New Look for the Lakers: Transition Play Strengthens

NEW YORK — The Lakers have turned a season-long weakness into a newfound strength, largely thanks to some pointed remarks from coach JJ Redick.

This shift has been crucial in achieving the competitive edge Redick sought.

With LeBron James and Luka Doncic spearheading the offense and the defense stepping up, the Lakers have dramatically improved, evolving from one of the league’s least effective transition teams to a formidable presence over the last month.

Initially, in the first 32 games, the Lakers secured just 20 fast-break wins. But things began to shift quickly as the new year rolled in.

As they prepared for a primetime matchup against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, the Lakers had matched or outscored their opponents in fast-break points in 13 of the last 15 games since their home victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 4.

They started the season trailing by an average of 3.3 points in fast-break opportunities, but over the past 15 games, they’ve flipped the script, averaging 4.3 points more than their opponents and building a 7.6 point advantage overall.

Perhaps the most notable change has been their increased pace, something Redick had publicly questioned earlier in the season. Currently, they rank among the top teams in the open court.

Last month, the Lakers averaged 18.1 fast-break points per game, placing them eighth in the league—a significant jump from their previous month’s average of 12.8, which had them ranked 26th.

Much of this improvement can be attributed to James. Despite being 41 and dealing with the toll of a record 23 seasons in the NBA, he remains a force in transition, averaging 5.6 fast-break points per game—second only to Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers since his season debut on November 18.

Once Doncic grabs a defensive rebound, he plays the role of a quarterback, scanning the court for opportunities that lead to easier scoring chances.

It’s been clear for a while now that James is his top target.

“It’s going to naturally create a lot of transition opportunities,” Redick noted, emphasizing how Doncic has excelled at setting up early scoring options whenever he spots a mismatch or an opponent shooting from the perimeter.

Additionally, the Lakers’ recent focus on zone defense is helping them prevent easy scores in transition.

Going into Sunday’s game, they allowed 13.8 fast-break points over their last 15 games, moving up to ninth in the league, compared to 16.1 points allowed per game earlier this season, which had them at 19th.

“We’re doing a better job overall of not only changing possession but getting the ball back,” Reddick explained. He mentioned that they’ve used more zone defense since their game against Toronto on January 18, which has been effective in keeping opponents at bay.

Although the Lakers held a record of 8-7 in their last 15 games as of Sunday, this improved play in transition has not immediately translated into a winning streak, but it has certainly come at a crucial time for a team eager to build momentum while also getting healthier.