Still early in the 2024-25 season, the Lakers have already established a winning atmosphere. They find themselves on a scorching, six-game winning streak, with two of those wins coming in the group stage games of the NBA Cup. A better, more efficient offense has fueled this streak, with the Lakers achieving a 125.7 offensive rating in these last six games.
The usual suspects of LeBron James and Anthony Davis have of course been contributors, but the rookie Dalton Knecht has emerged as an essential piece
LeBron James has distributed the ball like a true point guard. In the Lakers last six games, he has only failed to reach 12-plus assists in one outing. That game was against the New Orleans Pelicans, in which LeBron knocked down two late threes to seal the win. Having a reliable veteran like LeBron James dish 10 plus assists a night is one of the most valuable assets the Lakers have at this moment. Especially this season, as there hasn’t been many players willing to step up into the role of passing the ball for the Lakers other than guard D’Angelo Russell.
I have said before that Anthony Davis should be an MVP candidate this season, and he has continued to show us that he should. Davis is averaging an absurd 30.7 points and 11.7 boards, the second-highest points per game figure in the league behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. Davis is also seventh in rebounds per game. But most importantly, just his reliable presence night-in, night-out makes a tremendous difference for the Lakers. Davis has served as the offense’s focal point and has given the Lakers life anytime they struggle to find buckets. He consistently initiates Laker scoring runs, and he continues to dominate opponent centers.
Dalton Knecht is something special. He continues to show that 16 teams made a mistake not taking a look at the kid from Tennessee on draft night. His minutes coming off the bench have increased, and they have been well deserved. The rookie simply produces offense at an amazing rate, and in Tuesday night’s game, he scored a career-high 37 points, shooting nine for 12 from beyond the arc. Knecht made 75% of his shots as well. He is becoming an efficient, reliable movement shooter (a bit reminiscent of his coach, JJ Redick) and rarely ever loses the ball for his team, committing only three turnovers so far on the season.
But the Lakers bench continues to struggle.
The Lakers bench has not been able to contribute significantly on offense or defense. The rotation off the bench at least has a clear leader now in D’Angelo Russell, but he continues to deal with his own shooting woes. In his new bench role, D’Angelo has been seeing 25 plus minutes of action and he has already had three games in which he doesn’t surpass double digits in scoring
D’Angelo has been struggling, but there is now another player on the Lakers who can’t seem to find his rhythm yet. The Lakers signed guard Gabe Vincent to a lucrative $33 million deal over three years ahead of the 2023-24 season, with all three years and all the money guaranteed.
But Lakers fans have now begged the question if Vincent was a poor signing for the Lakers. He’s struggled with injuries, but his role hasn’t grown due to a lack of offensive production, and he isn’t a wall when it comes to defense at only 6 foot 2.
The Lakers need to address the bench problem and need to do so soon, as the Western Conference is continuing to grow stronger as the season progresses. Having depth will be key to breaking out of a crowded field in the West.