The Los Angeles Lakers went in on Friday with the third-best 3-point percentage in the NBA and were warm from the outside again in their 112-95 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, with 15 3s in Staples Center.
LeBron James was responsible for two of them, hitting 2-for-6 from deep, dropping his season percentage slightly to 38.2% – which would be his 18-year-old’s second-best 3-point shooting season. career he has to keep it up.
Earlier this week, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said that James was “probably the best shooter on our team,” begging the question: Does James agree with his coach?
“I mean, we have a lot of great shooters on the team, man,” said James. “KCP [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope], a great shooter. Wes Matthews, great shooter. Kuz [Kyle Kuzma] can shoot hell out of the ball. Dennis the Menace [Dennis Schroder] can shoot the ball. ADVERTISEMENT [Anthony Davis] can shoot the ball. So we have a lot of great knockdown shooters.
“Obviously if someone says, ‘Bet’ then of course you know I’m going to take myself. That’s just the competitive nature in me and the work ethic I’ve put into my effort. But I feel really good with my shots now, both from the free throw line and from the 3-point line, and I want to continue that. “
Davis, who increased his 3-point marksmanship from 33% in his first season in LA to 39.4% when he entered the Pelicans game, threw James a little lower.
“I would have to say that Kenny is always our guy we always look out for shots,” Davis said, referring to Caldwell-Pope. “Wes is still struggling to find his consistent 3. He’s getting open looks, but I still put Wes there. I put Bron third, only because of this year he has been able to shoot the ball extremely well. Marc [Gasol] can shoot at it. Marc is up there. And then I put myself. Dudz [Jared Dudley]. AC [Alex Caruso]. “
For those who score at home, that’s nine different 3-point shooters who were overheard by the Lakers co-captains – and even guys like Quinn Cook and Markieff Morris, who live out of bounds while on court.
Caldwell-Pope, who shot 4-for-6 from 3 on Friday and moved past Metta World Peace for ninth place on the Lakers’ all-time franchise list for 3-pointers made, wasn’t ready to crown James to the 3 – point shooting king as long as he is involved.
“Figures don’t lie,” he said, referring to the best career of 55.3% he has had this season of the three so far. “But I really enjoy LeBron shooting the ball. He shoots it with a great clip. He throws them and it’s nice to see him. [success] shoot the ball too. But we all know that I am definitely the real shooter. “
He may have a legitimate claim there, but, as Davis pointed out, everyone also knows that James is given certain privileges that Caldwell-Pope will never see.
“You know LeBron is always going to be there because he shoots a lot of it, especially when he gets hot, and starts shooting half the track and stuff,” Davis said. “I don’t think Coach Kenny will allow that.”