The Los Angeles Lakers are riding high after the first full month of NBA basketball with a 14-2 record, sitting atop the standings in the league. All of the players who have contributed have also gotten their worthy moments in the spotlight and the headlines.
But a less talked about group that was also almost completely changed over from last season to this year is their coaching staff, led by Frank Vogel. Few expected the Lakers to star this well and while some of the skepticism was due to the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, so to was there skepticism because Vogel was seen by many as the third, or perhaps even fourth choice, behind Ty Lue, Monty Williams and his own assistant Jason Kidd.
The Lakers have washed all of those skeptics away with their play, which is also due in part to the communication and preparation of their coaching staff. Rajon Rondo believes Vogel’s ability to communicate with LeBron James sets the tone for how the staff talks with the rest of the team, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
If you can talk to (LeBron as the coach), you can talk to anybody. (Vogel’s) delivery, his communication, is great. That’s what I think I’m learning (about) for my future, if I want to go that route. I take notes every day. I’m trying to learn from coach. Sometimes I’ll write them down. Sometimes I’ll take a picture of the scouting report, what his philosophy is before the game and take a couple things I love about what he does and just continue to grow as a player.
From Vogel’s first press conference, he’s done an excellent job at articulating his vision to the public about what he wanted to see from the Lakers. And much of it has come to fruition, with the Lakers taking an analytics-influenced approach on both sides of the ball.
Offensively, they are living at the rim, which is the most efficient zone and they’re also shooting better from the outside as a team even if their volume is near the bottom of the league. Defensively, they are protecting the rim at an excellent rate while also contesting 3-point shots and getting their hands on loose balls.
But while the players are making plays, Frank Vogel, Kidd and the rest of the Lakers staff have done their job of putting the team in a position to win on a nightly basis.
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