As the NBA postseason approaches, a recurring theme is the contrasting styles of teams built on size versus those prioritizing perimeter skill. This dynamic could be particularly defining for the Los Angeles Lakers, who, under the guidance of Coach JJ Redick, have leaned into a perimeter-centric scheme that best suits the talents of their roster.
The past two months have seen Redick diligently crafting a strategy aimed at harmonizing the ball-sharing among their primary scorers while simultaneously addressing their noticeable lack of traditional interior size.
Size Matters: Los Angeles Lakers’ Perimeter Prowess Faces Postseason Interior Questions
The Lakers’ offensive engine, powered by the ball-handling and playmaking of Luka Doncic and LeBron James, has historically elevated the performance of their centers.
As one rival executive observed, “Luka [Doncic] historically made his bigs have these great seasons. [James] Harden is the same way — they get centers paid. He’s doing that for [Ivica] Zubac now.”
However, the Lakers’ current construction presents a different challenge. “The Lakers are asking Rui [Hachimura] and [Dorian] Finney-Smith to play [center] and their skill sets are as easy for Luka to elevate,” the executive noted, underscoring that while both Hachimura and Finney-Smith are skilled players, their perimeter-oriented games differ significantly from traditional centers who thrive on interior scoring and rebounding.
The executive astutely concluded that the Lakers’ success in these unconventional center matchups “will come down to whether [Hachimura and Finney-Smith] can make shots,” emphasizing the reliance on their perimeter efficiency to compensate for the lack of a true post presence.
Interestingly, the Lakers’ lack of a traditional center is somewhat mitigated by their exceptional positional size across the board. Austin Reaves, often the Lakers’ smallest player on the court, stands at a noteworthy 6-foot-5.
Even their shorter guards, the 6 foot 2 Gabe Vincent and the 6 foot 4 Jordan Goodwin, bring a significant level of physicality to their roles. This unusual size at the guard and wing positions is part of how Coach Redick has attempted to compensate for the absence of traditional rim protection, utilizing length and strength on the perimeter to disrupt opposing offenses.
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A significant boost to the Lakers’ perimeter-focused approach has been the synergistic play of Doncic, James, and Reaves. Rather than seeing his role diminish alongside two ball-dominant superstars, Reaves has thrived since Doncic’s arrival via trade, playing arguably the best basketball of his career.
Notably, his three-point shooting, both in terms of volume and efficiency, has shown marked improvement since Doncic joined the team on February 10th. This highlights the adaptability and evolving chemistry within the Lakers’ perimeter core.
The Lakers are embracing a perimeter-based identity in the playoffs, leveraging the exceptional talents of Doncic, James, and a surging Austin Reaves. The postseason will ultimately test whether the Lakers’ perimeter prowess and the shooting of their unconventional “centers” can effectively counteract the size advantages of their opponents.