The Los Angeles Lakers snagged one of the most sought out players of free agency, LeBron James, many know his ability and stats, but can his stats alone help the Lakers?
Last season, the Lakers had a decent overall season record of 35-47 putting them just three spots shy of making the playoffs
At the time, the Lakers had a starting line-up consisting of Lonzo Ball at point guard, Brandon Ingram at shooting guard, Luol Deng at small forward, Larry Nance Jr. at power forward, and Brook Lopez at center.
Looking at last seasons starting line-up their combined stats from the 2018 season averaged 48 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from the 3-point line, and 50.3 percent from the free throw line.
Adding James into the line-up along with other NBA veterans, like Javale McGee at center and adding talent to the bench like Rajon Rondo, Michael Beasley, and Lance Stephenson, statistically should increase the teams proficiency.
Taking the newly formed starting five line-up for the upcoming 2018 season and gathering their stats from their former team and averaging them together, we have a line-up of Ball at point guard, James at shooting guard, Ingram at small forward, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at power forward, and McGee at center.
Their combined stats for the upcoming season are predicted as shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 28.9 percent from 3-point line, and 67.6 percent from the free throw line.
Looking at the stats and comparing them, the 2018-2019 Lakers would be shooting 4.7 percent less than last years team but they would be topping their 3-point percentage by three percent and an astonishing 17.3 percent from the free throw line.
Statistically James and other players coming into the team over the summer have increased what last years team lacked but also dropped their field goal percentage, but with the off stat.
These off stat. qualities in each player can include player IQ, playmaking and attitude.
These characteristics are crucial to what a player can bring to not only his individual play, but can also have a lasting effect on the team which consequently rises stats.
Another factor affecting the outcome of the upcoming season has a lot to do with the Head coach Luke Walton.
Depending on what set plays Walton decides to use will undoubtedly determine which plays will be run, resulting in different players having a higher percentage of shooting.
Teams all around the NBA have also done some recruiting this off season making the western conference a harder play off bracket the eastern conference making playing in the west harder so you can count on seeing some high numbers being put up on the stat. sheet and lower percentages.
Team chemistry differs from team to team allowing for more ball movement and having more points put up on the board.
Changing the way the game was played last season to this season more team play causes more shots increasing or decreasing their numbers.
For now NBA fans will have to wait till the start of the NBA season to see what the Lakers can really do.
