Introduction to the Lakers’ Offense

The Lakers’ offense has been under scrutiny since the team acquired Luka Doncic, with many examining the spacing, movement, efficiency, and organization rates. After the Lakers’ 125-109 win against the Spurs on Monday night, one question remains: how do they create such "naked" opportunities?

The Concept of "Naked" Opportunities

Nearly a month ago, Dorian Finney-Smith introduced the phrase "naked" opportunities into the Lakers’ lexicon, describing the level of exposure and uncontested shots that Doncic’s teammates experience when he is on the court. Finney-Smith said that no one plays near you when Doncic is on the court, leaving you alone and exposed in ways that just don’t happen in the NBA.

Doncic’s Impact on the Team

Playing for the fourth time in five days and without key starters Rui Hachimura and LeBron James, the Lakers’ offense operated with ease, creating naked opportunities that would make anyone blush. This was evident even though Doncic had a rough shooting night, missing a two-pointer from the paint with his first shot. The box score numbers were awful, with Doncic making only five of 20 from the field, but it hardly mattered as the attention centered on Doncic led to easy nights for others.

The Lakers’ Offense in Action

Lakers guard Dalton Knecht is fouled by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle as he drives to the basket in the second half Monday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers’ offense always seemed as if it would be the secondary piece, but against the Spurs, they looked as though they had unlocked the code, cutting at the right times, flaring to the corners for open shots, and filling the right lanes in transition. Austin Reaves feasted, getting wide-open looks at three, attempting a career-high 13 and making five on his way to a 30-point game.

The Team’s Performance

Jordan Goodwin, starting again, hit three of six, while Finney-Smith made four of eight, and Gabe Vincent and Dalton Knecht combined to make five of 12 off the bench. The Lakers, despite trailing by seven early, mostly controlled the game, save for some sloppiness in the fourth quarter when their energy significantly lagged. Frustrated with San Antonio’s uptick in physicality as they tried to rally, Jarred Vanderbilt and Spurs wing Jeremy Sochan were ejected after Sochan threw the ball at Vanderbilt and the Lakers forward responded with a shove.

Conclusion

The Lakers are showing that they can undress a defense, with the Spurs being the latest to be stripped. After the game, Finney-Smith clarified that the term he used was "butt-naked," but either way, the Lakers are creating naked opportunities and making the most of them.

FAQs

• Q: What is the concept of "naked" opportunities in the context of the Lakers’ offense?
  A: The concept of "naked" opportunities refers to the level of exposure and uncontested shots that Luka Doncic’s teammates experience when he is on the court.
• Q: How did the Lakers perform against the Spurs?
  A: The Lakers won 125-109, with Austin Reaves scoring 30 points and making five three-pointers.
• Q: What was the incident that led to the ejection of Jarred Vanderbilt and Jeremy Sochan?
  A: The incident occurred when Sochan threw the ball at Vanderbilt, and the Lakers forward responded with a shove, leading to both players being ejected from the game.