Is it possible that the Los Angeles Lakers have solved one of their (many) problems?
One of the most annoying and recurrent themes of this season is that the Lakers are experts at blowing the third quarter. Again and again, LA has either given up a lead or moved further away from one in the third.
This was never more apparent than when they gave up 42 points (!!!) in the third quarter to the Timberwolves earlier this season. Over all, the Lakers were ranked 29th in net rating and defensive rating in 3rd quarters during the first 15 games of the season.
But take heart! Things are maybe turning around. Take a look at this chart of LA's third quarters and pay particular attention to the right side of the graph.
As you can see, things are looking a lot better for the third.
LA still has a long way to go but they are making up a lot of ground during this time of the game. The numbers speak for themselves: over the last seven games, the team has posted an offensive rating of 113.5, a defensive rating of 101.2 and a net rating of 12.4 in third frames. Not amazing but a huge improvement.
LeBron had this to say after a victory against the Pistons:
"In the third quarter, we got defensive stops, we rebounded and we were able to get out in transition. We shared the ball, we got the ball moving from side to side and we just played with great pace. Those are pretty good ingredients to us having a good third quarter. Coming into tonight, we won five of our last eight third quarters, this makes it six of nine and hopefully we’re going to continue that trend.”
He's right: the team has definitely taken a new approach and a new ferocity when it comes to the third quarter. Based on the numbers alone, the Lakers are quickly figuring out how to keep their inertia and stamina going in the third frame. What was once a death zone for defense is now becoming a productive, promising part of the game for the team.
But the problems don't end there. When you look at the last few games, you can see that the fourth quarter is now becoming the troubling portion of the game for LA. The struggles never seem to stop for the purple and gold.
Is it possible that the Los Angeles Lakers have solved one of their (many) problems?
One of the most annoying and recurrent themes of this season is that the Lakers are experts at blowing the third quarter. Again and again, LA has either given up a lead or moved further away from one in the third.
This was never more apparent than when they gave up 42 points (!!!) in the third quarter to the Timberwolves earlier this season. Over all, the Lakers were ranked 29th in net rating and defensive rating in 3rd quarters during the first 15 games of the season.
But take heart! Things are maybe turning around. Take a look at this chart of LA's third quarters and pay particular attention to the right side of the graph.
As you can see, things are looking a lot better for the third.
LA still has a long way to go but they are making up a lot of ground during this time of the game. The numbers speak for themselves: over the last seven games, the team has posted an offensive rating of 113.5, a defensive rating of 101.2 and a net rating of 12.4 in third frames. Not amazing but a huge improvement.
LeBron had this to say after a victory against the Pistons:
He's right: the team has definitely taken a new approach and a new ferocity when it comes to the third quarter. Based on the numbers alone, the Lakers are quickly figuring out how to keep their inertia and stamina going in the third frame. What was once a death zone for defense is now becoming a productive, promising part of the game for the team.
But the problems don't end there. When you look at the last few games, you can see that the fourth quarter is now becoming the troubling portion of the game for LA. The struggles never seem to stop for the purple and gold.
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