This Is Not The Same Los Angeles Lakers…

Definitely got to put them up in there. 114 record. And when you watch the Lakers play, yes, you’re getting MVP numbers from Luca Donis. Yes, you’re getting all NBA play from Austin Reeves, but damn it, it’s the others. It’s it’s Ruy Hatchimire that’s having a hell of a season right now. It’s the return of LeBron James that’s going to help DeAndre Aiden offensively and defensively. Last season, the Lakers were good, but inconsistent. Every win felt like a grind and the entire team lived and died by LeBron’s availability this season. Completely different story. Running in that shot clock under five. Luca going to step back again. Oh, by the way, he’s pretty good at that. If you think this is the same old LeBron led Lakers team, you’re wrong. LeBron missed the first 14 games and the Lakers went 10 and four without him. They’re now 13-4, sitting in second in the Western Conference. Luca Donic is playing at a fullblown MVP level, putting up historic numbers and rewriting the record books night after night. Austin Reeves looks like a legit allstar. And with LeBron back, the star power finally feels complete. But maybe the biggest difference is the new pieces. The offseason additions are impacting the game in ways last year’s roster never could. If you’re not paying attention, you should be. This is not the same Los Angeles Lakers and the rest of the NBA is about to find out. Now 17 games into the season, the Lakers have performed about as well as anyone could have realistically hoped. They’re 13 and four, riding a fiveame winning streak and sitting at number two seed in the West. They look like a team on pace for another strong regular season. And somehow they’re still nowhere near their peak. Here’s where it gets weird. Look at the leaguewide numbers and their record makes no sense. The Lakers rank 15th in offensive rating, 14th in defensive rating, 26th in three-point percentage, 28th in turnover rate, 11th in rebound rate, 21st in assist rate, and 15th in point differential. By almost every major metric, they’re a perfectly average basketball team. Yet, they have the third best record in the entire NBA, despite LeBron missing 14 games and Lucas sitting multiple nights, too. The answers in the offseason work. While teams like the Rockets and Clippers made headlines with big trades and flashy signings, the Lakers stayed quiet and went to work. They built a machine. Over the summer, the Lakers added pieces designed to upgrade both ends of the floor. DeAndre Aton, Marcus Smart, and Jake Laravia. Every move had a purpose and so far every move has paid off. Let’s start with Marcus Smart. His ability to bounce back after a couple of injury plagued seasons and immediately return to elite defensive form has been one of the most welcome surprises in Los Angeles. Smart opened the season on the bench, but he’s already carved out a real role, averaging 9.3 points, 2.9 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.8 eight steals in 27.3 minutes per game. The shooting numbers are ugly. 39.8% from the field and 24.2% from three, but he’s getting wide open looks playing next to Luca, LeBron, and Reeves. Those shots will fall eventually. The onoff numbers tell the real story. With Smart on the floor, the Lakers offense stays roughly the same, but the defense jumps to elite levels the moment he checks in. He guards multiple positions, forces turnovers, and completely wrecks offensive sets. When LeBron was out, the Lakers desperately needed a vocal anchor on defense. Smart became that guy, constantly directing, rotating, and energizing the group. His hustle and intensity have reignited a team that lacked those qualities for most of the last four years. The individual numbers back it up, too. He’s averaging nearly two steals per game, the second highest mark of his career. Even Luca couldn’t help but praise him. First of all, it’s the energy on the defensive end. He does some things I’ve never seen in my life, like how he dives for the ball on everything else. As good as Smart has been, DeAndre Aiden might actually be the best part of the Lakers off season. It was a windshield wiper plus that time. Now it’s time to drop. Oh, throw it down with one hand, big fella. LA brought him in to be their starting center and the expectations were massive. He had to deliver right away. And considering the concerns about his work ethic and attitude coming in, there were real questions about whether he’d buy in. He’s answered every one of them. Aiden has hit the ground running, thriving in virtually every phase of the game. He’s averaging 15.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.8 offensive boards, and almost one block and.7 steals in 29.2 minutes per game while shooting an absurd 69% from the field. That kind of efficiency shows he’s getting easy looks, finishing everything around the rim, and becoming a perfect role man for LA stars. His scoring has jumped to 15.5 points per game, and he’s already stacked six 20 and 10 performances in just 15 games. Luca has always played his best with the dominant big, and LeBron has wanted a real center upgrade for years. Aiden fits both needs perfectly. When the Lakers play without him, they simply can’t generate the same interior production. Defensively, Aiden has been exactly what this team needed. He’s been a force at the rim, leading the Lakers in blocks and helping them control the paint night after night. His presence alone has elevated the overall defensive effort, and he’s emerging as one of the Lakers vocal anchors on that end. Aiden looks like a man on a redemption arc, turning the narrative around from how things ended with his previous teams and proving he can be a winning center on a contender. The Lakers also signed Jake Loravia. When he came aboard, many didn’t view him as a significant addition. He’s been far better than anyone expected. Lava has appeared in all 17 games, including six starts, playing just over 26 minutes per night. He’s averaging 9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 steals on 48.8% shooting from the field and 34% from three. Solid numbers, but his real value is everything that doesn’t show up in the box score. He’s a physical, opportunistic defender who constantly makes the right read. He runs the floor with real pace, finishing plays in transition on those trademark look ahead passes from Luca and Reeves. And when the Lakers have needed scoring from him, he’s delivered, dropping a season high 27 points on the road against Minnesota and 25 more in a win over Miami. If Laravia can sustain this level of play, the Lakers may have quietly secured another home run signing. But as good as the new additions have been, the biggest reason the Lakers are 13-4 is Luca Donic. His start to the season has been franchise shifting. When the Lakers traded for Luca and immediately locked him into a long-term extension, they weren’t planning for the future. They were betting that their next all-time superstar had arrived. And as always with the Lakers, the expectations were massive. This organization doesn’t celebrate good seasons, it celebrates titles. Luca knew that from the moment he landed in LA, and to his credit, he’s embraced every bit of it. This off season, he got into the best shape of his life. leaner, stronger, and fully committed to elevating his game. Now he’s playing on that level, even after missing three games with a finger sprain and leg contusion, Luca is averaging a career best 35.2 points per game, putting him on pace for his second scoring title in 3 years. Add in 9.2 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and nearly two steals per game, and he’s reminding everyone why he’s one of the most complete offensive engines the league has ever seen. But here’s the scary part. He’s not even shooting the three well yet. Luca is hitting just 33.3% from deep on 11 attempts per game. The numbers feel eerily similar to his 23-24 campaign in Dallas when he finished third in MVP voting and led the Mavericks to the finals. The difference now, he’s doing it in Los Angeles in a team with real championship expectations. Luca Donic is playing like a legit front runner for his first MVP award. The key to him leading the league in scoring has been his relentless attack on the basket. He’s driving to the rim with purpose every night. Luca ranks fourth in the NBA in points via drives, even though he’s only 11th in drives, and 10th in field goal attempts by drives. The efficiency is insane. He’s shooting 64.9% on drives, at least 6.9% higher than anyone else in the top 10 in attempts. Overall, he’s posting a career best 61.4% 4% on two-point field goals, including 62% from 5 to 9 ft, 55% from 10 to 14 ft, and an absurd 83.8% within 5 ft of the rim. If he keeps this pace all season, he’ll claim his second scoring title. And we all know the last time he led the league, his team made the NBA finals. Beyond the points, Luca controls games like few players can. When he runs the offense, the floor bends to his rhythm. Defenders get pulled into his pace. The offense flows through him. And the Lakers rely heavily on pick and rolls that exploit his vision and skill. Even when defenses blitz him, Luca finds a way to punish them, creating open shots for teammates and dishing out jaw-dropping assists. He’s averaging nine assists per game, a careerhigh. The proof has been on display all season. Take the recent matchup against the Clippers in the NBA Cup. Luca dropped a monster 43 point double double, finishing with 13 assists, nine rebounds, a steal, and a block in 38 minutes. He had put up 24 points in the first quarter, 32 by Halime, and made 14 of 28 shots, including seven threes. Number 77 was everywhere that night, reminding the league why he’s firmly in the top echelon of players today. His defense has reached another level, too. He’s creating turnovers at a career best rate and turning defense into offense. Luca is currently averaging two steals per game, continuing the trend that saw him rise from 1.4 steals per game in 2324 to 1.8 last season. Perhaps most important is Luca’s comfort in Los Angeles. It took less than a year for him to acclimate and start calling LA home. With three more years under contract, his future is firmly settled in purple and gold. And if history is any guide, a fit, happy Luca is dangerous combination. Something the rest of the league is already learning this season. But if you thought the Lakers success was all Luca, think again. Austin Reeves has proved he’s a bonafide star. Someone capable of lifting the team in key moments and contributing at a high level every single night. Reeves is putting together a contract year for the ages. Despite a slow start from deep, he’s averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, seven assists, and 1.4 steals in 36.3 minutes per game. All on 65.2% true shooting percentage. Those are all-star numbers. High volume scoring, playmaking, and efficiency all rolled into one. Especially while playing off Luca Donic. When Luca and LeBron were out, Reeves showed how dominant he can be as a number one option. Over three games without the two superstars, he averaged 40 points and 10 assists, carrying the Lakers to two wins. That stretch included a career-high 51 points against Sacramento, 41 points in a loss to Portland, and a 28 point careerhigh 16 assist performance capped by a game-winning floater against Minnesota. Any doubts about how he fits next to Luca gone. The two clearly enjoy playing together and their chemistry is undeniable. The Donic Reeves pairing has an offensive rating of 119.2 and a defensive rating of 106.8. Impressive numbers that quieted anyone concerned about defense. Both the eye test and the stats show they’re an elite combo capable of controlling games on both ends. Just look at Reeves career progression. He wasn’t drafted in 2021, yet he steadily improved every season. 7.3 points as a rookie, then 13, 15.9, 20.2, and now 27.9. His assists, rebounds, steals, and free throw attempts have all increased each year. Reeves isn’t a feel-good story anymore. He’s become a problem, and he’s doing it all with a chip on his shoulder. The Lakers are second in the Western Conference, and a lot of this happened without LeBron. But the King finally made his long- awaited return against Utah after missing the first 14 games with Sciatica. In three games so far, he’s already made a meaningful difference. In his first competitive game back, LeBron slid right into the flow, posting 11 points and 12 assists in 30 minutes, giving the Lakers exactly what they needed. Since then, he’s only improved. Question before his return was whether he might disrupt a team that had leveled up without him. Instead, he’s made them nearly unstoppable. With LeBron back, the Lakers move in multiple directions at once. The ball swings faster, and the offense feels completely different, like switching to an entirely new channel. Against the Clippers, the trio of Luca, LeBron, and Reeves had their best game yet with LeBron scoring 25 points, his highest since returning. Yes, the Lakers thrived without him, going 10 and four. exactly what you want as he approaches the later stage of his career. But the real goal is taking the team to another level with LeBron, a level that keeps them competitive against juggernauts like the Thunder. So far, it’s working. The Lakers have cemented themselves as one of the top teams in the Western Conference, sitting with the third best record behind the Thunder and Pistons. But even with their strong start, there’s still a gap between LA and the elite contenders. While many top teams dominate on one end or both, the Lakers are neither elite offensively nor defensively. They’re just good enough. Their offense ranks 15th and their defense 14th. Solid, but far from elite. A big reason their offense hasn’t been better despite the wins comes down to one glaring weakness. Shooting. LA’s three leaders in three-point attempts, Luca, Reeves, and Smart are combining for just 29.6% from deep. Luca and Reeves are both hovering around 31% well below their career averages. Only the Pacers, Mavericks, Trailblazers, and Grizzlies are worse from three. Right now, LA ranks dead last in the NBA made threes at 10.9 per game. They’re also 26 in three-point attempts, but that’s part of the problem. Despite this, the team still gone 13-4, which says a lot about how well they’re functioning in other areas. The good news, this weakness represents huge upside once their shooters start connecting, especially Luca, Reeves, and Smart. The Lakers offense could hit a completely new level. The strengths more than make up for the weaknesses right now. At the top of that list is the elite scoring duo of Luca and Reeves, something few teams can replicate. They’re the highest scoring duo in the NBA at 63.1 points per game. Easily 10 points better than other top pairings like Durant, Shenun, Yokic, and Murray or SGA and Hongren. Add in Aton who has addressed one of the biggest issues from last season with his interior presence on both ends. And the Lakers have a roster full of complimentary pieces. Their success is coming from factors that are both sustainable and indicative of what this team could achieve once their three-point shooting starts to click. If they’re this good without reliable long-range scoring, imagine the ceiling once that finally comes together. There are still questions to answer. Can LeBron embrace his new role as the wild card, no longer the primary ball handler? Can the Lakers improve via the trade market before the deadline? Can Luca and Reeves maintain their elite scoring over the long haul? If the answer to all that is yes, then we’re looking at a Lakers team with a serious title chance, a team built to compete at the highest level. This isn’t a hotter version of last year’s Lakers. This is a team that knows who it is without LeBron and what it can be with him. Luca is playing at an MVP level. Reeves is making the leap and the supporting cast is more complete than ever. This is not the same Los Angeles Lakers. This team is for real and the rest of the NBA better start paying attention. So now I want to hear from you. How far do you realistically think the Lakers can go this season? Drop a like on the video, hit subscribe, and stay tuned. We’ve got a lot more coming. And maybe check out one of these videos on your screen now.

With Luka Dončić taking over as the franchise superstar and redefining the Lakers’ identity, Los Angeles now plays with a level of control, pace, and offensive versatility that the league hasn’t seen from them in years. Add in a Austin Reaves playing at an All-star level, LeBron James returning from injury, improved depth, and this team has quietly built one of the most balanced rosters in the Western Conference.

#Lakers #LukaDoncic #AustinReaves #lebronjames #Losangeleslakers

49 comments

  5. No doubt the Lakers are playing well. Can they play better? Yes they can. Its up to JJ and the Coaching Staff to bring it out. A little better Defense and better 3pt shooting.

  8. The BIGGEST FLAWS right now is the Lakers cannot close games properly…. If you watch their last few games, the will be up DOUBLE DIGITS, yet only won most of those games by minimum points… yes, they still WON, but they seem to have the habit of letting the other teams make runs to close the gap near the end of the games.

  11. the actual big three is Luka Reaves and Ayton. Lebron will not have much of an impact on the team. If I had to bet, I would say he negatively impacts them in the big picture because he will prioritize his own stats over the team as he has always done. Better to trade him or make sure he retires at the end of the season, so they can finally add 1-2 really good pieces to the team for the capspace that will be available when he is gone.

  14. We need to trade Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, and/or Gabe Vincent for a shot-blocking, back-up center that can pick-n-roll like Jay Huff, Neemias Queta, Moussa Diabate, Goga Bitadze, Ryan Kalkbrenner, or Yves Missi. So when Ayton is hurt or in foul trouble, we don't miss a beat. Jackson Hayes is a good 3rd option as center, but he doesn't have a defensive presence. We have plenty of scoring with LBJ, Luka, Reeves, and Rui. We need more big options.

  18. Lakers have had a SOFT schedule, thats the difference. Look at the last 5 game winning streak. Bucks, Pelicans, Jazz (Twice), Clippers… Tell me, which of those teams has a winning record?

  21. I think that nowadays the biggest achievement that is real on the west is conference finals. We can say that Luka can with almost any series by himself… but not today's OKC. They're too deep, flexible and talanted. And LAL can end up with any result in range of 1st round lose up to west finals

  25. Real obstacle for lakers are OKC with their star SGA , probably Denver with Jokic, if luka, austin and lebron solid and consistent , lebron will get his 5 rings , and the rest get first ring, and big questions who will be final MVP , luka or lebron, if lebron step up in final let say 4 or 5 games in MVP mode , that crazy of lebron

  26. Really enjoy your videos, I am subscribed and watch everyone. HOWEVER, one of the main reasons I watch videos from guys like you is to avoid having to listen to idiots like PERKINS, SHAQ, BARKLEY, and rest of the bozos. Please don't lead off with these jackass big mouth dopes to confirm your content. Thanks

  30. The funny thing about Ayton's story is Dwight went through the same thing, league was (RIGHTFULLY) dunking on them and they got a bad reputation from it and humbled themselves started grinding and are now thriving, Dwight was instrumental in the nuggets series and so far Aytons the best center we've had in a minute unless you count AD.

  31. Well it’s like what LeBron said in the interviews recently as well as JJ and the rest of the team. They are horrendous in shooting 3s right now, they are aware of it. Luka, Austin, Rui, Smart, Gabe, and even Lavaria are actually strong 3pt shooters even Maxi! But as good as getting the best looks and opportunities to get 3pt shots, they are just not knocking them down. But of course at some point those shots will go in and they will keep shooting it. So yeah they are not worried about their 3pt shooting and also they still find ways to be effective in offense by attacking the paint.

    The thing they need to work on is still defense and well finding some kind of production from the bench as well. Gabe Vincent like LeBron is coming back from injury so he’s trying to get back in NBA shape. So it’s really Lavaria, Maxi, Bronny, Vando, Adou, and the new dude Drew who has potential…but they too are not super consistent. Maxi is impressive though while Ayton is injured. I should have known cuz he has played with Luka in Dallas and came to Lakers with him in that epic trade. But he’s good on defense, around the rim, and another shooter. It’s kind of crazy how they said that in training camp Vando was impressive and stood out as one of the best players at that time. But he’s got no playing time recently…Vando and Smart were supposed to be our defensive duo. I mean I know his offense is not technically the strongest, but what is the reason he’s not getting playing time?

  35. I have no doubt the Lakers will be a problem in the playoffs but my only concern is OKC and Denver…Aldo I hope they can add an affective piece or two before the deadline without giving up too much. Pelinka has pulled off some impressive moves so no reason he can’t again🤞🏽

  36. hahaha you looked at their stats and saw how below average they are and yet have a good record then assumed it was "off season work"…you're a clown. Do you even watch the games?

    NBA wants to sell Laker jerseys you dumb fuck, that's why the refs help them win games. Goes to x3 for Lebronto whose vorp numbers show a washed has been crybaby ass high chair "king"

  41. I'm still not happy with JJ's coaching and lineups overall, but the team has been a hospital so it makes sense things have been all over the place.

    When the Lakers go with the lineup of Luka, AR, Smart + Center of choice, and Rui they absolutely crush their opponents, when they do silly things like Vando, Hayes, Jake, Knecht + AR or Luka they suck for obvious reasons. I need them to use different versions of the first rotation mentioned. AR, LeBron, Ayton, Jake + whoever would be a secure bench killer, and you can have Luka, Smart, Hayes, Rui + whoever as the other alternative used with LeBron and Rui switching with each other as much as possible. This takes us to the starting lineup with LeBron back, you can't have Rui out there unless he is going to drastically improve his defense, rebounds or get himself open, which I don't think is realistic.

    The lineups have to find a balance and there are several points of data to show some options work very well and some that don't, yet we still see some stupid shit that just don't seem to work. I think it is possible that Adou can find himself to the lineups and fulfill an important role in the future, but a trade is likely required if they want to take another clear step.

  43. Pretty simple they win by 8 but shoot 25 more fts. Luka alone shoots more fts than opposing team lol garbage RBA trying to get LA into finals pretty clear guard anyone get a foul but LBJ can push in back , moving screen or just not play def n cherry pick. Great team lol

  49. Something is really wrong with Kendrick Perkins. First, he believed Mavs won the 3-team trade deal. And because that doesn't worked on his side, he'll make another remarks to lift the brothers. Pretty obvious, it's always about race with Perkins.

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