well, let's do what the other side did and nitpick a convenient statistical trend to make a point. During the month of March, the Lakers trio of Doncic, James, and Reaves have a net rating of 18.4 in the 287 minutes they played together.
Lakers put to rest the idea of Doncic, James, and Reaves not meshing
It is worth noting that not only have the trio functioned well in March, but they were the most featured combination of three players. Those 287 minutes led the team.
Their aforementioned net rating ranks second among three-man combinations to have shared at least 150 minutes on the court. Only Doncic, Reaves, and Marcus Smart (18.8) have a better rating. Even when expanding that to 100 minutes played, the Lakers stars only get bumped down to third.
This can all be broadened to post-All-Star break. Since that stoppage, Doncic, James, and Reaves lead the team in minutes played as a three-man combo with 391. They still have an overwhelmingly positive net rating of 16.8 together during that time.
So, what has been the key element here? On top of the subtle adjustments mentioned above, health really is the obvious thing to point to.
The Lakers have not had a perfect medical report since the break, but in comparison to the first half of the season, things have gone a lot smoother. Having the majority of your rotation players available makes a big difference. Who knew?
With the playoffs in clear sight, the Lakers are buzzing. That not only includes their stars, but features them right at the forefront of that success.