Lakers’ Wes Matthews enjoys decisive night as he adjusts to bench role – Orange County Register

LeBron James said it best this fall: “What I’ve learned as a Laker is that the Laker loyalists don’t give a damn about what you’ve done before … until you become a Laker, you have to do it with them, as well. ”

In that sense, the 1,663 3-point hoops Wesley Matthews made in his career didn’t matter to fans of his new team before the six he hit in a row on Wednesday night. But Lakers fans should remember: It matters to him that Matthews has hit 10 3 points in a game in his career. When he started the season with a shooting fit, it was the 34-year-old’s experience that kept his self-confidence.

“I feel like I can get hot,” he said. “I feel like I should be doing every shot I shoot, so I won’t say it’s unusual.”

It took five games and a 0-for-8 start, but Matthews ultimately delivered a win over the San Antonio Spurs. The learning curve has been steep for everyone with a shortened preseason, and compared to his teammates who have already turned in good games, Matthews seemed to face the steepest, not finding his shot at the attacking and looking slow on defense where it needed to be one of the safest pieces.

But in his 18-point performance, Matthews showed a little more of what the Lakers were expecting when they signed him this offseason – and maybe a few things they haven’t done. Matthews was at times the hottest shooter on the floor Wednesday night, including some false backward jumpers who scurried through the net.

“We don’t worry about Wes – we know what he’s been up to throughout his career,” said coach Frank Vogel. “He’s a reverse shooter and a great defender. Just excited he’s wearing the Lakers uniform and what kind of stuff he’s going to be giving us all year long.

What contributed to the slow start? Consider Matthews’ new role: In a career spanning 796 games, Matthews has started 729. In the past eight seasons he’s only come off the bench twice, and now he’s averaging eight minutes. less per game than even last season coming off the bench in each game.

It’s hard to explain how important the start is for NBA players, especially those who have already started, but this desire to start has already had a profound impact on the Lakers this season. Dennis Schröder has expressed how he wants to move “forward” by returning to the starting lineup after two seasons off the bench at Oklahoma City. Kyle Kuzma has already spoken about how he would be a starter in most other teams in the league, and while the Lakers consider him a sixth man, he will also be high at the start whenever James or Anthony Davis misses out. matches.

The balance of wings between Schröder and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as well as the desire to create a true center took Matthews away from the role he played for most of his 12 seasons in the NBA. And as great as Matthews is, he admitted it was a tough fit.

“It’s just a different way of feeling mentally excited, a different way of engaging in the game. And obviously it’s a new group, a new style of play, and just a weird season, just an offseason. strange. So nothing could really look like normal.

What helped, Matthews said, was the support. He took advice from Markieff Morris, a former NBA starter who has comfortably transitioned to his bench role with the Lakers. While beginners draw their energy from being on the pitch from the opening tip-off, reserves need to self-generate the same level of intensity and focus, which can be a tricky thing watching from the bench.