{"id":57943,"date":"2023-11-01T10:07:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T14:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=57943"},"modified":"2023-11-01T12:52:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T16:52:07","slug":"analyzing-the-lakers-rotation-through-four-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2023\/11\/01\/analyzing-the-lakers-rotation-through-four-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Analyzing the Lakers Rotation Through Four Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of many expectations Lakers fans had for their team was excellence from Darvin Ham overseeing the new roster. Fast forward four games in, and the second-year head coach has produced mixed results. From properly utilizing <\/span>LeBron James<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Anthony Davis<\/b><\/a> to making questionable decisions that cost them games, the Lakers\u2019 rotation has some positive traits and areas of improvement early on in the season. It\u2019s worth examining both sides of the coin before the Lakers battle the Clippers in a downtown showdown Wednesday night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Analyzing the Lakers Rotation Through Four Games<\/b><\/h2>\n

What Ham Must Continue<\/b><\/h3>\n

Managing LeBron\u2019s Minutes<\/b><\/h4>\n

Since James\u2019s \u201cminutes restriction\u201d from game one, LeBron\u2019s workload has increased periodically, with James playing 39 minutes in Sacramento (including overtime) and 33 against the Orlando Magic Monday night. In that span, he averaged 23 points, nine rebounds, and six assists per game on .575\/.333\/.810 splits. The Lakers have rarely found success without James on the floor, going 44-67 without him since 2018. That could very well change this season, but it will still take time and plenty of growing pains before it happens.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the meantime, Ham and the rest of LA\u2019s staff should remain cautious about James\u2019s minutes, taking him out of the game when needed but not in clutch time situations. Ham appears to have learned his lesson since then, but fans can only hope history doesn\u2019t repeat itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two-Big Lineups with Anthony Davis and Christian Wood<\/b><\/h4>\n

We knew this would be a possibility with Davis next to <\/span>Jaxson Hayes<\/b><\/a> and Christian Wood, but we didn\u2019t know how great it would look early on. Bringing someone of Davis\u2019s caliber next to <\/span>Christian Wood<\/b><\/a> has brought great results so far. Though it\u2019s a small sample size, the duo has tallied 52 minutes together for a net rating of 29.8 (113.1 offensive, 89.3 defensive).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Anthony Davis and Christian Wood playing big-to-big basketball \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n

(via @MoDakhil_NBA<\/a>)pic.twitter.com\/QcZYmVv7tF<\/a><\/p>\n

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 27, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n