LOS ANGELES – It’s no secret that the Lakers are a team that struggles with shooting. They shoot a league-worst 33.7% from beyond the arc and that poor shooting is one of the reasons they entered Tuesday’s
game on a three-game losing streak.
It’s been said time and time again that the NBA is a make-or-miss league. In theory, if you have the shooters and the right system, eventually, shooting slumps will end.
For the Lakers, that moment finally came against the Hawks as they blew them out 141-116 at home on the second night of a back-to-back. Because of their shooting, the result of this game was a foregone conclusion before the first half was over.
Los Angeles caught fire from deep midway through the second quarter. It started with Luka Dončić knocking back-to-back threes, snarling while jogging back on defense.
Jake LaRavia scored on a bank shot during the following possession, and then the avalanche of threes ensued. Marcus Smart hit one, LaRavia followed and, just like that, the LA advantage was up to 21.
Los Angeles entered halftime with 81 points. It was the most they have scored in any half this season and an example of the Lakers executing on the vision head coach JJ Redick set for the team during their pregame meeting.
“We all collectively — coaches, players — we got to a good place to go compete and go compete together and go play for each other,” Redick said. “And that was evident to start the game.”
The Lakers cooled off a bit after the red-hot opening half, but it didn’t matter. The lead never fell below double figures and LeBron put on his closing act in the fourth, allowing the Lakers to eventually empty their bench.
LA’s 19-34 shooting from 3-point range was not only in stark contrast to how the Lakers have performed throughout the season, but even the night before.
In their Monday loss to the Kings, the Lakers went 8-36 beyond the arc and a pair of those makes came from Bronny James in garbage time. Los Angeles losing to a rival Sacramento team that is 20 games below .500 wasn’t a good look.
Tuesday’s shooting display, however, was a reminder that creating good looks has to be the key and that shooting is a fickle thing. It can flip from bad to good in the blink of an eye.
“I think we generated a lot of good looks,” Luka said. “Even in past games, we just didn’t knock shots down.”
In an 82-game schedule, the Lakers have to find different ways to stack wins.
Sometimes it’s Luka going on a tear and other times it will be LeBron. In other games, a player like Austin Reaves will bail the Lakers out with a game-winner, or a surprise hero like Nick Smith Jr. will have a career night.
Against the Hawks, the Lakers did it collectively and they did it in a way they typically haven’t this year.
This isn’t some “eureka” moment for the Lakers that unlocks endless possibilities for them moving forward. But it is a reminder that the process of creating open looks, as flawed as the results may be at times, is sound.
It’s just a matter of if the Lakers make or miss them.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
