The Lakers faced a crucial season test on Sunday with the first of the two games on the road against the Thunder, the team with the best NBA record.
Thanks to their incredible shooting, Los Angeles dominated from start to finish. They have demonstrated a unique combination of shooting and creation. Something they will have to bring in the playoffs.
The Lakers connected on 15 points of 3 hours in the first half, scored 78 points and took a 22-point lead in the break. They never looked back, winning an impressive 126-99 victory on the road.
The Thunder has the number one defense of the league and uses two great talented men to counter opposing offensive players. The chess match between the Bigs and the offensive creators of the Lakers started early.
Adjutant a franchise record with 22 3 points, the Lakers had four players, each making four shots or more behind the arc. Each time a team draws 55% of the city center, a chance to shoot is necessarily involved.
The question is, how did the Lakers generate these looks?
Look at the clip below while the stellar defender Luguentz Dort accumulates against Luka Dončić. A quick double -ball screen with Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura allows him to attack the defender he prefers to attack, the great man Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Thunder has changed these actions, resulting in a patented 3-point bar which put Dončić on the dashboard.
A few goods later, he connected again in the same situation. The relentless attack continued with a traction on Chet Holmgren, the other great man of the Thunders.
Dončić finished the first quarter with 14 points and five facts at 3 points. He had finished the match with 30 points, his 13th match of 30 or more already in purple and gold and sixth in the last ten games.
Once Dončić went to the bench, it was Austin Reaves Tour to take control. In the clip below, Reaves is defended by Cason Wallace. The Thunder chose to use Holmgren in a traditional drop cover, which essentially concedes the three shots.
Reaves stands out and overturns the flicker. A few possessions later, Reaves struck another city center, but this time on Wallace, which passed under the action of the Ballon screen involving Holmgren.
Reaves finished with four points made at 3 points, part of a 20 -point night for the Lakers goalkeeper.
Once the individual shooting is established, the valves open and “Luka Magic” occurs.
Look below while Dončić is initially defended by Alex Caruso. A Hayes high ball screen initiates the switch he wants with Holmgren. A quick dribble in the back creates a separation, leaving Dorian Finney-Smith Grand open in the area.
Finney-Smith is a very necessary spacer against the aggressive defensive style of the Thunder, and he made them pay. DFS connected on four of the five 3 points, contributing 14 points and seven rebounds.
Dončić followed this with a Houdini type pass. Look below while he uses a Hayes screen again to shake sleeps as a ball defender. Hartenstein meets the short half, now having to respect the jump shot.
Dončić leads and passes the back to Vincent, who flows one of his four 3 points, carrying his total 12 points from the bench.
LeBron James made his only attempt at 3 points, but raised 19 points in victory. He recorded three of his seven assists that led directly to 3 points.
Lakers have shown that even against the best defense in the league, they have a big three capable of constantly decomposing the defenses and a support cast that will make you pay if it is left open.
With the playoffs at the corner of the street and the Redick system encouraging as many 3 points as possible, it may be the first time that they have been as many of this year, but do not expect it to be the last.
Mark SchlabachApril 7, 2025, 10:21 a.m.CloseSenior university football editor Author of seven books on university…
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