“I think we were shooting 20%, and today we shot 26%, so today we got better” - LA Lakers’ guard gives deadpan response to the team’s shooting woes as they start season with four losses in a row
The LA Lakers' horrendous early-season shooting continued on Wednesday night in the team’s 110-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers finished the game shooting at just 8 for 30 (26.7%) from 3-point range, bringing their 3-point shooting total to just 33 for 148 (22.3%) through four games.
That leaves them ranked dead last in the NBA in terms of team 3-point percentage, a full 5% below the 29th-ranked rebuilding OKC Thunder (27.3%). The Lakers are also currently the 15th seed in the Western Conference with an 0-4 record.
Many fans are both concerned and annoyed following the Lakers’ poor start. Meanwhile, the Lakers have become the butt of many jokes. Lakers players should probably be embarrassed given the teams’ playoff aspirations. However, Lakers veteran guard Patrick Beverley has instead decided to join in on the jokes.
When asked about the LA Lakers’ 26.7% 3-point shooting performance, Beverley highlighted that it was an improvement over their season average.
“Well, I think we were shooting 20%, and today we shot 26%. So today we got better."
Pat Beverley, asked about how the Lakers continue to fight through shooting woes: "Well I think we were shooting 20%, and today we shot 26%. So today we got better."
Patrick Beverley was not entirely accurate with his numbers, but he was pretty close. At 25-for-118 (21.2%) from 3 entering Wednesday’s game, the team was able to improve upon their season average. However, considering that they went from shooting 21.2% for the season to just 22.3%, that’s not really something to celebrate about.
Beverley was obviously being sarcastic though as there isn’t much else to say. Beverley is one of the Lakers’ key rotation players who is bringing the team's 3-point shooting average down too, making the quote even funnier.
Through four games, Beverley has averaged just 5.3 points and 2.8 assists while shooting just 21.1% from the field and 18.8% from deep. It's not an encouraging start considering Beverley is a career 37.6% 3-point shooter. The Lakers acquired him, in part, for his shooting and veteran leadership.
Do the LA Lakers have any hope to turn their season around?
The LA Lakers may be 0-4 but it’s still too early in the season to write them off completely. Despite having the worst offense in the league, the Lakers still have the fourth-best team defense with a 104 defensive rating. The team also still has a couple of star caliber players in LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Plus, the Lakers still have their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks as trade ammunition. So, they will almost certainly make a move to improve their offense, especially considering that they can’t even tank this season. The 3-1 New Orleans Pelicans have the right to swap picks with the Lakers in 2023, so tanking would be pointless.
But before the LA Lakers can make some moves to improve their shooting, they will have to make some key changes to their offense. First and foremost, they will have to stop shooting so many 3s. Despite ranking 30th in terms of team 3-point percentage at 22.3%, the Lakers still rank ninth in 3-pointers attempted per game at 37.
Considering the Lakers' roster has been constructed with essentially no shooting, they have no business shooting this many 3s. The team will have to reconsider their game plan and start playing to their strengths if they hope to start winning any time soon.