Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has a simple strategy to improve the team’s 3-point shooting this season: get Anthony Davis to shoot more threes.
Davis Averaged Only 2.7 3-Point Attempts Last Season
Davis, who is widely regarded as one of the best big men in the NBA, averaged only 2.7 3-point attempts per game last season, making 26% of them. That was a significant drop from his previous season, when he averaged 3.5 3-point attempts and made 33% of them.
Ham, who was hired as the Lakers’ new head coach in June after serving as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, told NBA reporters on Tuesday that he wants to see Davis shoot six 3-pointers per game this season.
“I want him, if he can — I know he won’t do it, but maybe he’ll shock me — but I’ve requested to see six 3-point attempts a game,” Ham said. “I want him to be comfortable shooting that three. And also playing downhill, playing to the paint, playing to the rim.”
Ham Believes Davis Can Be a Versatile Offensive Weapon
Ham believes that Davis can be a versatile offensive weapon for the Lakers, who ranked 21st in the league in 3-point percentage last season with 35.4%. He said that Davis can catch and shoot with the best of them, and also attack the basket with his size and athleticism.
“He’s a guy that can be one of our most versatile basketball players on the roster. He can guard multiple positions, from the 1 to the 3 and some 4s,” Ham said. “I want him to be aggressive in that manner and take on those challenges.”
Ham also praised Davis for his work ethic and willingness to improve his game. He said that Davis has been working on his 3-point shot during the offseason and has shown improvement in practice.
“He’s been great. He’s been working hard. He’s been shooting the ball well,” Ham said. “He’s been very receptive to everything that we’ve been trying to implement.”
Davis Is Not the Only Laker Who Needs to Improve His 3-Point Shooting
While Davis is the focal point of Ham’s plan to boost the Lakers’ 3-point shooting, he is not the only Laker who needs to improve his long-range accuracy. The Lakers added several veterans in the offseason, such as Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, and Wayne Ellington, who are expected to provide more spacing and shooting for the team.
However, some of them have been inconsistent or unreliable from beyond the arc in their careers. Westbrook, for instance, averaged a career-low 31.5% from 3-point range last season with the Washington Wizards. Anthony, on the other hand, shot a career-high 40.9% from 3-point range with the Portland Trail Blazers last season, but has been below average for most of his career.
Ham said that he wants all of his players to be confident and aggressive when they have open shots from the perimeter. He said that he will not limit or discourage anyone from shooting threes, as long as they are within the flow of the offense.
“I want everybody to shoot threes,” Ham said. “If you’re open and you have a good look at it, let it fly.”
The Lakers will have their first preseason game on Saturday against the Golden State Warriors, where they will have a chance to test their new-look roster and their improved 3-point shooting.
