Lakers’ Lineup Data Reveals Key Combinations for Success
In the first 20 games of the season, the Lakers have relied heavily on their three starting lineups, which have played 50 or more minutes each. The original lineup, consisting of Davis, James, Taurean Prince, Reaves, and Russell, has gradually become a positive force for the team. When Reaves checks in during the middle of the first and third quarters, this group has been able to make an impact, with the Lakers being plus-7 in their 89 minutes on the floor.
The next lineup, featuring Davis, James, Reddish, Prince, and Russell, has also been successful, with the Lakers being plus-6 in their 69 minutes together. The most recent starting lineup, consisting of Davis, James, Prince, Christie, and Russell, has been a plus-12 in their 53 minutes on the court.
When it comes to two-man combinations, the Lakers’ best pairing has been James and Wood. In their 212 minutes together, the team has outscored opponents by 71 points. Wood’s ability to space the floor and shoot has complemented James’ attacking style of play.
On the other hand, the worst two-man combination for the Lakers has been Reaves and Christie. In their 129 minutes together, the team has been outscored by 43 points. These minutes have often come during bench units or at the end of the first and third quarters, which have struggled overall for the Lakers.
Interestingly, the Lakers have been most successful when James, Davis, and Russell are on the court together, with the team being plus-69 in their 375 minutes of play. Surprisingly, they have been minus-15 in the 238 minutes that James, Davis, and Reaves have played together. However, when James, Davis, Russell, and Reaves overlap on the floor, the team is plus-3 in their 172 minutes together.
Lineups featuring Davis and Wood have outscored opponents by nine points in their 195 minutes, while lineups with Davis and Hayes have outscored opponents by one point in 31 minutes. However, lineups with Wood and Hayes have struggled, being outscored by 27 points in their 122 minutes together. The Lakers have found less success with two-center lineups in recent weeks.
The Lakers’ best lineup combinations often include James, Russell, Wood, Vincent, and Reddish, while their worst lineups feature Reaves, Prince, Christie, and Wood.
Moving on to the fifth starter position, Vanderbilt is expected to return to the lineup soon, creating a potential opening between Prince, Reddish, Christie, and Reaves. Prince, who has been the incumbent starter since opening night, started strong but has cooled off in recent games, particularly in his three-point shooting. Reddish and Christie have outplayed him, providing important defensive skills and rebounding ability. Prince is likely to lose minutes with a fully healthy roster, but he has earned the coach’s loyalty despite his recent struggles.
Reddish, in particular, has been a success story for the Lakers, joining the ranks of previous reclamation projects like Malik Monk, Lonnie Walker IV, and Stanley Johnson. Despite his initial lackluster play, his insertion into the starting lineup has paid off. As a starter, Reddish has averaged 15.8 points per 100 possessions, 3.7 steals per 100 possessions, and has shot an impressive 41.2 percent from three-point range. His defensive prowess has been evident, leading the league in steals in November before his injury.
Christie has also benefited from the team’s recent injuries, stepping into a starting role and becoming the primary guard defender. He has shown excellent footwork, posture, hand quickness, and basketball IQ on defense. Additionally, he has proven to be a smart cutter, finding open spaces on offense. It will be difficult to keep him out of the rotation.
Lastly, there’s Reaves. The lineup of Davis, James, Vanderbilt, Reaves, and Russell worked well in the 2022-23 regular season and the playoffs. Vanderbilt’s length, energy, and athleticism compensate for the defensive and rebounding deficiencies of the Reaves-Russell combo. It may be worth giving this lineup another chance.
In other news, the Lakers have been one of the success stories of the inaugural In-Season Tournament. They secured the West’s No. 1 seed with an impressive plus-74 point differential, the best in the league. While their group opponents may not have been the strongest, the Lakers’ dominance cannot be ignored. A win against the Suns would boost team morale and solidify their strong start to the season. Additionally, each player stands to earn a significant monetary reward if they win the championship.
The Lakers are determined to make their mark in Las Vegas, and it will be intriguing to see how this group performs when the stakes are high.
(Top photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images)Lineup Analysis: Lakers’ Performance in the First 20 Games
The Los Angeles Lakers have shown some promising lineup combinations in the first 20 games of the season. Let’s take a closer look at their performance and potential areas for improvement.
Starting Lineups:
The Lakers have primarily relied on three starting lineups that have played 50 or more minutes. The original lineup consisting of Davis, James, Taurean Prince, Reaves, and Russell has gradually become a positive, with a plus-7 rating in their 89 minutes on the floor. The next lineup, featuring Davis, James, Reddish, Prince, and Russell, has a plus-6 rating in 69 minutes. The most recent starting lineup of Davis, James, Prince, Christie, and Russell has been the most successful, with a plus-12 rating in 53 minutes.
Best Two-Man Combination:
The most effective two-man combination for the Lakers, with a minimum of 100 minutes played, has been James and Wood. In their 212 minutes together, the Lakers have outscored opponents by 71 points. Wood’s spacing and shooting have complemented James’ attacking style.
Worst Two-Man Combination:
On the other hand, the least successful two-man combination for the Lakers, with a minimum of 100 minutes played, has been Reaves and Christie. In their 129 minutes together, the Lakers have been outscored by 43 points. These minutes have often come in bench units or at the end of quarters, where the team has struggled overall.
James, Davis, and Russell:
When James, Davis, and Russell have shared the court, the Lakers have been highly effective, with a plus-69 rating in the 375 minutes they have played together. Surprisingly, when James, Davis, and Reaves have played together, the team has a minus-15 rating in 238 minutes. However, when James, Davis, Russell, and Reaves have overlapped on the floor, the Lakers have a plus-3 rating in 172 minutes.
Lineups with Davis:
Lineups featuring Davis and Wood have outscored opponents by nine points in their 195 minutes together. Lineups with Davis and Hayes have outscored opponents by one point in 31 minutes. However, lineups with Wood and Hayes have struggled, being outscored by 27 points in their 122 minutes together. The Lakers have found less success with two-center lineups in recent weeks.
Fifth Starter Dilemma:
With Vanderbilt expected to return to the starting lineup, there is a potential opening for the fifth starting spot. Prince, Reddish, Christie, and Reaves are all contenders for this role. Prince, the incumbent starter, started strong but has struggled with his shooting recently. Reddish has been a pleasant surprise, excelling defensively and shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc as a starter. Christie has stepped up in the absence of injured players and has proven to be a valuable defender. Reaves, despite defensive deficiencies, has had success in lineups with Davis, James, Vanderbilt, and Russell in the past.
In-Season Tournament Optimism:
The Lakers have been one of the success stories of the inaugural In-Season Tournament, earning the West’s No. 1 seed with a dominant plus-74 point differential, the best in the league. While their group opponents may not have been the strongest, the Lakers have performed exceptionally well. A win against the Suns would boost team morale and solidify their strong start to the season. Additionally, each player stands to earn a significant financial incentive with a tournament victory.
The Lakers are determined to make a mark in Las Vegas, and it will be intriguing to see how this group performs when the stakes are high.
(Note: The information and statistics provided are based on the first 20 games of the Lakers’ season. All data is accurate as of the time of writing.)
(Top photo: Jason Miller / Getty Images)The first 20 games of the Lakers’ season have provided some interesting lineup data. One notable observation is that the team has only three five-man units that have played 50 or more minutes, all of which are their starting lineups. The original lineup consisting of Davis, James, Taurean Prince, Reaves, and Russell has gradually become a positive, with a plus-7 rating in their 89 minutes on the floor. The next lineup, featuring Davis, James, Reddish, Prince, and Russell, has a plus-6 rating in 69 minutes. The most recent starting lineup of Davis, James, Prince, Christie, and Russell has a plus-12 rating in 53 minutes.
When it comes to two-man combinations, the best pairing for the Lakers has been James and Wood. In their 212 minutes together, the team has outscored opponents by 71 points. Wood’s spacing and shooting have complemented James’ attacking style. On the other hand, the worst two-man combination has been Reaves and Christie. In their 129 minutes together, the Lakers have been outscored by 43 points. These minutes have often come in bench units or at the end of quarters, which have struggled overall for the team.
The Lakers have had success when their core trio of James, Davis, and Russell have played together, with a plus-69 rating in their 375 minutes on the court. Surprisingly, they have a minus-15 rating in the 238 minutes that James, Davis, and Reaves have played together. However, when Russell and Reaves are added to the mix, the team has a plus-3 rating in the 172 minutes they have overlapped on the floor.
Lineups featuring Davis and Wood have outscored opponents by nine points in their 195 minutes together. Lineups with Davis and Hayes have outscored opponents by one point in 31 minutes, while lineups with Wood and Hayes have been outscored by 27 points in their 122 minutes together. The two-center lineups have not been as successful in recent weeks.
Most of the Lakers’ best lineup combinations feature James, Russell, Wood, Vincent, and Reddish, while most of their worst lineups feature Reaves, Prince, Christie, and Wood.
Moving on to the fifth starter position, Vanderbilt is expected to return to the lineup, creating a potential opening between Prince, Reddish, Christie, and Reaves. Prince, who has been the incumbent starter since opening night, started strong but has struggled with his shooting recently. Reddish, on the other hand, has been a successful reclamation project for the Lakers, providing strong defense and shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc as a starter. Christie has also impressed with his defense and cutting ability, making it tough to keep him out of the rotation. As for Reaves, the lineup of Davis, James, Vanderbilt, Reaves, and Russell has worked well in the past and could be worth another shot.
The Lakers have been one of the success stories of the inaugural In-Season Tournament, earning the West’s No. 1 seed with a dominant plus-74 point differential, the best in the league. While their group opponents may not have been the strongest, the Lakers have performed exceptionally well. A win against the Suns would boost team morale and perception of their season start. Additionally, a win guarantees each player a significant financial reward.
The Lakers are determined to perform well in Las Vegas, and it will be interesting to see how this group fares when the stakes are high.s-2 with a lineup of Davis, James, Reddish, Christie, and Wood in 32 minutes, showcasing the potential of their small-ball lineup.
8. The importance of health
One of the biggest factors that will determine the Lakers’ success this season is the health of their key players. Davis and James have both dealt with injuries in recent seasons, and their availability will be crucial for the team’s success.
So far, Davis has been relatively healthy, missing only one game due to a minor injury. James has also been available for the majority of games, although he has dealt with some minor ailments.
The Lakers will need their stars to stay healthy and avoid any major injuries if they want to make a deep playoff run. The team’s depth will be tested if they have to rely on their bench players for extended periods.
9. The impact of coaching
Head coach Frank Vogel and his coaching staff will play a significant role in the Lakers’ success this season. Vogel has shown his ability to make adjustments and get the most out of his players, as evidenced by the team’s strong defensive performance.
Vogel’s decision to move Reaves to the bench has paid off, as it has allowed the Lakers to balance their second-unit lineups and improve their overall performance. His ability to manage rotations and find the right combinations will be crucial as the season progresses.
The coaching staff will also be responsible for developing the team’s young players, such as Reddish and Christie, and integrating them into the rotation effectively.
10. The Lakers’ championship aspirations
Despite their early-season struggles, the Lakers remain a team with championship aspirations. With a healthy Davis and James leading the way, along with a talented supporting cast, the Lakers have the potential to compete with the best teams in the league.
However, they will need to address their offensive struggles and make any necessary roster moves to improve their chances. The trade market will be a key factor in determining the Lakers’ success, and they will need to make smart decisions to bolster their roster.
If the Lakers can stay healthy, find the right lineup combinations, and make the necessary adjustments, they have the talent and experience to make a deep playoff run and contend for a championship.
