The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the final stretch of what has thus far been a remarkable season. At 43-27, the Lakers are on pace to win 50 games, which would mark their highest win total since the championship campaign in 2019-20.
Unfortunately, Los Angeles is just 3-6 over its past nine outings—due in no small part to the injuries they were forced to overcome.
The good news is that both Rui Hachimura and LeBron James returned to the rotation on Saturday, Mar. 22. The bad news is that Los Angeles fell 146-115 to the Chicago Bulls in a game that was defined by a second half during which it was outscored 81-53.
The loss revealed an unfortunate truth about the Lakers' current predicament: Their issues are bigger than the injuries they've been forced to overcome.
Los Angeles has looked the part of a truly elite team over the past two months, boasting a record of 23-10 since Jan. 15. That success began before the acquisition of Luka Doncic and has continued with the five-time All-NBA First Team honoree in the fold.
If the Lakers are going to overcome their poor play against Chicago, however, then it will start with remembering what helped get them to the dance: Improved play from the second unit.
Lakers must value its depth to return to winning ways
Chicago blitzed Los Angeles in a way that few teams have been able to since the calendar turned over to 2025. The obvious counter would be that the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Lakers 118-89 the previous time out, but Jaxson Hayes was the only starter who played in that game.
As such, the most important lesson to be learned from recent results is that the purple and gold needs to get back to valuing its second unit.
When Los Angeles defeated the Denver Nuggets on Mar. 19, three different reserves scored in double figures. In the game prior, both Dalton Knecht and Gabe Vincent played upward of 20 minutes and tallied double-digit scoring numbers.
The absences of Hachimura and James played a part in their elevated roles and shot attempts, but the Lakers can't afford to move away from a strategy that works for them.
Against the Bulls, that's exactly what happened. Hachimura was the only reserve who attempted more than four shot attempts, and he's soon to return to the starting lineup once he gets back into game shape after an extended injury absence.
It was a disastrous game on every level, but one can't help but notice how the Lakers have been down this road before.
Los Angeles ranks No. 28 in the NBA in both bench points and second-unit field goal attempts per game. It makes sense on some level, as the reserves lean more toward the defensive, but players such as Knecht, Vincent, and Jarred Vanderbilt have proven capable of scoring at respectable levels in recent weeks.
If the Lakers want to get back to their world-beating ways, then enabling the second unit to receive consistent touches and shot attempts will be crucial.
