Three Things to Know: Lakers vs. Suns 1-11-24
Three Things to Know: Lakers vs. Suns 1-11-24
The Lakers (19-19) will meet the Suns (19-18) for the fourth time this season in the last game of their five-game home stand to start January. The contest has standings significance as well as the opportunity to keep the Lakers undefeated against their division opponent.
Three factors to be aware of before the matchup are listed below:
STARTERS’ DIFFICULTIES
The Lakers have started ten different starting lineups this season, which is a result of the team’s numerous complementary player injuries thus far. It also shows how the coaching staff has been trying to find a group of players that have the ideal balance of traits to maximise the team’s strengths and identity while also winning when they play together.
Rui Hachimura’s calf strain, which kept him out of the game during which he was making his second start in three games and trying to establish himself with the first five,
was partly to blame for the formation of the most recent starting lineup, which has started the previous four games.
But with Rui out of the picture, the Lakers added Austin Reaves,
another ball handler, maker of shots, and scorer, to the collection of those gazing.
Since making this lineup adjustment, the Lakers are 2-2,
but the new starting lineup has not gelled, as evidenced by the stats indicating that they are having difficulty winning their shifts.
Reaves, Cam Reddish, Taurean Prince, LeBron, and Anthony Davis combined had a -10.5 net rating for the season (94 minutes played),
with a major contributing factor to their difficulties being their defence (121.6).
Moreover, these problems are not limited to this group during one or two quarter shifts or a single segment of the game. Every quarter this season that this new group has played,
they have posted a negative net rating:
- 1st quarter: -13.4 net rating in 27 minutes
- 2nd quarter: -21.5 net rating in 14 minutes
- 3rd quarter: -1.5 net rating in 27 minutes
- 4th quarter: -12.9 net rating in 26 minutes
The Lakers have won two in a row and are still finding ways to compete in games despite these difficulties.
The team would gain even more and perhaps even go on a little run if this starting group could settle in and start to create some separation.
And it wouldn’t be out of the question to make another modification if they couldn’t.
RUSSELL’S RETURN
After sustaining a contusion to his tailbone on December 30 against the Timberwolves,
D’Angelo Russell missed the following three games.
The Lakers went winless during that time,
and they really missed Russell’s ability to handle the ball, initiate offensive plays, make shots,
and have a good passing eye—all of which help the Lakers stay competitive on that end of the court.
Not surprisingly, since Russell’s return,
the Lakers have won both of the games in which he has been back in the starting lineup and
have found methods to increase their offensive output when he plays.
In about 23.5 minutes each night, Russell has averaged 12 points, 5.5 assists,
and 2.5 turnovers while shooting 40.9% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
The success of the five-man lineups he has played in throughout these games is,
however, belied by this production.
Russell’s minutes were crucial to his team’s victories,
as seen by his cumulative +12 boxscore in games where they prevailed by a total of four points.
Russell is also following a season-long pattern in this.
Russell has the best individual plus-minus on the team with +53,
despite the Lakers’ -41-point season-to-date disparity.
Therefore, it goes without saying that the Lakers are successful as a unit when Russell plays,
a fact that is occasionally obscured by the examination of individual counting statistics.
SUNS’ BIG THREE
The Phoenix Suns may have suffered more injuries to key rotation players than any other club
that was predicted to be a preseason contender.
With Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal as their three elite offensive initiators,
the Suns were built to be an offensive powerhouse that could outscore opponents
by keeping two of the three players on the floor the entire time.
But things haven’t exactly worked out that way.
The all-star three from the Suns has only played together in six games this season,
totaling just 108 minutes on the court.
To their credit, they are easily winning those minutes (they have a +23 boxscore) and controlling the offensive end,
scoring 120.7 points per game.
As a result, the Lakers will be up against a tough opponent tonight
when all three play against Los Angeles for the first time this season.
The Lakers defence will have to play at its highest level,
especially when it comes to guarding isolation and handling screen plays both on and off the ball.
Although the Suns don’t have a lot of movement on the court,
those three scorers are excellent at escaping defences,
moving off pin-downs, and spotting openings to shoot.
In contrast, the Lakers have done a good job of containing
the Suns and applying pressure to affect their ball security.
The Suns averaged 19.7 turnovers per game in the three prior games between these two teams;
in the two games held in Los Angeles, that figure skyrocketed to 23.
The Suns’ ball handlers would benefit from the Lakers’ continued pressure,
which will put them under pressure to make quick plays and wise choices.
Conversely, the Lakers can try to pass the ball to Anthony Davis,
who has not only been playing exceptionally well lately but has also fared well this season against the Suns,
especially at home.
In the two games at Crypto.com Arena, AD has averaged 28 points, 13.5 rebounds,
and 2.5 blocks. In both home games, he has made nine attempts to the foul line per game.
Here is where there might be some decent offensive production if the ball is thrown to AD,
who can go to work against Jusuf Nurkic and either play in single coverage or force a double team.
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