After their impressive victory over the Pelicans on November 30th, the Lakers quickly gained a lot of attention in the NBA.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves leading the charge, Los Angeles found itself with a solid record of 15 wins and 4 losses. They seemed to thrive offensively, which made their defensive struggles somewhat easier to overlook.
What’s striking is that LeBron James had only played in four games up until that point, first missing time due to sciatica and then for foot pain.
Austin Reeves, however, is now sidelined due to a Grade 2 calf strain.
While Oklahoma City has been lagging behind, the Lakers were emerging as genuine contenders for the championship.
But since that game against New Orleans, things have taken a turn for the worse. The Lakers have been mediocre, with an 8-10 record that includes a disappointing 124-112 loss to the struggling Kings.
Their earlier defensive issues are more evident now that their offense has also cooled down, especially with Reeves out of the lineup.
The Kings, who are not known for their shooting (ranking 20th in the league with a 34.8 percent 3-point rate), took advantage of the Lakers’ poor defense, hitting 17 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc.
“I think we played solid defense,” James stated after the loss. “I mean, they made a ton of threes. We didn’t make a lot of shots… Tonight was just one of those instances where the shots didn’t go in.”
The defense issue remains without clear solutions, making it difficult for experts like JJ Redick to offer insights. The offensive struggles, even with high-profile players, are enough to keep any head coach awake at night.
Despite having two elite offensive talents along with a clutch third option, the Lakers have faltered since their strong start. Their 3-point shooting percentage is now at 33.7, placing them last in the league and dropping further to 32.7 since November 30, even as they’ve increased their attempts per game.
“That was the theme,” Redick remarked. “We had no choice but to continue filming.”
It would seem that the offensive chemistry between Doncic, James, and Reeves should work out, yet significant questions persist. Who will step up on defense? At this rate, even my 2-year-old could be an option given the current state of things.
Who, ultimately, is this team built around?
James is a legendary player, but he might be nearing retirement. Reeves has potential, though it’s uncertain if he can be the top option. That leaves Doncic, who was brought in via a surprising trade last season.
It’s widely considered that Doncic would thrive alongside a tall, athletic wing who is good on defense and can shoot threes, a versatile big man for rim protection, and a secondary scorer who can consistently deliver 20 to 24 points each game.
Is that really it?
Doncic had the right type of team around him when he reached the 2024 NBA Finals, including shooters and defenders like Derrick Jones Jr. and Kyrie Irving, who helped ease the scoring burden.
However, building a team around Doncic in the current financial climate would pose significant challenges.
One potential move could involve trading Reeves for a standout like Jaren Jackson Jr. or Bam Adebayo, if they’re available. Reaves is possibly the Lakers’ best trade asset, although he and Doncic performed well together during the team’s promising stretch.
With James’s future in question, it’s understandable why the Lakers are stuck in this cycle of mediocrity if they choose to stay the course.
