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Los Angeles Lakers won’t win the title without improving these two areas

By Jason Reed

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands between Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns and Anthony Davis #3 during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 12, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 123-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands between Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns and Anthony Davis #3 during the second half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 12, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Lakers defeated the Suns 123-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Free throws

Ironically, the other area that has left a lot to be improved upon also has to do with shooting, in this case, free-throw shooting. History does not favor free-throw shooting as much as three-point shooting, as LeBron’s Cavs won the title recently while ranking 24th in free-throw shooting.

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However, it definitely can still come back to haunt the team in the playoffs where every single possession matters and the game comes down to the final buzzer. There are going to be plenty of moments where the Lakers have to hit free throws to get back into the game or to ice the game and if they are not reliable, they can lose an entire playoff series on it.

So far this season, the Lakers are shooting 75.9 percent from the charity stripe, which is good for 21st in the NBA. It’s not that they just shoot poorly, either, as the team also ranks 25th in free throws attempted per game at 20.5.

This has always been the one area of LeBron’s game where he could improve upon and that has been consistent thus far this season. LeBron is shooting 71.8 percent, making it the sixth year in a row that he is on pace to shoot under 75 percent.

Anthony Davis has been reliable at 87 percent thus far and Kyle Kuzma is shooting 82.4 percent. Outside of them, though, no other Laker is shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line with more than three attempts in the season.

We cannot expect the likes of Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee to be great from the line, but with as good as LeBron is, it is strange how he is so bad from the line.

Next. Trading for JJ Redick is inevitable. dark

In reality, the team needs the likes of Danny Green, Avery Bradley and the rest of the shooters on the team to become more reliable from the charity stripe.

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