Top 5 talking points from LA Lakers' 2021-22 NBA preseason

#3 Continued shooting woes

Malik Monk is one of the best shooters on the LA Lakers' roster.

One of the biggest setbacks for the LA Lakers in the 2020-21 season was their shooting from the outside. Shooting a miserable 35.4% from beyond the arc, the Lakers struggled to keep up with the style of play suited to the modern NBA.

In the 2021 offseason, the Lakers attempted to address their shooting woes by adding solid three-point threats. With talented shooters such as Wayne Ellington, Malik Monk and Kent Bazemore, the Lakers have added some firepower to their ranks.

However, the preseason saw some of their shooting woes left unaddressed. Malik Monk emerged as a legitimate threat, shooting 47.1% from the three-point territory in the three games he played. Austin Reaves also shot well from behind the arc at 42.9%. However, the rest of the team continued to underwhelm.

With a 34.3% shooting average from beyond the arc during the preseason, the LA Lakers have a lot to work on. Whether this trend will change as the LA Lakers' offensive schemes start to fall into place remains to be seen, though.

The reality of the situation is that the Lakers may not enjoy as much success from behind the arc as they initially expected.

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#2 Anthony Davis needs to be aggressive

Anthony Davis in action at the LA Lakers vs Phoenix Suns preseason game

A big topic of discussion heading into the 2021-22 season was the expectations from Anthony Davis to perform this season. As a crucial piece of the LA Lakers, Davis will be asked to contribute to the team at both ends of the floor.

As a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and one of the most skilled big men in the game, Davis has to carry a significant load for the Lakers. Having missed a large part of the 2020-21 season due to injury, Davis came into the season looking to establish himself as a dominant big man in the league.

However, that was not apparent during the offseason. Davis strayed around the mid-range instead of dominating on the low block. As he continues to struggle with his mid-range shot, his misses could stagnate the Lakers' offensive runs.

The inconsistency in Davis' playing intensity affected his defensive performance as well. Although Davis put up the numbers to showcase his proficiency, watching him play was a different proposition. An average of 14.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game for an All-Star is not going to cut it.

His intensity at both ends of the floor will likely determine how well the LA Lakers perform during the 2021-22 season. As the future of the franchise, Davis has to bring his A-game to the fore every night.

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#1 Developing chemistry in the LA Lakers' Big Three

The LA Lakers' new Big Three, nicknamed 3-6-0. [Source: The Sportsrush]

With the addition of Russell Westbrook to the side, it became more or less understood that the LA Lakers were going to be a running team. With Westbrook running the offense at a blistering pace, building chemistry between players who would know their positions and the timing of drop passes would be key.

LeBron James served as the primary point guard for the Purple and Gold. Making the transition to playing off the ball may take some time longer, though. However, there is definite progress in building on-court chemistry.

While Westbrook struggled on his debut with the Lakers, he is slowly finding his feet as the team is beginning to adjust to him. James and Westbrook exhibited great communication and chemistry on fast breaks.

Although Davis and Westbrook struggled initially, the loss against the Sacramento Kings had moments where the two appeared to be on the same page. The partnership showed signs of potential and provided a glimpse of how well the team could come together around the core of the Big Three.

While Westbrook is still turnover-prone and tends to throw stray passes, the LA Lakers will look to continue adjusting to their newly acquired superstar.

It remains to be seen when the Purple and Gold would hit their stride this season. However, considering all the tools at their disposal, if all the pieces in their roster begin to click, the Lakers will fancy their chances of an 18th NBA title in the 2021-22 campaign.