Player Grades: Lakers Vs. Heat

This is far from a finished product. Head coach JJ Redick has repeatedly mentioned across the first two weeks of the season that patience is needed as a host of new faces get acclimated to the Lakers’ system.

What they’ve already proven, though, is that this is a potent offensive team. Led by Luka Dončić, this team is everything everyone imagined it would be when it comes to scoring the ball. And that comes with, again, kinks still needing to be worked out.

But through their first eight games of the season, the Lakers’ 121.9 offensive rating leads the league. They lead the league in field goal percentage, are third in 3-point percentage and second in points per game.

It’s been a light schedule, yes, but they’ve come sprinting out of the gate as one of the league’s best offenses. And that’s pretty encouraging with work still to be done.

So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

Matisse Thybulle

19 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 block, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, 2-6 FG, 2-6 3PT, +13

Thybulle’s ability to be a point-of-attack defender slots so many other players on the team into better-suited roles defensively. He’s proven to be such a valuable asset already, so long as he stays healthy.

Grade: B

Jake LaRavia

25 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 5 fouls, 4 turnovers, 3-4 FG, 1-1 3PT, +20

It was certainly notable that, even with Williams back, Jake LaRavia kept his starting spot. And he has more than earned it.

Grade: B+

Walker Kessler

32 minutes, 15 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, 7-13 FG, 1-3 FT, +16

How can a team that has both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo be so bad at the rim defensively? Kessler was gifted so many easy baskets on Monday. Wasn’t defense supposed to be Miami’s calling card?

Grade: A-

Austin Reaves

34 minutes, 27 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 fouls, 5 turnovers, 10-15 FG, 4-5 3PT, 3-4 FT, +21

After a couple of poor showings, Austin bounced back. The turnovers were still a bit too high, but if he just simply shoots 66% from the field the rest of the season, we can overlook that.

Grade: A-

Luka Dončić

35 minutes, 42 points, 7 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 14-24 FG, 6-15 3PT, 8-10 FT, +26

Yes, it’s November. Yes, the Lakers haven’t even played 10 games yet. Yes, the sample size is small. But Luka is the best player on the planet right now and well on course for an MVP award.

Grade: A+

Quentin Grimes

22 minutes, 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 fouls, 2-4 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-3 FT, +5

After being indirectly called out by Redick after Sunday’s game for his indecisiveness, this was Grimes’ best non-Clippers game of the season.

Grade: B+

Sandro Mamukelashvili

27 minutes, 13 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-2 FT, +10

Mamu playing as the five was particularly dangerous against the Heat as his ability to pop out to the 3-point line allowed him to knock down some long-range buckets as well as take advantage of a rotating defense.

Grade: A-

Ziaire Williams

15 minutes, 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 3 fouls, 3-6 FG, 3-6 3PT, -6

Welcome back Ziaire. He jumped back in seamlessly even as he came off the bench. The Lakers having so many interchangeable wings is such a great luxury.

Grade: B+

Collin Sexton

15 minutes, 6 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists, 1 foul, 3-4 FG, 0-1 3PT, -2

Dare I say a much more controlled game from Sexton? That’s still relative as he is still a bit too wild at times. But, still, only one missed shot, no turnovers and five assists? Yes please.

Grade: B+

Jarred Vanderbilt, Cameron Carr, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Lawson Lovering

Interestingly, Vando got his normal first half shift but did not see the floor in the second half. With the Heat not really having traditional big men and smaller lineups on the floor, the Lakers could get away with Mamu at the five surrounded by wings and guards.

As for the bench group, that JJ waited until there were 82 seconds left in a game they led by more than 20 to put them in felt like a point being made.

JJ Redick

Keeping LaRavia in the starting lineup was the right call. Redick is also still experimenting a bit with the rotations, including having Kessler on the floor with Reaves and Sexton to start the second quarter. This is all a work in progress to find the right combinations and he’s still doing some experimenting, too.

Using a challenge less than 30 seconds into a game is hilarious. He technically lost the second challenge but I’m not going to dock him for that as Giannis bowling over two defenders while giving them a shove and getting away with it was bonkers.

Grade: A-

Monday’s DNPs: Kevon Looney

Monday’s inactives: Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon, Adou Thiero

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.