Hi, back again. This is going to be a short one because I missed the entire first half :(

Relevant threads:

AR is struggling against new defensive schemes: https://www.reddit.com/r/lakers/comments/17wgf1w/quick_observations_on_ars_struggles_this_year/

Lakers should run Motion Weak to take advantage of AR’s playmaking while avoiding early defensive pressure: https://www.reddit.com/r/lakers/comments/17xzryl/another_quick_observation_how_to_alleviate_ars/

AR is still Him when defenses fail to scheme against him: https://www.reddit.com/r/lakers/comments/1811ttm/arnalysis_ar_is_still_ar_when_teams_fail_to/

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In a first encouraging sign, the team is allowing AR to initiate offense on the catch from the weak side a lot more, instead of having him dribble up to the right side for a high PnR every single time. The ball is brought up by the other wing (LeBron, Prince) to a wing, and AR jogs to the weak side wing. The ball is then reversed to AR, and he’s attacking out of these into inside screens, staggered screens, and a nice little baseline fade away once.

It’s not exactly the sophistication of Motion Weak (which has AR running through interior screens before emerging on the weak side wing), but it essentially helps overcome AR’s struggles dealing with ball pressure and defensive traps when he has a live dribble too high, and allows him playmake from his areas of comfort right away.

Ngl, I was so excited to see that. Despite the loss, this is an encouraging sign from the coaches. I think we should stop expecting AR to demonstrate sudden athletic or dribbling brilliance to overcome the early defensive pressure 1-on-2.

Then they inexplicably went back to having him dribble up the court other times. Two contrasting plays deserve mention in particular:

3Q 1:15: AR receives the ball on the weak side after a ball reversal. AR’s man was recovering from the passing lane into on-ball position as AD sets a screen. AR’s man got caught in AD’s screen so hard they called it an offensive foul on AD. Most times, this would just be a good screen for AR to get to the foul line and work his magic.

4Q 4:10: Lakers went back to AR dribbling the ball up the court with everyone else at the 3P line or below. Mavs employ the same playbook that multiple other teams have: send Kyrie to meet AR at half court, ball gets poked away, 8-sec violation.

Hopefully, we’ll see more of AR attacking out of a ball reversal to the weak side. Without more sophisticated offense though, this does mean that they’ll need to play him alongside another player who can force the ball up the court a la a LeBron. Not sure if its wise to add on to Bron’s minutes like that.

Some other observations:

1. Bad 3P shot by AR 5 seconds before the end of 3Q with multiple defenders around him. Though the intention is to draw a foul and convert a potential low percentage heave into high percentage FTs, he has to be more aware whether he is getting a superstar whistle or not. Not terrible though, the idea is great.
2. A sign of dealing with POA pressure. Mavs blitzed AR at 4Q 9:26, and he made a quick pass to a cutting Hayes, who got fouled as defenders scrambled to recover. Subsequently, the ball was taken out of bounds, AR got to his foul line spot and drew a foul as he’s been so good at doing.
3. General 4Q aggressiveness leading to FTs and other goodies, including that fearless transition layup with 2:00 to go to tie the game. Noticed one good defensive possession on a Kyrie iso too.
4. Setting great screens while getting bumped around like a rag doll just to force a switch of Kyrie onto LeBron in 4Q, though it led to a missed AR 3.

AR is also that guy who’ll take every half court heave for the team without worrying about the impact on his 3P%. Had he made that buzzer beater, he would’ve become the team’s leading scorer at halftime and have an FG% > 50%.

As it stands, AR is the highest Lakers scorer outside of LBJ and only 1 of 2 Lakers with an FG% 50% or higher this game.