The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 112-109 despite the absence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Former Los Angeles Lakers great James Worthy coined the ideal metaphor for the team’s philosophy. According to Worthy (via Lakers Daily),

“When you enter the classroom, the teachers are not present. You’re going to have a good time.”

On defense, the Lakers were aggressive, and on the attack, they moved the ball nicely. Los Angeles Lakers took the lead four minutes into the first quarter and kept it until seven minutes into the third.

The Heat maintained their lead and led by as much as six points with eight minutes remaining in the game.

The Los Angeles Lakers held off the Miami Heat with some tough plays in the fourth quarter, spearheaded by Dennis Schroder and Thomas Bryant’s 25 combined points. The former had 32 points and four steals while shooting 53.3% from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, while the latter had 21 points and nine rebounds while shooting 81.8%.

Russell Westbrook also contributed significantly, tallying 21 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, and three steals. His disruptive defensive performance and playmaking came in useful, aiding the Lakers’ victory.

Los Angeles Lakers players once again shown that they are just a few improvements away

The Los Angeles Lakers rely on LeBron James and Anthony Davis to help them win games on a continuous basis. Both players, though, are prone to injury, and their absence has hindered the squad over the previous two years. To compete with the best in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers’ current squad sorely needs improvements.

There are concerns that any personnel alterations can propel them to contender status. Their performance against a healthy Miami Heat squad, on the other hand, should be enough to persuade their head management to make moves and strengthen the club.

The Lakers have demonstrated the appropriate approach several times, but they lack the necessary tools to prevail. Los Angeles Lakers are still one of the league’s smallest teams. They are also one of the poorest three-point shooting teams in the league.

Other teams that have found success with decent 3-point shooters and length in the wings include the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, and New Orleans Pelicans. To get to where they are now, these clubs have strengthened their rosters during the previous two offseasons.

The Los Angeles Lakers must do the same, especially with LeBron James and Anthony Davis playing All-NBA when healthy. They also have other players performing consistently well, including as Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schroder, so a couple more excellent signings might help the squad turn things around.

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