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Lakers Nation > Blog > Lakers News > Luke Walton Believes Lakers Offense Will ‘Be At Our Best’ When Playing Selfless Instead Of Focusing On 1-On-1 Matchups
Lakers News

Luke Walton Believes Lakers Offense Will ‘Be At Our Best’ When Playing Selfless Instead Of Focusing On 1-On-1 Matchups

Corey Hansford
Published: 09/22/2018
3 Min Read
Luke Walton, Los Angeles Lakers
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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Last season, head coach Luke Walton pushed hard to establish an identity with the Los Angeles Lakers of defensive intensity and selfless, ball-movement basketball on offense. With the addition of LeBron James to the team this summer, Walton sees that as even more important to the success of the Lakers.

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As opposed to surrounding James with shooters, which has been the plan for his teams in yaers past, the Lakers instead surrounded him with other playmakers in order to relieve some of the pressure on James to create for everyone.

Now it’s on Walton to relay that message of selflessness to his team. In the “Connected With…Luke Walton” episode on Spectrum SportsNet, he spoke about the importance of the Lakers playing for each other as opposed to trying to go one-on-one:

“That’s when we’re going to be at our best. We have a lot of really good players. It can’t be, it won’t be, taking turns going 1-on-1; we like your matchup, we like that matchup. It’s going to be an attack in waves as a group, making plays for each other. When it’s appropriate, when the time’s appropriate, that’s when we’ll take advantage of what we feel are mismatches in our favor.”

With the likes James, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma among others, the Lakers have a number of players capable of getting their own shots. However, if they are able to use those skills to break down the defense in order to create for others, it will result in easy looks for everyone.

That is the mindset Walton wants on this team. Walton has already done a tremendous job establishing that culture as the Lakers ranked seventh in the NBA in assists last season. Now he plans on building on that foundation to ensure L.A. reaches their potential and becomes a force this season.

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TAGGED:Los Angeles LakersLuke Walton
ByCorey Hansford
Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.
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