They say, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" Well, in the Los Angeles Lakers' case, they're thinking, "If you can't beat 'em, copy 'em!" with the Boston Celtics. The Lakers' offensive strategy is not only a pretty smart one, but it sounds pretty similar to what Joe Mazzulla runs.
Lakers reporter Jovan Buha revealed, per JJ Redick, that the Lakers' offense "anticipates the Lakers ranking higher in paint touches, offensive rebounds, and 3-point volume."
Huh. That sounds like the same aspects of possession-maxing that Mazzulla-Ball relies on to get the Celtics to thrive. In all fairness, the Lakers have the personnel to make that work, so it makes sense that they are designing themselves to play as Mazzulla does.
Walker Kessler is one of the NBA's best offensive rebounders, Kevon Looney is also not too shabby in that regard, while Austin Reaves Collin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvelli provides the appropriate shooting.
Defensively, there are definitely questions. Kessler should help as a rim protector and Matisse Thybulle is a smart buy-low candidate, but Mazzulla Ball is a two-way force, not just one. JJ Redick and co clearly is fond of the strategy, which is honestly quite flattering and no one should be mad at all.
It's just funny to see the Lakers copy a strategy the Celtics have more or less revolutionized, even if they technically didn't invent it.
JJ Redick has singled out Joe Mazzulla before
Before taking the reins as Lakers' head coach, Mazzulla tried to hire Redick as part of his staff in Boston. That alone indicates that there is mutual understanding and respect between the two coaches.
Since then, Redick has singled out Mazzulla for the work he's done in Boston, particularly during the time in which the Celtics managed to persevere as well as they did without Jayson Tatum. It's clear that he likes what Mazzulla does and wants to execute a similar strategy.
Despite coaching the most intense rivalry in all of basketball, it's clear that the two are kindred spirits who share the same basketball philosophy. Now whether the Lakers will execute at the same level the Celtics do is up in the air.
Mazzulla Ball emphasizes multi-facetedness, which is why Boston has stressed going 15 deep for the past four seasons. It's tough to see the Lakers following that blueprint to a tee, but in true Mazzulla Ball fashion, the Lakers let Marcus Smart go, so they've got that going for them...
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