The Lakers lost their first two games of the season – against the Warriors and the Clippers. These two games exposed a glaring issue for the purple and gold which is lack of shooting.
Los Angeles is currently making just 22.4% of their three-pointers. Lakers legend James Worthy said after the Clippers game that the team needs to make moves and add shooting to the roster.
Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith was even more dramatic. He sounded the alarm on the Lakers, saying that if no deal is made to improve the shooting, the team is facing a disaster.
“Rob Pelinka, I don’t give a damn about his contract extension. He got do something with this roster because, again, they play hard, they’re athletic, I like what Darvin Ham’s doing, I like the energy and zest and fervy he’s getting out of them,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take.
“LeBron James and Anthony Davis they’re kicking it out to open shooters y’all. They ain’t making open shots, they missing open shots. That is not something you can rectify. If you can’t shoot, you can’t shoot.
“You better get a deal done because this is on the verge of a disaster. Lakers season might be over before the Thanksgiving.”
Smith also ranted about the Lakers lack of shooters on another show. He made a point about how shooting is essential in today’s game, yet that is precisely what the purple and gold do not have.
“Can you even explain how in the year 2022 with the way the game has evolved and what we know is need, how the Lakers, the one thing they don’t have is the one thing every team knows they need which is shooters?” he said on ESPN’s NBA Countdown. “How do you go into this season and not have a single damn shooter? How?! How?! It is inexcusable.”
