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Frank Vogel

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Four Reasons Why Russell Westbrook Will Lead Lakers to the Championship

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Forget the doubters and haters who claim the Lakers made a big mistake trading for Russell Westbrook to replace Dennis Schroder as the team’s starting point guard because Russ’ subpar outside shooting is a poor fit.

The reality is Russell Westbrook is a legitimate third superstar for the Lakers who brings more than enough to the table to offset any concerns about his shot selection or subpar shooting percentages from midrange and deep. Westbrook gives the Lakers a Superstar Big Three to match the Nets, two superstars who can create a triple-double every game, a chance at a record for points in transition, and a positive net rating with LeBron on the bench.

Let’s take a closer look at what Russell Westbrook brings to the Los Angeles Lakers and the four reasons why he’ll be the perfect third superstar for LeBron and AD and will lead the purple and gold to the NBA championship.

1. LAKERS WILL HAVE A LEGITIMATE SUPERSTAR BIG THREE

Winning in the NBA comes down to superstars and the Russell Westbrook trade finally gives the Los Angeles Lakers the third superstar they desperately need to keep pace in the arms race with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Brooklyn Nets showed last season how important having a third superstar is when competing for an NBA championship. Despite injuries to all three superstars, Brooklyn still had two superstars available each game. Had L.A. had three superstars last season, they may have been able to work around the injury issues that led to their first round upset at the hands of the Phoenix Suns. The third superstar raises a team’s floor and ceiling.

Besides providing insurance against injuries and unique load management opportunities, having a third superstar also gives the Lakers the versatility to create lethal lineups that teams without three superstars simply can’t match. For example, if healthy, the Lakers could easily stagger their Superstar Big Three so they would have three superstars on the court to start and close games and at least two superstars on the court at all times during the game.

A legitimate Superstar Big Three gives NBA teams vital insurance against injuries to their superstars and the versatility to create dominating lineups with multiple superstars against whom most teams have no defense.

2. LAKERS WILL HAVE TWO TRIPLE-DOUBLE THREATS

The Westbrook trade not only gives the Lakers two superstars capable of posting a triple-double every game this season but also enables them to have a ‘difference-making playmaker’ on the floor all 48 minutes of game.

The early offseason reports confirmed the Lakers’ top priority this offseason was to acquire a transcendent top-10 point guard to enable LeBron James to give up the ball and move to power forward and Anthony Davis to center. Turning over control of the ball to Russell Westbrook, the greatest triple-double machine in league history with 184 career triple-doubles, guarantees the Lakers will continue to receive elite playmaking from point guard.

Westbrook’s win-loss record when posting a triple double is 138–46 or 75%. While his overall scoring numbers may decrease, Russ should be able to continue to average a triple-double playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Assuming Russ plays all 82 regular season games, the Lakers should have a great chance to win more than 60 games during the regular season, which would be their best record since they went 65–19 in the 2008–09 season.

Having two legitimate triple-double threats in LeBron James and Russell Westbrook should dramatically improve the Los Angeles Lakers’ ability to win games during the long regular season and critical playoff scenarios.

3. LAKERS WILL LEAD LEAGUE IN TRANSITION OFFENSE

With the addition of Westbrook, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to return to the halcyon days of Showtime, when Magic Johnson’s playmaking ignited the greatest fast break transition offense in NBA history.

Adding a superhero like the Flash to a team that already boasts Superman and Batman could be overkill but pushing the ball in transition has become the NBA formula for getting high percentage shots before defenses get set. Teams understand scoring in transition or early offense opportunities have become a necessity when playing teams who have solid half court defenses. Westbrook’s speed and pressure on the rim in transition are unmatched.

In a disappointing last season, the Lakers struggled mightily in transition, finishing 21st out of 30 NBA teams with a pace of 98.85 but they were still 8th out of 30 teams with 1.14 points per game in transition efficiency. With Westbrook running the point, the Washington Wizards finished first last season with a transition pace of 104.67, 1.82 points better than the Bucks, who were the second fastest team in the league with a pace of 102.85.

The addition of Russell Westbrook should enable the Lakers to recreate the halcyon days of Magic Johnson and Showtime and catapult themselves to the top of the league when it comes to transition pace and efficiency.

4. LAKERS WILL WIN THE MINUTES LEBRON JAMES RESTS

The addition of Westbrook will give Los Angeles Lakers an opportunity this season to do something no LeBron James team has been able to do in any of his 19 seasons in the league, which is win the minutes when he rests.

The last two seasons, despite having a second superstar in Anthony Davis, the Lakers still saw their net rating plummet whenever they rested LeBron James. Their production without LeBron hit rock botton against Phoenix. With LeBron James in the lineup, the Lakers posted a +4.8 point differential. When LeBron rested, the Suns destroyed the Lakers, who posted a -46.9 point differential without LeBron during the series, much without Davis.

The Lakers’ problems without LeBron can be attributed to their lack of a ‘difference-making playmaker’ to run the offense when the King was on the bench. The availability of two other superstars clearly changes that dynamic. Being able to play lineups with Westbrook and Davis that can dominate opponents when LeBron James rests could be the biggest advantage having a Superstar Big Three brings to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Winning the non-LeBron minutes could be the biggest game changer the Lakers will reap from trading for Russell Westbrook. Russ and AD plus three high percentage, high volume 3-point shooters could be a lethal lineup.

Lakers Fast Break- Lakers-Suns Summer League Post Game and Frank Vogel Extension!

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Frank Vogel gets an extension and the Lakers hit Vegas for Summer League and the guys from lakerholics.com are back as “MagicMan” Sean Grice, Mr. “Five Things” Jamie Sweet, LakerTom, and Gerald Glassford talk about the good (and the bad?) with both. All this and what do we think (and hope) what the opening day starting lineups will be? And what happens when LakerTom tries to prove his point? Find out on our latest Lakers Fast Break podcast!

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Why Are the Lakers So Obsessed With Andre Drummond Starting at Center?

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What’s the story behind the Los Angeles Lakers’ fascination with Andre Drummond ? Do Pelinka and Vogel really believe Drummond at center is the best strategy to take advantage of LeBron James and Anthony Davis?

The Andre Drummond experiment up to this point has been a bust as every key stat clearly demonstrate the Lakers are a better team on offense and defense with Marc Gasol or Anthony Davis at center than the Big Penguin. Frank Vogel continues to ignore the stats that say Davis and James play, shoot, and defend better without Drummond and claims Andre just needs more minutes to learn how to play alongside the Lakers’ superstars.

You can almost see the wheels working in the background as Pelinka and Vogel continue to believe Drummond not only could help the Lakers win the championship this year but might also re-sign with the team long term. Their obsession with a possible James, Davis, and Drummond Big Three has apparently blinded them to Andre’s poor footwork, subpar court presence, low post inefficiency, and inescapable poor fit next to LeBron and AD.

Meanwhile, Frank Vogel has become increasingly defensive about Andre Drummond’s performance, pointing out Andre has not had the benefit of camp and the regular season to develop chemistry for the scheme to work. That’s an argument better made during the regular season than the start of the first round of the playoffs while the Lakers try to re-integrate superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis back from long injuries into the rotation.

What drives me crazy is Vogel not realizing traditional centers change how the Lakers play offense and defense. Andre’s lack of offensive spacing and lack of defensive mobility limits the team’s play at both ends of the court. The Lakers established a gold standard of what to expect during last year’s successful championship run with Anthony Davis playing more than 50% of his time at the five. That’s a proven winning formula you can’t discard.

So what’s really going on here? Do the Lakers really believe Drummond at the five is a championship scheme? Did Andre receive a promise he would be the starter in the playoffs when he signed his free agent contract? Alternatively, have the Lakers decided to dramatically reduce Anthony’s minutes at the five to accommodate his preference for playing power forward? That’s a move they clearly made during the regular season.

Or is the obsession with Drummond just an example of an old school coach like Frank Vogel stubbornly refusing to give up the idea of traditional low post center being the best scheme to anchor the team’s offense and defense. It’s hard to fathom what’s going through Frank Vogel’s mind right now as the Lakers trail the Phoenix Suns 0–1 and could be in danger of suffering a devastating first round loss rather then repeating as champions.

Unfortunately, the time has run out and Frank Vogel needs to abandon his obsession with Andre Drummond and either start Anthony Davis or Marc Gasol at center immediately or risk losing the opportunity to win #18.

Lakers vs. Warriors Play-In Prediction: Lakers Need To Be Ready to Play Small

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has to be smiling at the serendipity of the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors meeting Wednesday night in the Play-In Tournament Game between the West’s 7th and 8th place teams.

No better appetizer than LeBron James vs. Steph Curry to get NBA fans excited and hungry for the playoffs after a second straight Covid ravaged season with limited live fans in the stands and declining television ratings. The winner earns the #7 seed and plays the #2 seed Suns in a first round playoff series while the loser has to play the winner of the 9th vs. 10th place game to earn the 8th seed and play the #1 Jazz in a first round series.

LeBron James and Steph Curry already have a storied history, playing each other 38 times, including 16 regular season games and 22 playoff games, with Curry winning 9 of 16 regular season and 15 of 22 playoff games. The threat of Steph and Warriors upsetting LeBron and the defending champion Lakers and sending them into an elimination game vs. the winner of the Grizzlies vs. the Spurs has purple and gold haters salivating.

Watching Steph go off late with three dagger threes to clinch Sunday’s win over the Grizzlies has NBA fans and pundits eagerly awaiting Wednesday night’s matchup between LeBron’s Lakers and Steph’s Warriors for 7th seed.

While the Lakers opened up as 7-point favorites, the line has now dropped to 4.5 points as gamblers expect Golden State to go all-in with their small ball ‘Death Lineup’ with Draymond at center that won three championships.

The Lakers and Warriors met three times this season with Steph Curry catching fire late in the first game to pull off a 2-point Golden State upset but LA dominating the last two games with 26 and 31-point blowouts. With rookie center James Wiseman injured, the Warriors have gone small with Draymond Green at center and won 17 of the 25 games Steph Curry has played since their last game against the Lakers back on March 15.

Make no mistake, Steph Curry has taken his game to new heights since the three games against the Lakers, averaging 36.1 points per game compared to 29.3 points before March 15 to win the second NBA scoring title of his career. The Warriors will likely start Draymond Green at center against the Lakers like they did in their big win over the Grizzlies to clinch 8th place in the West, which puts pressure on Frank Vogel to go small with AD at the five.

With Drummond finally getting a chance and showing he can play with James and Davis, Vogel faces his first major matchup decision of this year’s playoffs: go big with Drummond at center or small with Davis at the five.

Unlike as 7-game series, the Play-In game doesn’t leave any room for error. There’s no question the Lakers as a team are best with Anthony Davis at the five but they have been hesitant to go that route during the regular season.

Last year, AD played the five 25% of the time during the regular season and 40% of the time in the playoffs. This season, he has only played center less than 10% of the time as they have preferred to play him at power forward. The big question for Wednesday night’s game is whether Vogel will stay big and start Andre Drummond at center or counter Steve Kerr’s move to start Draymond Green at the five by starting Anthony Davis at the five.

Realistically, the Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis should be able to dominate the boards and paint and beat the Warriors if they go big with Andre Drummond at center or small with Anthony Davis at center. Considering Drummond’s recent success with LeBron and AD, Vogel’s likely to stick with his starting lineup of Drummond at the five and Davis at the four and look to dominate the Warriors with their size and athleticism.

The danger is Drummond not being able to make the smart adjustments on offense and defense playing against a savant veteran like Draymond Green. If Drummond struggles, look for Vogel to make a quick change to go small.

Frank Vogel’s personnel moves in last year’s playoffs were close to perfect as he dramatically increased the minutes superstar Anthony Davis played center from 25% during the regular season to over 40% during the playoffs.

Wednesday night’s Play-In game against the Warriors should give us a critical first hint of how Vogel is going to manage his center minutes in these playoffs. Will he rely on Drummond at the five or revert back to Davis? Along with the heath of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, how Drummond plays and what Vogel decides to do with his center minutes will likely determine whether Lakers can realistically repeat as champions.

There’s no question the Los Angeles Lakers face an unprecedented gauntlet to win their 18th NBA championship. Unlike any other champion in NBA history, the Lakers will have to win 17 games rather than 16 to do it.