The Los Angeles Lakers are set to open up the Western Conference semifinals against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday evening, and it should be an exciting and competitive series.
Unlike the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies, which was a grind-it-out affair at times, this series should have plenty of offense, and it should be a high-scoring one.
The Lakers had trouble consistently hitting 3-pointers against Memphis, and they will need to have better marksmanship from deep in order to knock off the defending NBA champs.
One obstacle is apparently Malik Beasley, who hasn’t quite measured up so far in his tenure with the team. Since arriving in the Russell Westbrook trade in February, he has shot 35.3% from 3-point range in the regular season and a chilly 26.3% from that distance in six playoff games.
Beasley has seen his playing time significantly reduced lately, and some fans have been calling for him to be taken out of the rotation.
It is unlikely that head coach Darvin Ham will do so, but if it were to happen, he should consider reinserting Lonnie Walker IV into his rotation.
Walker could be a more consistent and reliable option
During the first half of the season, Walker was arguably L.A.’s third-best offensive player, and he was effective with not only his 3-point shooting but also when it came to slashing to the hoop.
He hasn’t played a whole lot since the Westbrook trade, but at times he has gotten onto the court for a significant stretch. On those occasions, he has often shown that he still has it.
In the Game 6 clincher against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Walker played nine minutes in the fourth quarter and scored eight points on 3-of-6 overall shooting and 2-of-5 from downtown.
Unlike Beasley, Walker also has some explosiveness that makes him a better finisher at or near the rim, which makes doing so a viable option for him when he doesn’t have the outside shot.
