Since Luka Dončić joined the Los Angeles Lakers on February 2nd, the team has undergone a dramatic stylistic shift, evident in their performance before and after the NBA All-Star Game on February 16th. Analyzing the 30 games following the All-Star break—compared to their pre-All-Star form—reveals how Dončić’s arrival reshaped both their offense and defense, positioning the Lakers as a team with championship aspirations.
Offensive Revolution: From Inside-Out to Three-Point Dominance
Prior to Dončić’s arrival, the Lakers relied heavily on their elite big man Anthony Davis, ranking among the NBA’s top teams in paint scoring. However, the addition of the Slovenian superstar tilted the offensive balance toward the perimeter, creating a stark contrast in their approach:
Three-Point Production Surges:
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- Pre-All-Star: 40% of total points from threes (21st in the NBA), 34.2 three-point attempts per game (25th).
- Post-All-Star: 47% of points from threes (4th, trailing only the Celtics 54%, Warriors 48%, and Nets 47.3%), with attempts jumping to 40 per game (9th).
- Crucially, accuracy improved too—from 36% (15th) to 37.6% (10th), turning volume into efficiency.
Offensive Efficiency Dynamics:
While the Lakers’ offensive rating rose from 114.6 (9th) to 115.7 (17th), the league-wide spike in scoring—driven by playoff contenders ramping up and tanking teams relaxing defenses—explains the slight ranking dip. Coach JJ Redick’s preseason calls for a three-point revolution finally materialized, with Dončić’s playmaking unlocking this shift.
Paint Production Decline:
The trade-off? Inside scoring plummeted from 60% of total points (10th) to 53% (27th), with restricted area scoring dropping from 50.3 points (12th) to 44.3 points (26th). Yet, this sacrifice aligned with modern NBA trends, as seen in the 2023-24 Celtics’ “five-out” championship strategy.
How Do the Lakers Stack Up Against the Champion Celtics?
A caveated comparison (considering regular season vs. playoff competition) shows surprising parallels:
|
Metric |
2023-24 Celtics (Playoffs, 19 games) |
Post-All-Star Lakers (30 games) |
| Paint Points % | 52% | 53% |
| Three-Point Points % | 48% | 47% |
| Three-Pointers Made/Game | 14.5 (40 attempts, 36% FG) | 15.1 (40 attempts, 37.6% FG) |
| Free Throws Made/Game | 15.7 (81.2% FT) | 18.1 (77.7% FT) |
| Fast Break Points/Game | 11.6 | 13.2 |
| Restricted Area Points | 42.4 | 44.3 |
The Lakers outperform the champion Celtics in three-point accuracy, free throws, and fast breaks, though context matters—Boston faced elite playoff defenses, while LA’s data comes from the regular season. Still, the stylistic alignment is promising.
Defensive Adjustments: Small Ball Success and Strategic Trade-Offs
Losing Anthony Davis hurt, but the Lakers compensated with a switch to small-ball, anchored by defensive upgrades like Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt:
Improved Defensive Efficiency:
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- Opponent field goal percentage dropped from 46.8% (11th) to 45.7% (3rd, behind only OKC and Cleveland).
- They limited paint attempts from 52.1 to 49.5 per game (8th in the NBA) and reduced opponent paint shooting from 55% to 53.3% (7th).
Perimeter Vulnerabilities:
While shrinking the defense increased opponent three-point attempts (39 per game, 29th), they maintained control over accuracy (36%, 13th in limiting opponent three-point percentage). Aggressiveness rose too, with steals increasing from 7.6 (24th) to 8.0 (17th).
Rebounding Resilience:
Despite losing a dominant big man, the Lakers improved rebounding from 41.9 (26th) to 43.3 (17th), driven by a focus on offensive boards (10.5 vs. 9.2), a critical asset for a perimeter-heavy team.
Challenges Ahead: Playoff Test and Scheme Flexibility
The Lakers’ small-ball strategy faces a key test in the playoffs, especially against teams like the Timberwolves—top 5 in three-point attempts and accuracy. Coach Redick must balance shrinking the paint with preventing wide-open threes, leveraging Vanderbilt and Finney-Smith’s length to disrupt shooters while trusting Dončić’s playmaking to exploit mismatches.
Conclusion: A Risky, Promising Path to Glory
Dončić’s arrival has turned the Lakers into a three-point-centric, defensively resilient squad, mirroring the Celtics’ championship blueprint—even surpassing them in key offensive metrics. While regular-season data can’t predict playoff success, the stylistic shift signals a clear championship-oriented vision. For Lakers fans, the mantra remains unchanged: “Lakers Championship”—now with a modern, data-driven edge.
As the postseason approaches, watch how Redick adjusts lineups to maximize Dončić’s impact while shoring up defensive weaknesses. The journey is risky, but the potential reward? A title run built on the NBA’s evolving offensive and defensive paradigms.