The Lakers were struggling early in January. Los Angeles had lost four of five games, with its only win coming against a mediocre Atlanta Hawks team.
In defense of the Lakers, they were playing without
Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura also missed some games during this stretch. Still, they looked more like a play-in team than a squad that could earn homecourt in a playoff series in the Western Conference.
Since that slump, however, the Lakers have been rolling. They’ve won four of their last five and have done the majority of their damage away from home.
After their win in Chicago, Jake LaRavia reflected on why the Lakers have been able to change their fate.
“I just think there’s been a lot better communication between the players as we’re out there on the court,” LaRavia said. “We know that we’re messing up when we’re out there so we kind of grew back together and locked back in. Everyone has a job to do and we know what it is.”
In life, clear communication leads to understanding and less confusion, and basketball is no different. Talking can help the defense set up, rotate and discuss what to do when things are breaking down and they are being put into the blender.
Communication is just as necessary as offense. Players have to know what’s being called, adjust when breakdowns happen and talk on pick-and-roll actions, for example.
Redick reiterated that the Lakers needed to trust each other offensively after their loss to the Clippers and they’ve responded with back-to-back wins.
As LaRavia stated, this deep into the season, players know their roles and jobs are clear. It’s a matter of understanding, communicating and executing the game plan so the Lakers can win more than they lose.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
