What should the Lakers worry about most in the playoffs? NBA scouting: James Doncic will be targeted on the defensive end

ESPN believes that in this year's playoffs, the difference between teams with interior advantage and teams with no interior advantage could be a key factor in determining the direction of the game. This is especially true for the Lakers, who are currently using an outside-based system that fits the characteristics of the team's current roster.

Over the past two months, coach Redick has been working hard to strategize the right distribution of the ball among his team's scorers while compensating for the Lakers' lack of interior height.

An executive from another team said: "Historically, Luka Doncic has always had great seasons with the big men around him. The same goes for James Harden, who can make the most of the value of a center player. Zubac's explosion this season has benefited from this. The Lakers have Hachimura and Finney-Smith in cameo center, and their technical traits can easily be improved by Doncic. It will ultimately depend on whether Hachimura and Finney-Smith can score those goals. ”

The Lakers' lack of a true center is mitigated in part by their excellent height at all positions. Austin Reaves is 1.96 meters tall and is often the shortest player on the court for the Lakers. Vincent, who is 1.88 meters tall, and Goodwin, who is 1.93 meters tall, are the two toughest players in the Lakers' regular rotation, and this is part of Redick's strategy to make up for the team's lack of traditional rim protection.

Doncic, James and Reaves have also greatly improved the team's strength on the periphery. Since the trade deadline, instead of being diminished by his role behind two ball-dominant superstars, Reaves has played the best basketball of his career. For example, since Doncic's promotional debut on Feb. 11, Reaves has seen an increase in the number of three-point shots and shooting percentages. "The Lakers have more offensive playmakers than most opponents," said one veteran scout. It's a headache when playing against them. ”

However, there is still a lack of individual defensive ability in the Lakers' lineup. Redick crafted a system that worked during the regular season, and it paid off. However, when it comes to the playoffs, other teams are likely to go on offense against James, Doncic and Reaves, and how will the Lakers deal with this situation in what could be a two-month playoff battle?

The scout added: "Doncic has to defend the opponent, which can make him too physically exhausted. When James is on the weak side, he switches defenses so he doesn't have to run too much. I've seen him do that a few times in one offensive round. In the playoffs, you'll see other teams target James and Doncic and get them into a pick-and-roll. ”

"The problem with James is that he doesn't foul easily, and opponents can score in front of him in the right matchup. In the playoffs, if the opponent is properly staffed, he can be targeted on the defensive end. James is amazing, there's no doubt about that, but it's a real concern. ”