Lakers’ Jake LaRavia must make crucial last-minute fix to avoid playoff disaster
When the Los Angeles Lakers signed Jake LaRavia, the hope appeared to be that they have been addressing the necessity for a 3-and-D wing. LaRavia had confirmed himself as an environment friendly shooter and aggressive defender who match the wants of the staff and the tradition JJ Redick was constructing.
Although LaRavia has delivered in an encouraging variety of areas throughout his first season with the Lakers, he’ll want to make a last-minute fix to his bounce shot or threat being benched within the playoffs.
LaRavia completed the 2024-25 season capturing 42.3 % from past the arc. He transformed simply 0.9 three-point subject objectives per recreation, however his potential to knock down the pictures he tried drastically enhanced his worth and made him a perfect match for the Lakers.
Unfortunately, LaRavia has transformed simply 32.0 % of his three-point subject purpose makes an attempt in 2025-26, thus damaging the Lakers’ hopes of checking the 3-and-D field.
LaRavia shot 43.9 % on catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25, however is down to 31.4 % in 2025-26. He additionally buried 45.5 % of his wide-open threes in 2024-25, however has once more declined to 30.9 % in 2025-26.
LaRavia’s capturing woes have not offset his worth to the Lakers, however when the postseason rolls round and the flexibility to knock down open pictures turns into a useful potential, the concentration is going to shine on him.
Lakers want Jake LaRavia to fix his jumper or threat postseason benching
It’s an unlucky story as outdated because the three-point revolution: Teams with non-shooters alongside the perimeter battle to persistently play them within the playoffs. Whether truthful or foul, it is a growth that takes maintain when defenders start to cheat off of inefficient gamers and pressure offenses to play 4-on-5.
The unsustainability of such an strategy, in addition to the fixed double groups the first ball handlers face, inevitably trigger coaches to adapt or face the elevated threat of defeat.
It’s a maybe unfair outcome, as gamers who supply worth in different phases of the sport are successfully neutralized by a singular weak point. Given the historical past of such a growth taking maintain, it is truthful to consider LaRavia may endure such a destiny if he cannot not less than sometimes punish nonchalant defenders.
If he is in a position to uncover not less than some extent of the shape he displayed a mere season in the past, nevertheless, LaRavia may play huge minutes for the Lakers within the playoffs.
In that situation, he’d not solely additional solidify his place as a constructing block, however allow the Lakers to maximize their defensive potential. If he is unable to shoot with something resembling effectivity, nevertheless, then defenders will start to sag off of him, the celebrities could have narrower driving lanes, and head coach JJ Redick can be pressured to make a difficult decision.
It’s too late within the season to consider LaRavia can rediscover his elite effectivity from a season in the past, but when he can merely discover a affordable center floor, he can safe his place within the Lakers’ playoff rotation.
