The Los Angeles Lakers have never been below .500. However after 40 games, they were 22-18 with the point differential (minus-2.6 per game, 12th in the West) of a team that was 16-24. They were in sixth place, but clearly not a contender.
Since then, the Lakers are 20-7, having outscored their opponents by 8.3 points per 100 possessions. Only three teams have a better record and only two have been better statistically over the last two months.
Along the way, of course, the Lakers acquired Luka, giving them a higher ceiling (especially offensively) than they had previously.
Here are 3 key notes on how the Lakers are set up for their final 15 games and the playoffs:
1. Defensive improvement inside and out
There has been improvement since those first 40 games have come on both ends of the floor, but there’s been a much bigger jump on defense, where the Lakers rank second over the last two months.
2. Working harder (and having the personnel) to get stops
The Lakers’ last win before LeBron James’ injury came on March 6, when they held the Knicks’ top-five offense to just 49 points on 54 possessions after halftime. Gabe Vincent did a terrific job navigating screensset for Jalen Brunson, but when those screens were set by the guy Dončić was guarding, Dončić would usually switch.
The trade for Finney-Smith, Hayes playing more and Vincent finally being healthy have all been big factors in the Lakers’ defensive rise. L.A. has allowed just 105.6 points per 100 possessions in 629 total minutes with at least two of those three guys on the floor.
3. Three playmakers are better than two
When the Dallas Mavericks reached the 2024 NBA Finals, they did so by scoring 10.7 more points per 100 possessions in the conference finals than the Minnesota Timberwolves had allowed through the first two rounds. Luka, of course, was the leader in both time of possession and usage rate (among all four teams) in the conference finals.
Luka has held up just ok defensively, but his biggest contributions to his new team have come on offense. Since his first game with the Lakers, the offense has been at its best (116.1 points scored per 100 possessions) when he’s been running it.
But the Lakers have two other guys who can handle the ball. Since Dončić’s first game, he (6.9 minutes per game), Austin Reaves (5.3) and James (5.2) all rank in the top 25 in time of possession.
Overall, the Lakers have been monstrous on the defensive end this season and hopes to keep up the same intensity on defense throughout the postseason.