The Los Angeles Lakers had a lot of buzz heading into the season, with many expecting their best starting lineup to feature Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton. However, due to injuries and some experimentation by coach JJ Redick, that lineup hadn't hit the court together before the All-Star break.
That changed when the Lakers faced off against the L.A. Clippers to kick off the second half of the season.
Starting with this anticipated lineup, the Lakers came out firing, scoring an impressive 41 points in the first quarter. They were almost flawless, hitting 16 of 19 shots and 8 of 9 from beyond the arc.
After the game, Doncic shared his thoughts on their explosive start: "In the first quarter, we played good defense and kept up a fast pace. We created different looks, and that’s how we should play."
While maintaining that level of shooting throughout the game was a tall order, the Lakers managed to secure a 125-122 win, improving their record to 34-21. Doncic was a standout, starting strong with 15 points in the first quarter and finishing with 38 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and a block.
Despite their initial success, the starting lineup experienced some struggles, posting a -7.7 net rating over 18 minutes. Yet, Doncic remained optimistic: "We got the win. The first quarter was great, and even though they came back a bit in the second, it’s a very good lineup for us."
The Lakers have been experimenting with various lineups all season, aiming to find the right combination as they head into the playoffs. This lineup could be the one to stick if they can build chemistry and stay healthy.
In terms of roster moves, the Lakers had a quiet trade deadline, only swapping Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard. Their strategy was to preserve assets and cap space for potential big moves in the summer, a plan reportedly supported by Doncic.