LeBron James did not sugarcoat his assessment of the Lakers’ shooting struggles after a 123-109 loss to the Warriors in Wednesday’s season opener.
But unfortunately for James and the Lakers, the shooting is just the beginning of their problems.
“We’re getting great looks, but it could also be teams giving us great looks,” James said postgame at the Chase Center.
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“To be completely honest, we’re not a team that’s constructed of great shooting and that’s just the truth of the matter. It’s not like we’re sitting here with a lot of lasers on our team.
“But that doesn’t deter us from still trying to get great shots. When you get those opportunities, you take them. We’re not sitting here with a bunch of 40-plus [percent] career three point shooting guys.”
James recorded 31 points on 12-of-25 shooting (3-of-10 from three) to go with 14 rebounds and eight assists. The Lakers were 10-of-40 from three in the opener, with Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis a combined 1-of-6 from deep.
Davis tallied 27 points (0-of-3 from three), six rebounds and four steals in the loss.
Westbrook, who has been limited due to a hamstring injury, added 19 points (1-of-3 from three), 11 rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers are aware that 3-point shooting is a weakness for their current roster. They finished the preseason with a 3-point shooting percentage of 28.6% that ranked 26th among the 30 NBA teams.
During media day, vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said, “I think in terms of shooting, we know that’s a needed skill.”
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The Lakers ranked bottom-10 in three-point shooting in 2021-22, and failed to pick up any sharpshooters over the summer, which was flooded with questions about retooling their roster following a disastrous 33-49 record last season.
Los Angeles also did not retain any of their top three-point shooters in Malik Monk (Kings) and free agents, Carmelo Anthony and Wayne Ellington.
James (34.6 percent), along with Patrick Beverley (37.7 percent), and Kendrick Nunn (36.5 percent), currently own the highest career three-point shooting percentages on the roster.
As if the team’s shooting woes were not enough of a problem to deal with, the Lakers also have to work out what to do with Westbrook.
While Westbrook started on Wednesday, there were reports that he could come off the bench at points in the season, like he did in the Lakers’ final preseason game.
Westbrook tweaked his hamstring only five minutes into that game though and told reporters after the loss to the Warriors’ that coming off the bench contributed to that.
“Absolutely,” Westbrook said.
“I’ve been doing the same thing for 14 years straight. Honestly, I didn’t even know what to do pregame. Being honest, I was trying to figure out how to stay warm and loose. For me, obviously the way I play the game, it’s fast-paced, quick, stop-and-go.
“And I just happened to, when I subbed in, I felt something. Thought it was… I didn’t know what it was, but I wasn’t going to risk it in a preseason game. But definitely wasn’t something I was used to. Wasn’t warm enough. But that’s something I just wasn’t accustomed to.”
Richard Jefferson said on ESPN that Westbrook was “sending a message” to Lakers powerbrokers and a clear one at that.
“He was sending a message that ‘if you guys try and do this… this is what’s gonna go down… if I’m starting and I’m probable, then I won’t be there to start the season’ and then that becomes a distraction and the ball starts to move a little bit faster,” Jefferson said.
“This was a message.”
Charles Barkley, meanwhile, said that while Westbrook may have been part of the problem, too much blame has been placed on his shoulders.
“They have taken all his joy out of life and basketball,” he said.
“The Lakers stink.” He [Westbrook] used to be so exuberant. The wear and tear mentally… playing with Patrick Beverley…he’s going to get the blame no matter what. They scapegoated him last year.”
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