{"id":132424,"date":"2025-04-02T10:30:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=132424"},"modified":"2025-04-02T10:30:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:30:51","slug":"lebron-steve-nash-lakers-death-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/04\/02\/lebron-steve-nash-lakers-death-lineup\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron, Steve Nash Have High Praise for Lakers \u2018Death Lineup\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Among JJ Redick\u2019s many experiments and innovations this season is his preference toward a small-ball lineup\u2014a concept he\u2019s had to turn to sporadically but one he\u2019s relied on as of late. In their <\/span>most recent episode<\/span><\/a> of the \u201cMind the Game\u201d podcast, <\/span>LeBron James<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Steve Nash<\/span><\/a> broke down the differences between the Lakers’ primary lineup that includes <\/span>Jaxson Hayes<\/span><\/a> versus their small-ball unit without a traditional center.<\/span><\/p>\n

LeBron, Steve Nash Have High Praise for Lakers \u2018Death Lineup\u2019<\/b><\/h2>\n

James Gives Hayes his Flowers<\/b><\/h3>\n

Before discussing the Lakers\u2019 smaller lineup, James first tipped his cap to Hayes, who became LA\u2019s starting center with the departure of <\/span>Anthony Davis<\/span><\/a>. In 24 games since the team traded AD, Hayes has averaged<\/a> 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and one block on 77% shooting from the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHim stepping into that void, losing AD, it\u2019s a lot. A lot of scoring, a lot of protection defensively, a lot of rebounding, a lot of blocked shots. But I think Jaxson was like, \u2018I can\u2019t make up for that,\u2019 and we didn\u2019t ask him to make up for that. We needed Jaxson to be high-energy, be a force on offense, run [with] the bigs, great screening, lob threat. But he\u2019s just made great decisions. \u2026 Jaxson has been unbelievable in his minutes, and we\u2019re gonna need that from him. We know how it unlocks Luka as well when it comes to pick-and-roll with a lob threat. So having those minutes with Jaxson is key.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

James also noted that, with Davis gone, it has forced the rest of the Lakers<\/a> to step up defensively, which has led to a focus on their center-less lineups.<\/span><\/p>\n

LeBron on Lakers Going Small<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Lakers\u2019 \u201cposition-less lineup\u201d boasts LeBron and Luka Doncic<\/a> next to <\/span>Austin Reaves<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Dorian Finney-Smith<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Rui Hachimura<\/span><\/a>\u2014all five capable of drilling threes and switching on defense like small-ball groups of the past.<\/span><\/p>\n

In nine games together, the Lakers\u2019 \u201cdeath lineup\u201d has averaged 18.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game on .532\/.333\/.762 splits. They\u2019ve managed to record a net rating of 10.2 (113.7 offense, 103.5 defense) in that span. And since Doncic\u2019s Laker debut, LA\u2019s small-ball lineup has been one of their best in terms of <\/span>offensive<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>defensive<\/span><\/a> rating (min. five games and 35 minutes played together).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no center out there, but we\u2019re long, we\u2019re big, we\u2019re athletic, we\u2019re tough, and we\u2019re scrappy,\u201d James said. \u201cTo be able to be in the gaps, help each other, communicate\u2014even when things break down, we\u2019re able to fly around and help one another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

James then cited a sequence against the Mavericks<\/a> where LA\u2019s smaller unit proved effective, when a switch forced a missed layup that turned into a dunk and a five-point lead\u2014all with four minutes remaining in the final frame.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not about height and weight,” James added. “It\u2019s about the mind, the will, and the process that you have with your teammates out there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nash pointed out the Lakers\u2019 swarming defense on <\/span>Nikola Jokic<\/span><\/a> as another example where small-ball reigned supreme, but noted the importance of \u201c[reading] off each other\u201d to become \u201can elite defensive team.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The unit even fared well Monday against the Rockets. Finney-Smith, at times serving as LA\u2019s \u201ccenter,\u201d had his best shooting game with 20 points and six threes. As Silver Screen & Roll\u2019s Raj Chipalu <\/span>explained<\/span><\/a>, DFS\u2019s shooting will be \u201cvital to these lineups\u2019 success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Lakers small-ball lineup in last night's win over the Rockets: pic.twitter.com\/RqaE6kFVgG<\/a><\/p>\n

— PivotFade (@PivotFade) April 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n