The Lakers are on the brink of a must-win situation. Down 0-2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their second-round playoff series, Los Angeles heads home for Game 3 on Saturday—and Game 4 on Monday—knowing that no NBA team has ever climbed out of a 0-3 hole. While the 18-point losses in Games 1 and 2 suggest a wide gap, there's a feeling the Lakers are closer to a breakthrough than the scoreboard shows. To keep their season alive, here are three adjustments they need to make for Game 3.
1. Unleash the Zone Defense
The Lakers spent much of the regular season leaning on a zone defense—they ranked third in the NBA in zone usage, allowing just 0.955 points per possession (sixth-best in the league). Yet, in the playoffs, they've abandoned it entirely. That's a mistake. The Thunder faced the second-most zone defense this season, and their efficiency dropped to 1.005 points per possession (20th in the NBA), compared to 1.039 against man-to-man (second-best). By mixing in zone looks, the Lakers can disrupt Oklahoma City's rhythm and force them out of their comfort zone.
2. Rethink the Double Team Strategy
The Lakers have successfully limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander by sending two defenders his way, holding him to 20 points, four assists, and five turnovers per game through the first two contests. Mission accomplished, right? Not quite. The problem is that the "others" have stepped up when the Lakers rotate. In the playoffs, the Thunder are scoring a staggering 1.75 points per possession when opponents double-team their isolations—the highest mark in the league. Over the regular season and playoffs combined, that number sits at 1.286. The Lakers need to pick their spots more carefully, perhaps staying home on shooters and forcing Gilgeous-Alexander into tougher one-on-one shots.
3. Control the Tempo and Protect the Paint
The Thunder thrive in transition and love to attack the rim. In Games 1 and 2, the Lakers allowed Oklahoma City to dictate the pace, leading to easy buckets and wide-open looks from deep. For Game 3, Los Angeles must slow the game down, prioritize defensive rebounds, and limit second-chance points. On offense, they need to feed Anthony Davis early and often, drawing fouls and forcing the Thunder's bigs into foul trouble. If the Lakers can establish a half-court grind and keep the crowd at Crypto.com Arena engaged, they'll have a fighting chance to steal one and shift the momentum.
The Lakers have the talent and the home crowd—now it's about execution. Game 3 is a must-win, and these adjustments could be the key to turning the series around.