Of all the unbelievable stats to emerge since last month’s All-Star break (a 13-game span), the Los Angeles Lakers’ brief ownership of a top-10 offense has to be the most bizarre.
Heading into the middle of February, Los Angeles ranked 29th in offensive rating. It isolated more than any other team in the league, didn’t share the ball and fetishized the pull-up jumper—one of the sport's least efficient options.
The Lakers' plan of attack was antiquated, stale and impotent. They didn’t utilize the athleticism and youth on the roster and instead played to the strengths of veterans like Kobe Bryant and Lou Williams. It was a regressive, debilitating horror show.
Some of this is due to Bryant’s declining influence.
The 37-year-old has sat out five games since the All-Star break. The Lakers are 2-3 when he doesn’t play and 1-7 when he does. His minutes are gradually decreasing, too. That—coupled with the hamstring injury that sidelined Williams four games earlier this month—helped increase opportunities for more dynamic options like D&rsq ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Michael Pina
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