The Lakers are looking to bounce back from the disappointment of being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season.
In the offseason, the Lakers largely retained their original team, but the Olympic performance suggests that the Lakers may not be far from a better result.
In the Olympic competition of the United States team, James and Davis look like two of the world's top superstars. The better news for Lakers fans is that the Lakers' new head coach JJ · Redick could perfectly replicate the way United States head coach Kerr used James and Davis.
James' reverse pick-and-roll
In the Olympic warm-up match and the first game, James can be called the captain of the United States. He is averaging 14.2 points per game while shooting a staggering 60.9 percent from the field.
When you see James' unstoppable look as he breaks through, it's not so surprising that this high shooting percentage. He was able to burst inside as he pleased, thanks to Kerr's reverse pick-and-roll strategy, with James as the ball handler and Curry as the screen.
Speaking on his "Mind the Game" podcast, Redick called this reverse pick-and-roll one of the hardest tactics in the NBA to defend. It's a great tactic against small defenders, and when they have to help defend James, there's no chance of being able to defend against James. At the same time, it also creates an opportunity for Curry to pop out of the cover.
Of course, the Lakers don't have players like Curry, but they have Austin · Reaves and D'Angelo · Russell, who are good at three-point shooting, and they can emulate this tactic. Redick is likely to use this tactic frequently next season, allowing James to continue to show his dominance as a breakout.
Weiss unlocks passing skills with the United States men's basketball team
Davis also performed well in the United States Olympics, leading the team with 3.0 blocks and 9.8 rebounds per game. Davis was unbeatable on the court, and he even outperformed United States starting center Embiid.
One way Kerr has made the most of Davis is by putting him on the court as a passer.
A signature tactic of the Golden State Warriors, derived from the Phil · Jackson era of the Bulls, is known as the "WTF." The tactic involved a complex series of off-ball screen maneuvers, giving the Warriors countless layups and open three-point opportunities. Kerr brought this tactic to the Olympics, and Davis excelled as a passer in it.
Davis' role in passing coincides with Redick's reference to what he likes to do with big man players on the "Mind the Game" show. Redick called the Warriors' "split-cut" tactics blocking because big men like Draymond · Green can choose to either stand up and attack or pass with screens.
Last season, the Lakers didn't use the "split-cut" tactic too often and didn't use Davis as a passer, but his performance at the Olympics proved that he has what it takes. Redick should learn from Kerr and try to get Davis in that role next season.
Davis and James have both shown the level of the world's top players in different systems, which bodes well for the Lakers. Redick and Kerr share a lot in common in basketball philosophies, so their success at the Olympics may also be reflected in the NBA.
For the Lakers to go far in the playoffs, it may only take a simple coach change to make it happen. And Redick is likely to be the one who will lead the Lakers back to the top.
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