After the Lakers’ four-game losing skid, Head Coach Darvin Ham decided enough was enough and made an interesting lineup change. He moved the polarizing D’Angelo Russell to the bench in favor of LeBron James at point guard. Russell joined ex-starter-turned-sixth-man Austin Reaves off the bench, while Jarred Vanderbilt was inserted into James’s spot at power forward.
Darvin Ham on the lineup change, where they’re bigger and more athletic on the perimeter:
“Until we figure out the pieces, at the end of the day you have to have something to hang your hat on, and we chose to lean into the defensive side of the ball.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 23, 2023
How did this lineup perform against the no. 2 OKC Thunder, and what did it mean for the rest of the rotation?
Lakers News: New Lineup Breaks Losing Streak, Plus Gabe Vincent Update
Evaluating the New Starting Lineup
The Lakers emerged victorious over OKC Saturday night, 129-120, thanks in large part to James’s dominance. The King finished with 40 points (13/20 FG, 5/5 3PT, 9/9 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks. Anthony Davis remained excellent, tallying 26 points and 11 rebounds against ROTY favorite Chet Holmgren. Taurean Prince (10 points, six rebounds), Vanderbilt (two points, six rebounds, one steal, one block), and Cam Reddish (four points, seven assists) also made their marks.
LA’s first unit allowed the offense to revolve around James as the true point guard while he was surrounded by players who could score inside and out. This was crucial against OKC’s troubling zone defense. The group finished with a net rating of 9.7 (114.3 offensive, 104.5 defensive) and a true shooting percentage of 50.8%. They also grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds—including eight defensive boards.
Head Coach Darvin Ham was impressed by the new lineup’s play on both ends:
“Just having that size and physicality out there. Being able to switch on pick and rolls, basically 1-5, was really, really, really good…[OKC] got really hot, extremely hot, in that first half—the first quarter in particular, making six threes—but we weathered the storm [and] bounced back with a great defensive quarter in the second quarter. We buckled down and set the tone [for] the rest of the game…Overall, we maintained our composure and were able to get things we wanted to get on both sides of the ball.”
Their playmaking was equally impressive, as James, Reddish and Davis had seven dimes apiece—21 of LA’s 37.
Darvin Ham says that running the offense through LeBron in the starting lineup was "great."
He was also pleased with the Lakers' ball movement overall and ability to take care of the ball.
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) December 24, 2023
Overall, this Lakers lineup proved successful against a top Western Conference team, but it’s unclear if it will stick around against other contenders.
The Impact on the Rest of the Lakers’ Rotation
The changes made by Ham significantly affected the rest of LA’s rotation, mostly for the better.
LA’s minutes breakdown with the new lineup/rotation:
AD: 41
LeBron: 37
Rui: 29
Austin: 28
Taurean: 28
Cam: 27
Vando: 24
DLo: 17
Hayes: 6— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) December 24, 2023
Russell bounced back with 15 points on 5/9 shooting from the field and 3/6 from three. Reaves impressed once again with 11 points and nine assists. But the best Laker off the bench was Rui Hachimura, who dropped 21 points on 8/14 shooting. The changes to the starting lineup allowed players like Russell to bring new life from the second unit. The Lakers’ bench—staggered with James and Davis—was key towards scoring 71 points in the half—their second-highest this season.
Emphasizing size and versatility in the starting lineup proved well for the rest of the Lakers. Russell and Reaves thrived next to each other while Hachimura made the most of his opportunities. One sticking point, however, was Ham’s decision to play Jaxson Hayes—who tallied one assist in six minutes—over Christian Wood—a proven contributor who’s accepted his reduced role with grace. Otherwise, the rest of the team played close to perfection, aside from allowing the Thunder to nearly come back in the fourth.
The recent changes were essential in turning things around for the Lakers. Though James may not be able to drop 40 in every game going forward, he was put in a better situation to succeed, and the purple and gold capitalized on a must-win game.
Lakers put the ball in LeBron & AD’s hands w/ the starting group & then shuffled in their 2nd through 4th best offensive players against bench units where they had less resistance. Whether that’s a formula for success long term remains to be seen, but it worked well vs. OKC.
— Darius Soriano (@forumbluegold) December 24, 2023
Success Amid Setbacks: Gabe Vincent Considering Surgery
The Lakers’ success comes after more concerning news surrounding Gabe Vincent. The veteran guard, who sat out last night’s game due to swelling in his left knee, is now considering surgery that could sideline him for 6-8 weeks.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent is strongly considering surgery on his left knee with a timetable of 6-to-8 weeks, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Vincent rehabbed for almost two months for return, but the swelling is back and procedure is now a real likelihood. pic.twitter.com/pIkbvXnT5G
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 24, 2023
Vincent logged 14 minutes against the Bulls on Wednesday, finishing with three points, three assists and a rebound. The Lakers have been—for the most part—just fine without him, though he was expected to add more scoring and playmaking to an already deep roster. He was also considered one of LA’s big signings, agreeing to a three-year, $33 million contract in the offseason.
Assuming Vincent stays with the Lakers beyond the 2024 trade deadline, he would likely return in the middle of February. That’s right before the Lakers face the Warriors, Spurs, Suns, Clippers and Wizards to wrap up the month. For now, however, his absence leaves the Lakers with one less guard, as fans worry if this is a Kendrick Nunn situation all over again.
