LOS ANGELES – It\u2019s no secret that the Lakers are a team that struggles with shooting. They shoot a league-worst 33.7% from beyond the arc and that poor shooting is one of the reasons they entered Tuesday\u2019s game on a three-game losing streak.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been said time and time again that the NBA is a make-or-miss league. In theory, if you have the shooters and the right system, eventually, shooting slumps will end.<\/p>\n
For the Lakers, that moment finally came against the Hawks as they blew them out 141-116<\/a> at home on the second night of a back-to-back. Because of their shooting, the result of this game was a foregone conclusion before the first half was over.<\/p>\n Los Angeles caught fire from deep midway through the second quarter. It started with Luka Don\u010di\u0107 knocking back-to-back threes, snarling while jogging back on defense.<\/p>\n Jake LaRavia scored on a bank shot during the following possession, and then the avalanche of threes ensued. Marcus Smart hit one, LaRavia followed and, just like that, the LA advantage was up to 21.<\/p>\n Los Angeles entered halftime with 81 points. It was the most they have scored in any half this season and an example of the Lakers executing on the vision head coach JJ Redick set for the team during their pregame meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cWe all collectively \u2014 coaches, players \u2014 we got to a good place to go compete and go compete together and go play for each other,\u201d Redick said. \u201cAnd that was evident to start the game.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lakers cooled off a bit after the red-hot opening half, but it didn\u2019t matter. The lead never fell below double figures and LeBron put on his closing act in the fourth, allowing the Lakers to eventually empty their bench.<\/p>\n LA\u2019s 19-34 shooting from 3-point range was not only in stark contrast to how the Lakers have performed throughout the season, but even the night before.<\/p>\n In their Monday loss to the Kings<\/a>, the Lakers went 8-36 beyond the arc and a pair of those makes came from Bronny James in garbage time. Los Angeles losing to a rival Sacramento team that is 20 games below .500 wasn\u2019t a good look.<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s shooting display, however, was a reminder that creating good looks has to be the key and that shooting is a fickle thing. It can flip from bad to good in the blink of an eye.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we generated a lot of good looks,\u201d Luka said. \u201cEven in past games, we just didn\u2019t knock shots down.\u201d<\/p>\n In an 82-game schedule, the Lakers have to find different ways to stack wins.<\/p>\n Sometimes it\u2019s Luka going on a tear and other times it will be LeBron. In other games, a player like Austin Reaves will bail the Lakers out with a game-winner<\/a>, or a surprise hero like Nick Smith Jr<\/a>. will have a career night.<\/p>\n Against the Hawks, the Lakers did it collectively and they did it in a way they typically haven\u2019t this year.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t some \u201ceureka\u201d moment for the Lakers that unlocks endless possibilities for them moving forward. But it is a reminder that the process of creating open looks, as flawed as the results may be at times, is sound.<\/p>\n It\u2019s just a matter of if the Lakers make or miss them.<\/p>\n You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88<\/a> or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social<\/a>.<\/p>\n