Tip-off between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers was still a few hours away, and yet the Lakers still found a way to get a “win” without even breaking a sweat.
By clinching an outright postseason berth, Los Angeles has avoided the Play-In Tournament and its March Madness-esque vibe of win or go home. But then again, given how the Lakers are playing right now, even the Play-In would have been a breeze for Los Angeles.
Between the Lakers and the Cavs, it was the latter that seemed to feel the effects of playing in the second night of back-to-back games. Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Los Angeles head coach JJ Reddick earned milestones in what was a statement victory defined by stellar offense (54.2/41.9/92.3 team shooting splits), a ton of ball movement (26 assists), and stout defense (nine steals and four blocks).
The Lakers were 15-2 in March, a feat that is by no means something to take for granted considering the back-to-back sets, injury management, and even the adversity Los Angeles went through in recent weeks.
But then again, this is just the beginning.
For the Lakers, making the postseason is a given. With 17 championships, the expectation is higher and the players are held to a higher standard, higher than even that of the Boston Celtics. It’s the reason some players prefer not to make the move there, and it’s given rise to the conspiracy theory that shooters see their shooting fall off a cliff in Los Angeles. But this group is capable of bucking these trends.
On good nights, the Lakers are an unstoppable force, with the offense punishing defenders who overcommit and those that assume Doncic will have an off night. In fact, Doncic continues to be on a hot scoring streak, with his record-setting 42-point performance serving as a reminder that the MVP race should very well include him.
The continued emergence of Austin Reaves gives an additional scoring punch, one that certainly takes some weight off Doncic and makes Los Angeles even more dangerous.
But then, one of the biggest factors was James’ acceptance of the need to step back. It’s by no means a demotion to being a role player, but it’s an understanding that this is Doncic’s team. James remains a very important figure in the Lakers’ plans, because he can still take over when the need arises.
The low bench production could be an issue, though, especially if Los Angeles continues to rely heavily on their starters. The Lakers’ 28,4 bench points per game are the second-lowest mark in the NBA, and it’s almost 20 points lower than the league-leading Memphis Grizzlies (47.2). Blowouts like the one Los Angeles had over Cleveland certainly help, as this not only gives the likes of Doncic, James, and Reaves some more rest, but it also allows the Lakers to empty the bench and give their other players valuable minutes and reps.
Opponents will likely challenge the Los Angeles Lakers through those they don’t often see on the court. However, the star power on the Lakers is too bright for them not to be involved. Luka Doncic is on a tear and his teammates are easing into their roles and with Los Angeles peaking at the right time, their championship aspirations may very well be fulfilled sooner rather than later.
