Lakers News: LA Relishing Massive Series Edge Over Warriors In This Category

Could explain why the Lakers are up 2-1 in the series.

Your Los Angeles Lakers currently lead the reigning NBA champs 2-1 in their best-of-seven second round playoff series.

Law Murray of The Athletic observes that Los Angeles is currently walloping Golden State in one crucial arena: at the charity stripe.

In their two victories of the series, the Lakers enjoyed massive advantages in that category. LA has outscored the Dubs 53-17 in the two games the club has won. The Warriors and Lakers each made 10 free throws in the lone contest Golden State has won during the series, a Game 2 Warriors blowout. 

Murray made a fascinating observation about the free throw disparity, which, beyond the typical pro-LA bias, is also a function of the two teams' very different shot portfolios. The Warriors, of course, are the highest-volume three-point shooting team in the NBA and the lowest-scoring foul shooters, while the Lakers are the most prolific free throw shooters, and are not particularly frequent long range snipers.

"This is the first postseason ever where the team with the best differential of free throws made in the regular season is meeting the team with the worst differential of free throws made in the regular season," Murray noted. "Despite being riddled by injuries to star players James and Davis, a new head coach in Darvin Ham, and a roster that was turned over by multiple trades to acquire new starters and other rotation pieces, the Lakers consistently outscored opponents from the free-throw line."

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