The Lakers are fresh off of a thrilling win over the Dallas Mavericks that saw Luka Doncic torch his former team and LA clinch a guaranteed playoff spot. Now, ahead of their duel against the young and hungry Houston Rockets, the purple and gold have a chance to record more history—both for themselves and one of their franchise cornerstones.
LeBron, Lakers Can Reach Two Milestones vs. Houston Rockets
James Can Eclipse Reggie Miller for Made Threes
LeBron James has reached nearly every NBA milestone imaginable throughout his career, but tonight, he has a chance to move up an esteemed list with elite company. James needs just three triples to surpass Hall-of-Famer Reggie Miller for sixth all-time in made three-pointers. Miller—a five-time All-Star and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team—drained 2,560 threes throughout his 18-year career. James, who passed the 2,500 threes mark in February, sits at 2,558 throughout his 22 seasons in the league.
The three was always in LeBron’s arsenal, but he’s come to rely on it more as a Laker compared to his stints in Cleveland and Miami. Since signing with the purple and gold in 2018, James has averaged two made threes per game in every season as a Laker, and roughly 30% of his shot attempts came from the perimeter in that span. This season, under podcast co-host turned head coach JJ Redick, LeBron has made 2.1 threes per game out of 5.7 attempts (37.8%)—honoring a request Redick made this past summer. For a team that’s notoriously struggled from distance, it’s encouraging to know that their leader can still take and make threes at a respectable clip.
Lakers Can Clinch a Top-Three Seed
Beyond LeBron, the Lakers can reach a notable mark in Redick’s inaugural season: a top-three seed in the bloodbath that is the Western Conference. This year, seeds no. 3-8 have enjoyed little separation in the standings, and there’s a chance the playoff picture could come down to Sunday’s regular season finale.
But if the Lakers take care of business against a Rockets squad ready for liftoff, they’ll finish top three with home-court advantage in the first round. Redick previously discussed the importance of home-court advantage, saying “it would be nice” to begin a series at Crypto.com Arena and nodding to LA’s successful home record, which currently stands at 30-10.
The last time the Lakers finished top-three in the West was in their 2020 championship season, when they held the top spot with a 52-19 record. Going further to a true 82-game slate, their last top-three finish came in 2012, when they lost to the Thunder in the second round, 4-1.
Redick and Lakers’ “Playoff Mentality”
Last week, Redick emphasized the “playoff mentality” the Lakers must carry in the home stretch—a message that rings true ahead of this year’s postseason.
“I think we all recognize the magnitude of each game and the urgency with which we have to play each game,” he said. “I think once you get to the playoffs, anybody who has been there, we have a bunch of guys who have won championships and a bunch of guys who have made deep playoff runs, the urgency you have to play with on each possession, that’s what’s exhausting about the playoffs.”
The Lakers have the star power and the supporting cast to make some noise in the playoffs, hoping to cap it off with an 18th banner in the rafters. There’s still a ways to go before that dream becomes reality, but they have the talent and experience to be playing in June.
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