That's it, the regular season is over. Now, it's time for the Los Angeles Lakers to get serious.
The NBA Playoffs are all about stepping up and playing your best basketball at the most important time. Entering the playoffs hot is dangerous for opponents—if a player can carry that into the postseason, it's like getting a head start on elite production, especially for a Lakers team that was still playing for something down the stretch.
The purple and gold haven't had a hotter player in their last five games than Rui Hachimura. The former ninth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has been on fire as a shooter. Over this final stretch, Hachimura has averaged 16.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and is shooting an unbelievable 61.1 percent from 3-point.
Hachimura's hot streak, paired with his proven postseason track record, means the Lakers may have the biggest X-factor in their opening-round matchup with the Houston Rockets.
Rui Hachimura matters more than ever for the Lakers
Players like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Marcus Smart have been consistent playoff risers over their careers. Now, you throw Hachimura into the mix, and things get scary.
In his six-year NBA career, Hachimura has shot 48.5 percent from deep over 31 career playoff games. Going back to last year's playoffs, where LA lost in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves, he was in the 100th percentile in corner 3 percentage according to Cleaning the Glass.
Shooting is always valuable, especially in the modern NBA, but in certain matchups, being able to stretch the floor can straight up win you a series. With the Lakers set to take on the Rockets in the first round, Hachimura's shooting ability could single-handedly shift the momentum of this series.
This season, the Rockets attempted the third fewest 3-pointers and are making the fifth fewest per game. When looking at their personnel, that number makes sense.
With Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun being two pillars of their offense, it is easy to see why, outside of Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard, this team struggles to space the floor.
If they had a healthy Fred VanVleet, the conversations around their shooting could be much different. That isn't a reality.
Hachimura finds himself in an expanded role to open the postseason due to the injuries that both Doncic and Austin Reaves suffered at the tail end of the regular season. This is not only a great opportunity for him to prove himself to LA's upper management in the long term, but also a chance to secure his contract, which expires this summer.
With him entering the postseason smoldering hot and already having a proven track record in the playoffs, he has a chance to help this series swing heavily in LA's favor.
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