How Going Small Will Unleash Lakers’ Offense, Defense, & Transition Games!

The arrival of Russell Westbrook not only gives the Los Angeles Lakers a legitimate third superstar but also the catalyst to enable them to unleash their championship version of ‘small-ball-on-steroids’ in the regular season.

The Lakers’ sudden dramatic change in course shocked everybody as the pundits expected L.A. to bring back most of their bubble championship roster despite sufferring an embarrassing injury plagued first round exit. Never afraid to shoot for the moon, the Lakers dumped their entire roster except for LeBron, AD, and THT, traded for polarizing point guard Russell Westbrook, and fully embraced playing small ball in the regular season.

The naysayers and doubters continue to predict the Lakers will still start either Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan at center rather than Davis, who’s been reluctant to play the five fulltime since signing with Los Angeles. However, news reports LeBron and AD agreed before the trade to move to the four and five to accommodate Russ and Rich Paul telling teams the same thing at the Chicago combine clearly indicate major change is coming.

Switching to small ball during the regular season as well as in the playoffs opens the door for the Lakers to start games with a five-out spread-the-floor offense and close out games with a shut-down switch-everything defense. With the Russell Westbrook taking over at the one and two of the fastest and quickest big men in the game in LeBron James and Anthony Davis manning the four and five, the Lakers will also lead the league in fast breaks.

With Russ manning the one, LeBron willing to give up the ball and move to the four, and AD finally willing to play the five during the regular season, the Lakers have a chance to lead the league in offense, defense, and transition.

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SO WHY DID THE LAKERS SUDDENLY DECIDE TO GO SMALL?

The opportunity to trade for a legitimate third superstar in Westbrook was the reason the Los Angeles Lakers suddenly decided to commit to playing their version of ‘small-ball-on-steroids’ in the regular season and playoffs.

After an injury plagued first round playoffs exit and anticipating a potential NBA Finals matchup with the Brooklyn Nets and their Superstar Big Three of Duarant, Irving, and Harden, the Lakers needed to make a bold move. They had two priorities: a ‘difference-making playmaker’ so LeBron James could move off the ball to power forward and multiple high volume, high percentage 3-point shooters to create spacing for the team’s superstars.

While Russ checked the boxes as a ‘difference-making playmaker,’ his poor shooting from the line and deep all but guaranteed the Lakers would have to move LeBron and AD to the four and five and play small for it to work. That’s why Pelinka went out and signed six proven veteran 3-point shooters, including two who were excellent perimeter defenders, to give Vogel the pieces he needed to create optimum lineups for their three superstars.

It was obvious from the start trading for Westbrook could only work if the Lakers committed to playing small ball with Russ at the one, LeBron at the four, AD at the five, and a pair of elite 3-point shooters to creat spacing.

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HOW DOES GOING SMALL HELP THE LAKERS OFFENSIVELY?

Anthony Davis’ reluctance to play center fulltime to avoid injuries and extend his career has prevented the Lakers from putting the best version of themselves on the court since they traded for him two years ago.

Trading for Westbrook changed everything, forcing the Lakers to embrace small ball during the regular season so they can deploy a pair of proven 3-point shooters to create floor spacing for superstars LeBron, AD, and Russ. With a Superstar Big Three who were subpar 3-point shooters, there was no way the Lakers could afford to waste a spot in their starting or closing lineup for a traditional center like Howard or Jordan who have no 3-point gravity.

While 5-out sets would create floor spacing for LeBron and AD to attack the rim, the real beneficiary of better spacing would be Russ, who had one of his best years ever when the Rockets traded Capela to go all-in on small ball. Pulling opposing centers and power forwards out of the paint, the Lakers can create opportunities for James, Davis, and Westbrook to go 1-on-1 against their defenders without having to worry about a shot blocker.

Offensively, the Lakers’ 5-out ‘small-ball-on-steroids’ sets will optimize what Russell Westbrook can do attacking the rim while setting up LeBron James and Anthony Davis to feast in the paint and dominate on the glass.

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HOW DOES GOING SMALL HELP THE LAKERS DEFENSIVELY?

It’s been less than a year ago since the Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th championship in the bubble by dominating opposing defenses with their ‘small-ball-on-steroids’ defense with LeBron at the four and AD at the five.

Besides adding six proven veteran 3-point shooters to allow the Lakers to play 5-out on offense, the Lakers made sure two of those sharp shooters were also versatile perimter defenders capable of switching everything. While the Lakers could pair Ellington and Nunn with their three superstars for an elite starting lineup, they could also pair Bazemore and Ariza with James, Davis, and Westbrook for a lethal switch-everything defense.

That’s a Lakers’ closing lineup of Westbrook (6′ 3″ with 6′ 8″ wingspan), Bazemore (6′ 4″ with 7′ 0″ wingspan), Ariza (6′ 8″ with 7′ 2″ wingspan), James (6′ 9″ with 7′ 0″ wingspan), and Davis (6′ 10″ with 7′ 6″ wingspan). Being able to roll out a lineup with five strong defenders with size and length to switch every screen is a killer weapon to have available in this pick-and-roll driven era. What makes this lineup work is there’s no weak link to attack.

The Lakers’ switch-everything small-ball-on-steroids lineup is not only big, long, and fast but plays a physical bully-ball suffocating style of defense. Switching to small ball full-time will make the Lakers’ defense the best.

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HOW DOES GOING SMALL HELP THE LAKERS IN TRANSITION?

The Lakers expect to lead the NBA in pace and recreate Showtime with Russell Westbrook leading the charge with LeBron and AD on the wings and a pair of deadeye 3-point shooters sprinting to get open in the corners.

The Lakers may set records for transition and early offense points next season as their bully-ball defense plus the sheer speed and quickness of their small ball lineups is goiing to create easy fast break opportunities. Similarly, having fierce finishers like LeBron James and Anthony Davis running the wings with Russell Westbrook is going ensure the Lakers cash in on those opportunities in the regular season and even in the playoffs.

If Westbrook was able to get the Wizards playing at the fastest pace in the NBA, he should have no problem driving the Lakers to new records in transition points and efficiency. We’ll see the modern version of Showrime. While the Lakers have prioritized taking and making more threes, they’re also going to be at the rim more than maybe any team ever. They won’t concede the 3-point battle but they plan to dominate teams in transition.

Nothing hurts an offense more than knowing soon as a shot goes up they have to hustle back on defense rather than trying for offensive rebounds or stealing an outlet pass. Playing smaller and faster is a killer in transition.