Nuggets Vs. Lakers: Los Angeles Needs To Set Some Cross-Screens

The Los Angeles Lakers have a problem. Their post players are getting double-teamed immediately, and their perimeter players can’t hit open shots to make the Nuggets pay. This probably won’t be a problem in this round, but this will become a problem going forward.

One obvious solution is to set more cross-screens to get the big men on the move instead of just having them stand there as the guards dump the ball into the post. Basically, you send one guard to the other block to stick his body in there to slow the post defender up as your big man comes across the lane. The timing of this is tough to coordinate, but the Lakers aren’t doing it enough.

If the Lakers do it right, they can get points in the paint before the Nuggets’ double-teams come. It’s something they need to devote themselves to more consistently to mask their weak perimeter shooting.