Key takeaways from the Lakers opening night win over Timberwolves https://t.co/m7twlw3n7i via @yardbarker
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 24, 2024
The Lakers offense
Despite shooting a dismal 16.7% from beyond the arc on mostly open looks, L.A.’s offense clicked, tallying 22 assists while committing just seven turnovers against the Timberwolves, who boasted the league’s top-rated defense last season.
Last season, Lakers fans were frequently frustrated by the team’s tendency to shy away from the LeBron James-Anthony Davis pick-and-roll in crunch time despite it being one of the NBA’s most unstoppable offensive actions. However, in Tuesday’s game L.A.’s superstar duo stuck with the pick-and-roll, executing it repeatedly to close out the contest and seal the win.
Lakers Physicality
Head coach JJ Redick, who discussed “crash rate” on his podcast last year — a term he used to describe a team’s aggressiveness in pursuing offensive rebounds — saw one of his teaching points come to life. The Lakers made a concerted effort to dominate the glass, securing 15 offensive rebounds, a stark contrast from 2023-24 when they ranked dead last in offensive rebound percentage at 19.9%.
Redick’s strategy to emphasize second-chance opportunities was pivotal for a team like the Lakers, whose three-point shooting remains inconsistent at best. It proved to be one of the critical factors in their opening night victory.
Anthony Davis
Davis was the player of the game, putting on a two-way clinic with 36 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. His energy was constant, and he played with the vibe of someone you can count on down the stretch.
The rebounding issue is one I’ll be watching closely throughout the season. It’ll be interesting to see how team’s adapt to this.