Over the last few years, 3-point shooting has been a big concern for the Los Angeles Lakers. They were 25th in 3-point shooting percentage last season, and even in the 2019-20 campaign, when they won the NBA championship, they were only 21st in that category.
But through two preseason games, it looks like the days of them lacking in the outside shooting department may be over. They made 39.5% of their 3-point attempts on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors, and on Monday versus the Brooklyn Nets, they were at a decent 36.4%.
Buy Lakers TicketsLos Angeles has done most of its offensive damage in the paint dating to its championship season, but head coach Darvin Ham wants the team to let it fly from downtown — within reason.
Darvin Ham speaks on the easy offense production and his relationship with D'Angelo Russell on the floor. pic.twitter.com/l0xoJmfDrk
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 10, 2023
“That’s one of our goals, we wanna get our attempts up. We don’t wanna go crazy, we still wanna be a team that loves and lives in the paint. And I think now with our newly constructed roster along with obviously the core guys that we brought back, we feel like just having that 1-2 punch, Bron is gonna collapse the defense, AD is gonna collapse the defense, Rui and those guys being willing passers and knowing how to read the defense.
“Gabe in the fold now, Taurean Prince, all of these guys, your normal AR, Bron has worked feverishly on his jumper, his jumper just continues to progress, AD being a willing shooter from that distance and not hesitating. We feel like it’s a good mixture of guys where we can have a really strong 1-2 punch starting in the paint, but obviously being able to throw em up from long distance. And make em.”
The Lakers attempted 38 3s on Saturday, and they took a whopping 55 treys on Monday. With newcomers Taurean Prince, Christian Wood and Gabe Vincent, as well as internal improvement from Max Christie and Austin Reaves, perhaps the team can get away from jacking up a good number of outside shots, especially early in the shot clock.
Ham specifically wants Anthony Davis to let it fly
Davis shot well from downtown during the second half and the playoffs of the 2019-20 campaign, but has done poorly in that area since. Over the last three seasons, he has made only 23.8% of his attempts from beyond the arc, and the volume of those attempts has gone down.
But in two preseason games, Davis has gone a combined 3-of-6 from downtown in limited minutes. Ham said after practice on Tuesday that he wants the superstar big man to launch a large number of long-range bombs this season (h/t Lakers Daily).
“I requested to see six three-point attempts a game.” Darvin Ham wants Anthony Davis to let the three-ball fly. pic.twitter.com/Yaj3pY0t9T
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 11, 2023
“I want him, if he can — I know he won’t do it, but maybe he’ll shock me — but I’ve requested to see six 3-point attempts a game,” Ham said. “Three per half, at least. I wouldn’t put that on him if I didn’t think he was capable.”
If the Lakers somehow finish in the top 10 of the NBA in 3-point accuracy this season, it would greatly bolster their chances of winning another world championship.
