The Los Angeles Lakers have become one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They have been all over the headlines after their blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic and have taken care of business on the basketball court as well. The Lakers have won six games in a row and are 10-1 in their last 11 games. The Los Angeles Lakers have reached historic heights during their six-game win streak.
In each game, they’ve scored over 120 points, shot 50% or better, made ten or more three-pointers, and committed 15 or fewer turnovers. Los Angeles is firing on all cylinders and climbing the standings.
The Los Angeles Lakers Win Streak
The Los Angeles Lakers have played great basketball during this streak, starting with their offense. Under Head Coach JJ Reddick, the team has emphasized pace and ball movement more than ever before. With LeBron James as the centerpiece, the Lakers have found a winning formula. They’ve surrounded James with three-point shooters like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and others. In every game James has played during this streak, he has led the team in assists because his drives attract so much attention. With shooters on the floor, the Los Angeles Lakers move the ball quickly to generate open shots.
This is why they’ve been scoring over 120 points and making at least ten three-pointers a game. The offense has grown to a point where the team can be efficient without James carrying the load. During this streak, in games with no Anthony Davis and even no James, the Los Angeles offense has managed. Reaves has become an excellent scoring option. When James missed a game against the Pacers, he scored 45 points. The offense has proven it can operate efficiently, even without James. Then, you add James and Doncic to the mix, and the Los Angeles Lakers become very dangerous.
How Far Can They Go?
Doncic made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 132-113 win over the Utah Jazz. The addition of Doncic makes the Lakers very interesting. Doncic is a top-three player in the NBA at just 25 years old. He’s one of the players a team sells the farm for, and Los Angeles fleeced the Mavericks to land him. In his debut, Doncic scored 14 points, and as his health improves, his production will only go up. A fully healthy duo of Doncic and James could be one of the most formidable pairings the NBA has seen come playoff time. The only question mark is the defense.
Without Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers have a hole at center. They tried to address this by trading for Mark Williams, but the trade was rescinded after his physical. This could give them defensive problems. Doncic has never been a great defender, and without Davis holding down the paint, they could surrender many points. If they match up with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets or the Oklahoma City Thunder with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein, it may not be pretty.
However, these issues may not matter. Jaxson Hayes is not a perfect starting center, but when a center plays with Doncic, their value skyrockets. He can throw lobs from almost anywhere, and his passing will make the already good offense even better. The Los Angeles Lakers have some solid defensive pieces on their roster, and with an offense so potent, they could make a deep playoff run.
Final Thoughts
The Los Angeles Lakers hold a 32-19 record and are the fourth seed in the Western Conference. The team is riding high into the All-Star break, and with Doncic joining the team and getting to full health, the team could be dangerous come playoff time. They’ve won six games in a row and look to make it seven when they face the Jazz again on Wednesday.
