3 Problems Lakers must fix to win 2024 NBA title
By Will Eudy
Stop playing Taurean Prince big minutes
After coming to Los Angeles on a team-friendly deal last summer, there was plenty to be excited about when it came to Taurean Prince. He had just finished up two seasons in Minnesota where he showed he is still a reliable three-and-D wing, helping the Timberwolves to back-to-back playoff appearances.
But unfortunately, when Prince got to the Lakers he was thrust into a starting role that he largely did not need to be in. He was relied too heavily upon for much of the first half of the season, which led to some struggles at both ends of the floor and increasing frustration from the fanbase.
There is one statistic that nearly perfectly explains how to fix the Taurean Prince problem. In games this season where he has played 24 minutes or more, the Lakers hold just a 19-28 record (40% winning percentage), whereas their record when he plays less than 24 minutes is 20-4 (83% winning percentage).
That is a stark contrast, and it should be enough to consider scaling back his workload as the regular season winds down. LA has several guys who can operate in the same role as Prince, so he does not need to be such a heavy contributor as the stakes continue to increase.