The Los Angeles Lakers obtained all their injured starters again final weekend. Their protection remained absent with out go away Monday evening.
The Orlando Magic outscored the Lakers, 34-18, within the third quarter on their option to a 118-106 victory. The Lakers have been persistently dangerous of their transition protection, giving up 15 fast-break factors within the first half.
Los Angeles obtained burned from three-point vary by a sub-.500 crew for the second time in as many video games. The Magic are the NBA’s worst three-point shooting team, however they went 15-for-40 from behind the arc towards the Lakers’ paint-packing protection. Saturday, the Chicago Bulls shot 19-for-41 on threes on their option to a 146-115 victory.
Transition protection has been a problem for the Lakers all season, although they’ve improved from fourth-worst to eighth-worst within the NBA since December. A few of which will have been a matter of saving power: LeBron James is getting back from a groin damage, Austin Reaves is banged up and Luka Doncic has by no means been recognized for persistently getting again on protection.
But it surely’s additionally the Lakers’ scheme. The crew deliberately tries to restrict drives and discourage paint touches, which yields open threes. When an opponent will get scorching behind the arc, the Lakers protection can look very strange.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner solely shot a mixed 5-for-16 behind the arc, however nonetheless went for 30 and 32 factors respectively. The remainder of the crew was 10-for-24, and Orlando obtained 45 factors off threes to the Lakers’ 30.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick wants extra effort from his crew, who could have eased up because of accidents and the crew sitting three video games away from the play-in. However they are not getting a break anytime quickly.
The Indiana Pacers are fifth within the league in transition factors — and the Lakers need to play them on Wednesday.
