The Los Angeles Lakers’ starting lineup just hit a mind-blowing 54.3 net rating in 37 minutes, a number that’s straight-up unheard of in the early NBA season. After only eight games, Head Coach JJ Redick’s squad has already seen its share of roster disruption, but this particular shuffle is paying off in ridiculous ways.
The Lineup Swap That Blew Up
Ziaire Williams, who was impressing as a starter to kick off the season, was sidelined for three games with left foot soreness. When he was made active again for Monday’s 138-117 victory over the Miami Heat, Williams didn’t start. Instead, Jake LaRavia held onto his spot, coming off the bench for the injured Williams. It might have been injury management, or a specific matchup strategy against Giannis Antetokounmpo, but whatever the reason, the numbers screamed louder than any strategic move. LaRavia had stepped into Williams’ spot for those three missed games, and that lineup didn’t just hold up, it actually *outperformed* the opening night starting five. Redick acknowledged the stats, but he’s talking about overall balance. “I just feel like there’s balance with those lineups,” Redick said pregame, pointing to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves as primary creators, Walker Kessler’s rim rolling, and the other guys guarding multiple positions. He added that LaRavia’s “intrinsic knowledge with what we’re trying to do” and “knowing our stuff has been helpful.” But let’s be real, the numbers are talking a different game. In 51 minutes across four games, when Williams shared the floor with the core starters of Dončić, Reaves, Kessler, and Matisse Thybulle, the Lakers had a 135.5 offensive rating and a 115.1 defensive rating, for a 20.4 net rating. Solid, right? But with LaRavia in Williams’ spot, those numbers absolutely surged: a 144.3 offensive rating, a 90.0 defensive rating, and that absurd 54.3 net rating in just 37 minutes. Folks, those stats are just ridiculous.
Luka Dončić: Pure Supernova
For all the talk about balance and lineup options, a massive chunk of this early season fire is Luka Dončić being Luka Dončić, meaning he is simply the best player in the world. Redick called him a “supernova” on Sunday, and on Monday, he backed it up, dropping another 42 points and 13 assists against Miami. He was dicing up every single look the Heat threw at him. Dončić is now averaging 38.8 points, 8.1 assists, and 21.3 assist points created in just seven games. Do the math: Dončić is responsible for a mind-bending 60.1 points per game. Postgame, Redick praised it as “a really good offense that we’re playing right now,” and it’s hard to argue when Luka is just operating on another planet.
Redick has been stressing patience with this team all season, especially with the roster turnover they had this offseason, trying to mesh the new with the old. It’s a process, he says. But man, the early results, particularly with this LaRavia lineup, are something else entirely. You gotta wonder how long this squad can keep this absolute heat going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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