Lakers Adjust to New Style, Beat Jazz 105-104
Adjusting to a New Style
SALT LAKE CITY — The clock ticked down and the ball, like it has for most of the last two decades of professional basketball, was in LeBron James’ hands.
It’s been the recipe for years, James hunting the matchup on the court he wants, then methodically picking it apart with a combination of speed, strength, and skill that’s been unmatched for most of the NBA’s history.
A Different Approach
But this isn’t the basketball JJ Redick wants the Lakers to play, and quite frankly, this might not be the best version of basketball for a player in his 22nd NBA season, even if that player has scored more points than anyone ever to play in the league.
"This is my lowest usage rate of my career," James would say later Sunday night (It’s actually his lowest usage rate since his rookie season). "So it’s an adjustment."
Lakers Switch Up
But with the Lakers missing Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell and the young Jazz defense ripe for some bullying, the Lakers switched up.
"It felt like normal for myself," James said. "But the way we want to play this year is a little bit different, and I’m adjusting to it as well."
Fourth Quarter Showdown
Sunday, the styles clashed with James doing it the old-fashioned way in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 105-104 win against the Jazz.
"We really slowed things down in the second half and tried to get the matchup we wanted for LeBron to just handle in that pick-and-roll," Redick said. "And truthfully, that was the best offense we were going to generate. So whether we missed or made it, we just kept going to that. I thought we got some clean looks that could have given us a little bit more of a cushion. But I liked our execution offensively."
The Result
Throughout the fourth, James was relentless in trying to find ways to score, the Lakers attacking Utah second-year guard Keyonte George. On one crucial possession in the fourth, the Lakers grabbed offensive rebound after offensive rebound only for James to miss three three-pointers on the same possession.
In the fourth quarter, James took 14 shots — more than he has in four games this season. He only made five and missed all six of his threes.
Conclusion
Despite the struggles, James had 27 and Anthony Davis scored 33, the two combining for 53 of the Lakers’ 88 shot attempts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is LeBron James’ lowest usage rate?
A: His lowest usage rate since his rookie season.
Q: How did the Lakers adjust their playing style?
A: They slowed down and focused on getting LeBron James the ball in the pick-and-roll.
Q: Who contributed to the Lakers’ win?
A: Gabe Vincent, Max Christie, and Jalen Hood-Schifino all scored double-digit points and contributed on the defensive end.
