Los Angeles Lakers: Three areas the team will excel in next season
By Jason Reed
3. Three-point shooting
This one may be the boldest prediction of them all, but there is no reason that the Lakers cannot make huge improvements in shooting behind the arc. In a way, if you look at the three things the team will excel in, they are all attributes of the best team in basketball; the Warriors. While the Lakers will not be on their level, the team is taking steps in getting there.
Now, their interior defense and rebounding will ultimately hold them back from playing to their full potential, Los Angeles does have a solid foundation to build upon.
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Now, this improvement may be the hardest to make as the Lakers ranked 17th in the league in three-point percentage last year. The team lost their best two three-point shooters in Nick Young and D’Angelo Russell, so if anything, there could be a step back.
However, like with the steals, the pieces the Lakers added will make up for their losses. Caldwell-Pope shoots a solid 35% from behind the line, Brook Lopez shoots 34.6%. Ball, funky shot and all, shot 41.2% from the college three-point line in his lone season at UCLA.
Not to mention that their pace of play and ball movement will only make these numbers better. Los Angeles struggled sometimes in getting great open looks last season, hence why they maxed out at 34.4%. Now, Ball and company will be able to get open looks, directly benefiting Caldwell-Pope, Lopez, Brandon Ingram and maybe even Julius Randle.
The Lakers perhaps have the most to prove next season. Despite being one of the worst teams in the league, Los Angeles has remained relevant with all of their acquisitions and Lakers rumors. Now, whether that relevancy translates to success will be seen.