To say that things have been challenging for the Los Angeles Lakers in this recent stretch would be an understatement. The Lakers have lost a considerable amount of the momentum they built up during their eight-game winning streak when things were firing on all cylinders. There is one worrisome trend, through the highs and lows, emerging from LeBron James in the process that should have all parties involved concerned.
James was a large pillar of the success that the Lakers were enjoying with him and Luka Doncic leading the way. For Los Angeles to feel good about where they stand heading into the 2025 NBA Playoffs, these last nine games for LeBron need to be a step in the right direction.
James has notably fallen off in one major category
James has only been back in the lineup for four games since injuring his groin against the Boston Celtics in their matchup on Mar. 8. Any poor performances since that return can be attributed to rust and getting up to speed after experiencing the ailment.
Unfortunately for James, this trend extends further than just his recent games. Over his last 10 games overall, the all-time great is shooting an incredibly underwhelming 25.4 percent from beyond the arc. James has only connected on 15 of his 59 attempts from distance.
This is particularly worrisome because James had established himself as an otherwise great shooter on the whole of the 2024-25 NBA season. The Lakers superstar has connected on 37.3 percent of his triples this season, knocking down 2.1 of his 5.8 attempts per game. Those averages were naturally higher before this current slump.
The reason why this is so concerning revolves around the type of offense that Los Angeles has played since acquiring Doncic. The Lakers guard is fantastic at drawing in defenses and creating easy looks for his teammates. That has shifted Los Angeles to a much more perimeter-oriented offense.
The Lakers have attempted 45.1 percent of their total field goals from beyond the arc in the last 10 games. That ranks them 8th in the NBA over that span. Those triples have accounted for 38.7 percent of their offensive points scored.
Doncic is capable of creating those opportunities for his teammates. However, if no one is there to maximize them, then not only is that approach far less effective than it could be, but it also tightens up the spacing for Luka attacking the interior.
If the Lakers want to hold onto the idea of being a championship contender, James will need to shake off the rust quickly. At the very least, the Lakers superstar needs to do it before the NBA Playoffs. Los Angeles cannot dream of competing for a title if their second-best player is unable to reignite the spark from downtown.
