Darvin Ham, the Los Angeles Lakers’ coach, decided to make changes to the starting lineup after a recent four-game losing streak. However, the adjustment took an unexpected turn as neither Austin Reaves nor D’Angelo Russell, both of whom started the season as starters, were part of the new lineup. Instead, non-shooter Jarred Vanderbilt joined LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Taurean Prince, and Cam Reddish in the starting five.

The initial on-court results were somewhat positive, with the new lineup outscoring Oklahoma City by one point in around nine minutes of play. The Lakers managed to win the game 129-120, and the team, including Russell, expressed satisfaction with the result.

However, concerns arise regarding the lineup’s flaws, particularly in terms of spacing. The lineup lacks shooting, with Prince, Reddish, and Vanderbilt having limited 3-point attempts in their careers. This deficiency in spacing could pose challenges for LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who excelled in a more shooter-friendly lineup when the Lakers won the championship in 2020.

While the defensive improvement is a theoretical benefit of the new lineup, the offensive limitations, especially in ball-handling and spacing, may outweigh the gains on the defensive end. 

The article suggests that the Lakers might be taking a risk by playing a lineup with such little shooting, especially given Coach Ham’s reluctance to make further changes. The team’s current record is 16-14, and they are tied with the 11th-seeded Suns in the loss column, indicating the potential risk of falling further down the standings.

The article speculates on the possibility of a trade to address the lineup’s flaws, possibly bringing in a new secondary ball-handler. However, the concern is that waiting for a trade while playing a flawed lineup might negatively impact the Lakers’ standing in the league.