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Russell Westbrook

The Lakers’ Silver Lining Playbook: ‘Three Positives From Warriors’ Loss’

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While last night’s opening season loss to the Warriors was disappointing, the Los Angeles Lakers and their fans should be encouraged that it won’t take long for this team to get their act together and become a juggernaut.

Yes, there are still storm clouds circling like Westbrook’s fit and play, the lingering injuries, and poor free throw shooting. And the Warriors’ elite playmaking and shooting schooled the Lakers’ defense in the second half. But Golden State’s a legitimate championship contender this season and will be even more dangerous when Klay Thompson returns. That this was a game the Lakers could easily have won should be very encouraging.

With just three players back from last year’s squad and new offensive and defensive schemes to learn, the Lakers’ made significant progress towards figuring things out, especially defensively, despite the opening game loss.

1. Lakers First Half Was Best of the Season

The Lakers’ loss to the Warriors was a tale of two halves. With Bazemore hounding Curry, the Lakers’ defense dominated the first half while the Warriors’ offense controlled the second half to ultimately win the game.

The Lakers posted a 100.0 offensive rating and an 89.8 defensive rating as they built a 59–53 lead at halftime led by Davis’ 20 points and James’ 18 first half points. It was the best half of Lakers’ basketball this season. Overall, the Lakers had five steals and three blocks in the first half and held the Warriors as a team to just 4 of 16 or 25% from deep and Steph Curry to just 10 points on 3 of 11 from the field and 1 of 4 from deep.

While the Lakers couldn’t contain the Warriors’ lethal offense in the second half, they showed in the first half they can still play the kind of lock-down defense that led them to their 17th NBA championship.

2. LeBron and AD Look Ready to Dominate

It’s no secret the Lakers will go as far as LeBron James and Anthony Davis can carry them so having both superstars post 30 point and 10 rebound games was exactly how the Lakers wanted to start the season.

LeBron had 34 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, 1 steal, and four turnovers in 36.7 minutes against the Warriors while shooting 56.5% from the field, 45.5% from three ( 5/11), and 50.0% from the line (3/6). Anthony Davis posted 33 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal, and 0 turnovers in 33.0 minutes against Golden State while shooting 57.7% from the field, 20% from deep (1/5), and 28.6% from the line (2/7).

While the Lakers superstars need to shoot better from the line, it has to be an encouraging sign for the Lakers that LeBron and AD appear to be healthy and ready to raise the level of their play to championship caliber.

3. Avery Bradley Should Be 5th Starter


The Lakers have struggled this preseason to find 3-point shooters who can both create spacing for the team’s three superstars while also playing the kind of aggressive physical defense that coach Frank Vogel demands.

With Ariza, Horton-Tucker, Ellington, and Nunn injured, the only 3&D candidate Frank Vogel could start alongside LeBron, AD, and Russ was Kent Bazemore, who had a great game at both ends against the Warriors. When the Warriors started to rain threes in the fourth quarter, however, Vogel surprised everybody by inserting Avery Bradley, who had just been claimed off waivers from the Warriors the day before, into the game.

Needless to say, Vogel may have found the Lakers elusive fifth starter as Bradley was a huge spark, relentlessly harassing Poole and Curry with aggressive physical defense and hitting two out of three from deep.


Where Do Lakers Go From Here?


The Lakers made great strides during their loss to the Warriors figuring out what they need to do as a team and as individuals to optimize their superstars and lineups and start playing championship basketball.

While Vogel will likely stay big for the Phoenix game Friday because of Suns’ center Deandre Ayton, he needs to start Anthony Davis at the five and LeBron James at the four to create spacing for Russell Westbrook. Starting a proven 3&D guard like Avery Bradley instead of low post center DeAndre Jordan could be the solution that leads Vogel to go modern and embrace the Lakers playing small ball with Anthony Davis at center.

With LeBron and AD playing like superstars, Bazemore and Bradley creating spacing for Russ to attack the rim and playing the physical defense Frank Vogel demands, the Lakers have a winning blueprint.

Three Ways Russell Westbrook Can Be Dynamic Difference-Maker for Lakers!

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The Los Angeles Lakers’ objective as an organization is win championships. The reason they’ve succeeded doing that 17 times has been their relentless pursuit of superstar players. That’s why they traded for Russell Westbrook.

Gambling they can transform Russell Westbrook into a championship caliber player, the Lakers are once again going all-in on hitting a home-run and worrying little about the possibility of the move turning into a strike-out. That’s pure Lakers’ ‘exceptionalism.’ Zigging when other teams are zagging. Betting all the other teams and pundits are wrong and all Russell Westbrook needs to become a winner is to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

We know adding Russ, who’s not an efficient 3-point shooter, has hurt the Lakers spacing but here’s three ways Russell Westbrook can become the dynamic difference-maker the Lakers need to win the championship:

1. GIVE RUSS THE GREEN LIGHT TO REBOUND AND RUN

The single most important way the Lakers can take advantage of Russell Westbrook to help them win a championship is by giving him the green light to relentlessly rebound and run on every single defensive possession.

Unleashing Russ to be Russ in transition is the best way to get him to embrace the kind of defense the Lakers need from him as a physical guard with the size and athleticism to create chaos and defend multiple positions. During their championship year, the Lakers’ 101.20 pace was 11th in the league. Last season, their 98.85 pace was 21st in the league. This preseason with Russ, the Lakers’ torrid 108.33 pace was 2nd best in the league.

The Lakers’ strategy is obviously to take advantage of the Russ’ speed and relentlessness and LeBron’s and AD’s physicality and athleticism by pushing the ball after every defensive stop or score to create more scoring chances.

2. PLAY RUSS WITH AD WHEN LEBRON IS ON THE BENCH

In three years, the Lakers have not yet had a positive plus/minus rating when LeBron James is not on the court. One of their primary goals in trading for Russell Westbrook was to change that and win the non-LeBron minutes.

Unfortunately, the addition of Anthony Davis didn’t result in the Lakers winning the non-LeBron minutes. Now, however, the Lakers have a second superstar in Westbrook whom they can pair with Davis when LeBron rests. Since LeBron has had double-digit on-the-floor plus/minus ratings the last two years, the non-LeBron minutes have been the Lakers’ Achilles heel. Winning those minutes would make the Lakers an offensive juggernaut.

LeBron is probably going to play 75% or 36 of 48 minutes each game. That leaves 12 minutes or 25% of the game without LeBron where the Lakers need to play both Russ and AD. Win those minutes and Lakers are champs.

3. USE FIVE-OUT SETS TO GET RUSS GOING DOWNHILL

The pleasant surprise of the preseason was the Lakers ditching their boring long-time isolation offense that consisted of posting up LeBron James or Anthony Davis and allowing them to go 1-on-1 and make plays if doubled.

Instead, the Lakers are in the process of implementing a five-out spread offense designed to create spacing and movement to unleash the Lakers’ superstar playmakers and rim rattling scorers to dominate other defenses. Leave it to the Lakers to be the team not satisfied with a first round exit even if due to injuries. They’re the only legitimate championship contender to completely rebuild their roster and revamp their entire offensive strategy.

The Lakers need to put Russ in position where he’s going downhill and attacking the rim. The can do that by rescreening when defenders go under screens and emphasizing Westbrook pick-and-rolls with AD and LeBron.

Time for the Lakers to Allow Russell Westbrook To Be Russell Westbrook

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In his first two preseason games for the Lakers, newly acquired point guard Russell Westbrook has averaged 5.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 7.5 turnovers in 21.6 minutes per game with a 21.1/40.0/0.0% shooting split.

With eleven new players and a new small ball offense and defense to learn, the Lakers have understandably gotten off to a slow start to the season, losing their four preseason games so far by an average of 18.5 points. That changes tonight as the Lakers will finally unveil their new Superstar Big Three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook, the first time this season that the team’s three superstars will be on the court together.

While the stats for LeBron and AD have been as uninspiring as Russ’ stats and all three Lakers superstars have said it will take time for the team to jell, we should get a glimpse tonight of just how dynamic this team could be.

SHOULD LAKERS BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR 0–4 START?

Let’s start by re-emphasizing what every informed NBA fan should know: preseason games do not count. The only goal players have for preseason is to get into game shape, avoid serious injury, and hone their shooting stroke.

Preseason is when NBA head coaches experiment with lineups and rotations, give young untested players an opportunity to earn playing time, and try to figure out how best to win with the roster they’ve been given. Teams like the Suns who had minimal changes in continuity dominate in preseason while teams like the Lakers who have new rosters and offensive and defensive systems to implement need time and repetitions.

Unfortunately, NBA fans have short memories and a poor start by their team often results in panicked comments and overblown concerns that create unwarranted glass-half-empty predictions of doom and disaster. Last preseason, the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers finished 4–0 while the eventual NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks had an 0–3 record and the West Champion Phoenix Suns had an 0–4 record during preseason.

Since the teams that met in the NBA Finals last season had a combined 0–7 preseason record, it’s obvious preseason wins and losses have absolutely no bearing on whether or not a team can compete for a championship.

WHAT CAN LAKERS DO TO UNLEASH RUSSELL WESTBROOK?

The Los Angeles Lakers need to take the shackles off Russell Westbrook, who’s playing like a man afraid of being himself, of being selfish, of shooting too much, of being inefficient, of being a poor fit for what the Lakers need.

Last season, Russ led the lowly Washington Wizards to the East playoffs by averaging a triple-double of 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 11.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 36.4 minutes per game, the fourth time he’s done that in five years. There’s no reason Russ can’t do the same for the Los Angeles Lakers. They just need Russ to be Russ. He can tone down the catch-and-shoot threes and turnovers but the Lakers need to free Russ to be the force he can be.

Tonight, all the experimentation ends and the Lakers unveil their new superstar big three and let Russell Westbrook be Russell Westbrook. That means living with the occasional unwanted 3-point shot or turnover. But it also means letting Russ play like he always has, relentlessly attacking the paint and getting to the basket, pushing the ball in transition, putting pressure on the rim, and taking the wide-open jumpers when available.

While the Lakers have slow-walked the preseason, they’re now down to just two games left before the start of the regular season. Tonight, the Lakers will unveil their new superstar big three and unleash Russell Westbrook.

How Far Will Frank Vogel Go When It Comes to Fully Embracing Small Ball?

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With the Lakers ready to start Anthony Davis at center, the question is will Frank Vogel truly embrace small ball and unleash its full array of powers by transforming how the team plays in transition and offense and defense?

Russell Westbrook’s arrival was the catalyst that forced the Lakers, head coach Frank Vogel, and superstar center Anthony Davis to rethink their positional strategy and finally embrace their evolution to a small ball team. But simply sliding LeBron and AD to the four and five is not enough. The Lakers must fully optimize small ball by playing faster in transition and using ‘five-out’ sets on offense and ‘switch everything’ lineups on defense.

Over the next four preseason games, we should get a preview of whether Frank Vogel is going to fully embrace small ball or revert to his traditional resume as a coach who believes offense and defense start at the rim.

THE LAKERS NEED TO PUSH THE PACE IN TRANSITION

The Lakers’ top priority as a small ball team is to rebound and run according to Frank Vogel as the team looks to return to one of the formulas that led them to their 17th NBA championship in the bubble less than a full year ago.

The Lakers finished 21st in the league last season with a pace of only 98.85, down from their 11th best pace of 101.20 during their championship run. Top pace last season was the 104.67 posted by Westbrook and the Wizards. With Russ relentlessly pushing the pace, the Lakers should top the NBA in pace next season, maybe even breaking the 105.51 pace set by the Bucks during the 2019–20 season. Lakers will be looking to reprise Showtime.

Of the three ways to optimize small ball lineups, increasing the pace seems to be the one change in style on which Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel has no problem embracing. Lakers will lead the league in pace this season.

THE LAKERS NEED TO PLAY FIVE-OUT SETS ON OFFENSE

While the Lakers may set a record for transition points this season, they still will have to generate more than 75% of their points from half court offense. That’s where Frank Vogel’s coaching tendencies could get in the way.

Vogel’s long been a fan offensively of positioning a big in the dunker’s position, which plays into the hands of opposing defenses by making it easier to pack the paint to keep Lakers’ superstars from getting to the rim. What the Lakers need to do to optimize small ball lineups is play five-out sets with five capable 3-point shooters positioned behind the arc. That’s the lineup that opens up the paint for Russ, LeBronk and AD to attack the rim.

Half court offense has been the Lakers’ Achilles heel in the past, especially when LeBron rests. With three superstars and five-out sets, the Lakers small ball attack will put so much pressure on the rim that it will be unstoppable.

THE LAKERS NEED TO SWITCH EVERYTHING ON DEFENSE

One of the keys to the Lakers winning their 17th NBA championship in the bubble was the ability of LeBron James and Anthony Davis to switch and guard any player on the other team regardless of the position they played.

While Russ isn’t the elite individual defender LeBron and AD are, he’s still a player with amazing athleticism and energetic motor who has no problem switching and defending smaller or bigger players anywhere on the court. Add an elite pair of 3&D players in Trevor Ariza and Kent Bazemore and the Lakers suddenly have a 5-man closing lineup that could switch everything like the Golden State Warriors ‘Death Lineup’ did to win three titles.

If the Lakers want to take advantage of playing small, they need to run a lot more five-out sets to generate drive-and-dish opportunities. It’s the best way for the Lakers to execute Vogel’s favored ‘Paint to Great’ style of basketball.

THE ARRIVAL OF FIZDALE COULD HELP OPTIMIZE SMALL BALL

One unknown factor that could impact how willing Frank Vogel is to fully embrace the Lakers’ small ball on steroids lineups is the addition of David Fizdale as the lead assistant coach replacing the departed Jason Kidd.

Fizdale will hopefully give Vogel an assistant coach who not only has good experience coaching LeBron James but also has a background as more of an offensive oriented coach than Vogel or the other assistants on his staff. Fizdale won two championships as an assistant on James’ Heat teams and is the highest paid assistant in the league. Hopefully, his involvement will help Vogel make the right decisions to optimize the Lakers’ small ball lineups.

The bottom line is Frank Vogel needs to push the ball in transition and incorporate ‘five-out sets’ on offense and ‘switch everything’ lineups on defense to take full advantage of the Lakers commitment to play small.

Six Sweeping Changes To Come From the Lakers’ Small Ball Transformation

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Amidst a wave of dissatisfaction with a first round exit in the playoffs and a desire to bring back elements from their bubble championship, the Lakers shocked everybody by finally committing to a small ball transformation.

Less than a year since winning their 17th NBA championship, the Lakers completely turned over their entire roster from last season, retaining only LeBron James and Anthony Davis and 20-year old Talen Horton-Tucker. Instead of running it back, the Lakers changed direction completely, trading for Russell Westbrook to create a superstar big three and then filling out the roster with the sharp shooting guards and wings needed to play small.

Small ball will transform the Lakers in six sweeping ways: Russ at the one, LeBron and AD at the four and five, rim protection for 48 minutes, better 3-point shooting, relentless fast breaks, and more switching on defense.

1. RUSSELL WESTBROOK AT THE POINT

There’s no question the catalyst to the Lakers’ decision to go small was the opportunity to trade for polarizing triple-double guru Russsell Westbrook, who will take over from LeBron James as the team’s primary playmaker.

While the Lakers expect Westbrook to improve his shot selection and consistency on defense, they’re looking for Russ to bring his usual high speed, high energy, full throttle kamakaze rim-pressuring style of play. Westbrook’s addition to the starting lineup was the move that opened the door for the Lakers to move James to the four and Davis to the five to create openings at the two and three for proven 3-point shooters to create spacing.

As Russ, LeBron, and AD discussed before the Lakers pulled off the trade with the Wizards, the arrival of Westbrook changed everything and was the main reason behind the decision to slide LeBron and AD back and go small.

2. AD AND LEBRON AT THE FOUR AND FIVE

While the Lakers did a great job adding playmaking, shooting, and shot blocking to their roster, the decision to slide LeBron and AD to the four and five and go with their championship small ball lineup was the killer move.

There’s never been any question the Lakers were better with LeBron at the four and AD at the five but up until now they have bent over backwards to accommodate Davis’ stated preference to play the four instead of the five. Westbrook starting at the one changed that as there was no way the Lakers could prevent teams from packing the paint against their superstars if they started a traditional low post center instead of a second 3-point shooter.

Moving LeBron to the four and AD to the five transforms the Lakers into a lethal offensive team that will reprise Showtime 2.0 and the most lethal switch everything defensive lineup since the Warriors’ Death Lineup.

3. RIM PROTECTION FOR 48 MINUTES

While the Lakers lost two elite perimeter defenders in KCP and Caruso in the offseason, they were able to add two bigger 3&D specialists in Bazemore and Ariza. But their major defensive move was re-signing Dwight Howard.

The poor personnel decisions the Lakers made at center before last season could have doomed the team’s chances of repeating even if they had stayed healthy. The lack of capable rim protection this last season was horrifying. Replacing Gasol, Harrell, and Drummond with Davis, Howard, and Jordan will transform the Lakers defense and give their perimeter defenders the security blanket that having a rim protector on the floor for all 48 minutes.

Frank Vogel has always been a strong believer that defense starts at the rim. Now he’s finally going to get the chance to show what kind of defense the Lakers can build now that the team has committed to playing small ball.

4. BETTER 3-POINT SHOOTING

Westbrook’s poor shooting from three was a major reason many pundits disliked the Lakers trade for him but Rob Pelinka surprised everybody by bringing in six proven 3-point shooters to surround his three superstars.

While the Lakers’ three superstars are subpar 3-point shooters, Pelinka has added enough quality 3-point shooters so Vogel will be able to include a proven pair of 3-point sharp shooters in every lineup he puts on the floor. The additions of Wayne Ellington, Trevor Ariza, Carmelo Anthony, Kent Bazemore, Kendrick Nunn, and Malik Monk should give the Lakers the veteran 3-point shooting they need to create spacing for their superstars.

3-point shooting has become the key to NBA offenses with league recording the highest 3-point shooting percentage in league history at 36.7%. The Lakers exceed that mark for this season and rank in the top half of the NBA.

5. RELENTLESS FAST BREAKS

The Lakers led the league in transition points and efficiency during their bubble championship run. Last season, they saw their transition points drop by 5 points per game. Expect Russ to make the Lakers the fast break kings.

Part of the bubble championship blueprint Frank Vogel wants to return to is the Lakers leading the league in fast break points and transition pace. The Lakers priority will be to play the kind of defense that generates fast breaks. With a defense anchored by three elite shot blockers and three athletic superstars who can defend multiple positions, the Lakers will reward their defenders with devastating fast breaks and early transition opportunities.

With three of the fastest, most athletic superstars in the league in LeBron, AD, and Russ, the Lakers intend to pair their elite team defense with what could be a legitimate reincarnation of their Showtime teams of the 80’s.

6. MORE SWITCHING ON DEFENSE

The biggest area of concern regarding the Lakers’ new roster is how do they replace guards Caruso and Caldwell-Pope, the team’s two best point of attack perimeter defenders who are no longer part of the team’s roster?

Part of the solution is the addition of a pair of veteran 3&D players in Kent Bazemore and Trevor Ariza, who could be paired with the Lakers’ three superstars to create a versatile small ball lineup that can switch everything. The other part of the defensive solution is the addition of two proven shot blockers to backup Anthony Davis who is going to start at center to back up the Lakers’ perimeter defenders with strong rim protection.

With two superstars in LeBron and AD who can defend all five positions and other versatile defenders like Westbrook, Ariza, and Bazemore who can guasrd up and down, expect the Lakers to do a lot of switching defensively.