Los Angeles

Lakers ROSTER

The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the best offenses in the NBA by a few metrics. First off, they rank as the best shooting team in the league, shooting around 48 percent from the field as a team (via Basketball-Reference). Additionally, they dish out the 10th-most assists along with being the third-best 2-point shooting team and grabbing the ninth-most offensive rebounds a game.

The Lakers' 3-point shooting could use a boost though, as they are among the bottom third of the NBA in accuracy, makes, and attempts.

Meanwhile, despite scoring at a high efficiency, the Lakers' offensive production is not the best in the NBA; they score the 11th-most points per game (around 113) and rely on a stingy defense for their winning ways. In advanced metrics, the Lakers have just the 11th-best offensive efficiency (offensive rating), too—that's behind some Western Conference hopefuls like the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets.

So, while the Lakers are the fifth-best team in effective field goal percentage (eFG%), which accounts for the value of the 3-ball, and just 10th in True Shooting percentage, configuring free throws too, that efficiency mostly derives from their ability to make shots in the paint (via NBA.com).

That all comes back to LeBron James, the team's star and perennial MVP candidate. James is the leader on offense, orchestrating the most efficient shots and points of attack against opponents. King James led the NBA in assists per game this season, a first for the three-time champ, in a lineup usually consisting of fellow All-Star forward Anthony Davis, center JaVale McGee and guards like Danny Green and Avery Bradley or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Davis is a master of post moves in this generation, and if that doesn't fall, he or McGee are great with put-backs and second-chance scoring opportunities.

Defense is definitely the Lakers' strong suit this past season, one which will finally end the franchise's seven-year postseason drought.

With Frank Vogel installed as head coach, the Lakers allowed the second fewest points per game to opponents this season, giving up the sixth-best opponent field-goal percentage. During the 2019-20 campaign, the Lakers only allowed the second fewest total rebounds and sixth-fewest assists per game, stymying opponents' offensive flow.

Advanced metrics back up Vogel and L.A.'s impact on defense. The Lakers had the third-best defensive rating this season (105.8).

James and Davis combine for over two and a half steals per game for the Lakers, making them a dangerous duo even on defense. Fan favorite coming off the bench Alex Caruso even averages more than a steal a game for L.A. along with two-time champion shooting guard Danny Green.

The frontcourt is led by Davis, McGee, and a revitalized Dwight Howard, who returned first on a non-guaranteed contract for his second stint with the Lakers. Davis, a three-time block champion, averaged 2.3 swats per game this season; Howard and McGee added a combined 2.6 a game as well.

Plenty of the Lakers' success on D comes down to a stable frontline by the basket. Between James, Davis, McGee, and Howard, opponents driving in the paint quickly figure out they are going to have a very difficult job finding an open lane to the rim. If they make that far, they will likely get stuffed or contested by Davis or McGee. Therefore, opposing teams have to hope they shoot well from the perimeter on days they are matching up with the Lakers.

The Lakers made a change at their head coach post last offseason, picking up former Orlando Magic coach Frank Vogel. Vogel, a New Jersey native who later attended the University of Kentucky on the junior varsity team, spent years with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers as a video coordinator and assistant coach before getting his first head-coaching gig with the Indiana Pacers in 2011.

That proved to be an immensely consequential period for Vogel as his Pacers often clashed with James' Miami Heat squad, facing off in back-to-back years in the Eastern Conference Finals, with LeBron victorious in both matchups. Vogel was known for leading one of the best defensive units led by All-Stars Paul George and Roy Hibbert and George Hill. James clearly took notice.

After six years in Indiana, Vogel spent two seasons with the Magic, missing the playoffs both times. Vogel was out of a job for a year before the Lakers brought him involved in May 2019. He has a lifetime 356-309 (.535) win-loss record between the three franchises and led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference in his first season with the purple and gold.

Vogel's bench includes, controversially, Jason Kidd, the Hall of Fame point guard who has a checkered coaching history. Kidd spent a season coaching his former Nets when a power move went south and instead linked up with the Milwaukee Bucks. Kidd spent three and a half seasons with the Bucks, making the playoffs twice (both first-round exits) before being pushed out halfway through the 2017-18 season. While star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo markedly improved, the rest of the team around the Greek Freak did little to get better under Kidd's stewardship.

Vogel also employs Lionel Hollins, a long-time NBA coach who spent time as a head coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets.