The Los Angeles Lakers have had to change their identity more than once this season. Back in December and early January, they were trying to win by being a defensive-minded team and playing at a slow pace offensively, and they had a measure of success doing so.
But ever since Anthony Davis' final game with them on Jan. 28, they have morphed into a different type of team. They're now playing at a fast pace -- in fact, they're seventh in pace and second in fast-break points per game in their last nine games -- and they have been playing a noticeably more energetic style of basketball overall on both ends of the floor.
Head coach JJ Redick has guided them to a 33-21 record, which has them on the doorstep of the fourth-best record in the Western Conference. After his team defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-102 in an intense and fast-paced contest on Thursday, Redick said that there's only one "cheat code" to winning games in the NBA.
Via Silver Screen and Roll:
The Lakers have been guilty of not always playing hard and of losing games to inferior opponents this season and last. In recent days, they dropped back-to-back contests to the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets, two of the worst teams in the NBA.
But they have won 13 of their last 17 games, even though Luka Doncic has gotten off to a slow start with them. Overall, they have gone 20-9 since starting the season 13-12.
Their defense has greatly improved since then, and a number of players, including Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura, have shown improvement in recent weeks.