Three-point shooting will decide which side of history the Lakers end up on

Nypost · May 01, 2026 · 912 words · By Michael Duarte

Lakers' Decline in Shooting Efficiency Basketball Performance Analysis Importance of Three-Point Shooting

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What to know about Lakers' Decline in Shooting Efficiency

When the basketball leaves a shooter’s hands they usually know when it’s going in.

Claims checked 20

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

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Center0%

Right100%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

When the basketball leaves a shooter’s hands they usually know when it’s going in.

Why it matters

It feels soft off the fingertips, the rotation is spinning, the shot feels true.

Common ground

But lately for the Lakers, those shots have not been falling.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Black-and-White Fallacy, Cherry Picking: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Lakers' Decline in Shooting Efficiency story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Game 5: Lakers at 25.9% — loss?
How does this story connect Lakers' Decline in Shooting Efficiency with Basketball Performance Analysis over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/01/sports/3-point-shooting-the-difference-for-lakers-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Black-and-White Fallacy 60% confidence

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Why it matters: Recognizing black-and-white fallacy helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Cherry Picking 70% confidence

Selectively presenting evidence that supports one side while ignoring contrary evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing cherry picking helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 20 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 10

info Single Source 5

check_circle Corroborated 3

help Insufficient Evidence 1

help_outline Unverifiable 1

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Claim 1: “Game 5: Lakers at 25.9% — loss.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim specifies a 25.9% three-point shooting percentage and a loss in Game 5. While the evidence discusses Lakers shooting percentages in the series, none confirm the specific 25.9% figure or the outcome of Game 5. This data point cannot be independently verified.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1948 Globetrotters–Lakers game was a dramatic match-up between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Minneapolis Lakers. Played in Chicago Stadium, the game took place two years before professional bas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Globetrotters–Lakers_game

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Celtics–Lakers rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics and the Lakers are the two most storied franchises in t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtics–Lakers_rivalry

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Wes…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “After shooting 44% from deep in the first three games, he’s 0-for-9 combined in the last two.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “Reaves’ return in Game 5 injected energy and excitement but he was rustier than a swing set in an abandoned park.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 4: “Game 2: Lakers at 46.4% — win.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim specifies a 46.4% three-point shooting percentage and a win in Game 2. The web search results mention Lakers shooting percentages in the series, but none confirm the specific 46.4% figure or the outcome of Game 2. This data point cannot be independently verified.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “Game 4: Lakers at 22.7% — loss.”

CORROBORATED

One web search result explicitly states that the Lakers shot 22.7 percent from the perimeter in Game 4, and that Houston went 12-of-30. This corroborates the percentage and the context of the loss. The evidence is specific to this game's performance.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “That’s what happens when you turn the ball over as much as the Lakers have, including more than 20 turnovers in Games 3 and 4.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 7: “In their first-round series against the Rockets, there’s one statistic that screams out amongst all the others: three-point shooting.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results discuss the significance of three-point shooting for the Lakers in their series against the Rockets, indicating it was a notable statistic. The evidence confirms the focus on this specific shooting metric.

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web search NEUTRAL — The Lakers cold three-point shooting in Games 4 and 5 flipped their playoff series with the Rockets, exposing deeper issues and raising the stakes for Game 6.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/three-point-shooting-decid…

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web search NEUTRAL — Yet, lately, the Lakers seem to be struggling with that touch. In their first-round matchup against the Rockets, one statistic stands out: the 3-point shooting. It really boils down to this—teams that…
https://totalnews.com/three-point-shots-made-the-difference-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Basketball Stats and History Statistics, scores, and history for the NBA, ABA, WNBA, and top European competition.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/

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Claim 8: “Early in the series, Luke Kennard, who led the league in three-point shooting percentage this season, was given room to operate on the court.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 9: “Game 3: Lakers at 41.4% — win.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim specifies a 41.4% three-point shooting percentage and a win in Game 3. The web search results discuss Lakers shooting percentages in the series, but none confirm the specific 41.4% figure or the outcome of Game 3. This data point cannot be independently verified.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “Game 1: Lakers at 52.6% from deep — win.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim specifies a 52.6% three-point shooting percentage and a win in Game 1. While the evidence discusses Lakers shooting percentages in the series, none of the provided web search results or Wikipedia entries confirm the specific 52.6% figure or the outcome of Game 1. The evidence is insufficient to corroborate this specific data point.

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 11: “In the first three games, Houston shot an average of 28.5% from three.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim specifies an average of 28.5% for the Rockets in the first three games. No evidence was found in the web search results or Wikipedia entries that confirms this specific percentage for the Rockets' performance in the first three games. The evidence is insufficient to corroborate this specific data point.

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web search NEUTRAL — James Edward Harden Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest shooting guards a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Harden

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web search NEUTRAL — Смотрите онлайн «Three (2023) English Sub» от автора This is Cinema. Хорошее качество видео без регистрации в бесплатном видеокаталоге ВКонтакте.
https://vk.com/video-223142615_456239110

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web search NEUTRAL — Quora is a place to gain and share knowledge. It's a platform to ask questions and connect with people who contribute unique insights and quality answers. This empowers people to learn from each other…
https://www.quora.com/

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Claim 12: “One stat that hasn’t changed all series is the significantly more shots the Rockets have attempted compared to the Lakers.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the web search results or Wikipedia entries discussing the total field goal attempts comparison between the Rockets and the Lakers across the five games. Therefore, the claim cannot be confirmed or denied.

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Claim 13: “The Lakers shot 36% from three during the regular season, and after starting the series at 46.8%, they are now averaging 37.7% for the series.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 14: “However, in the last two games, the Rockets have not only shot at a higher clip of 37.5%, they’ve more than doubled up the Lakers in made threes overall with 26 combined made threes.”

UNVERIFIABLE

The claim provides specific statistics (37.5% shooting, 26 combined made threes) for Games 4 and 5 for the Rockets. No evidence was found in the web search results or Wikipedia entries to confirm these specific numbers. Since the claim relies on highly specific, unverified statistics, it is currently unverifiable based on the provided evidence.

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Claim 15: “Kennard is 0-for-7 from three in the last two games.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 16: “Houston has attempted 69 more field goals than Los Angeles across the five games in the series.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 17: “After missing the last four weeks with an oblique injury, he struggled to find his rhythm in his return, shooting 4-for-16 from the field, and 2-for-8 from deep.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 18: “The Rockets also average nearly 15 offensive rebounds per game.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 19: “In the two losses the Lakers shot a combined 12 for 49 from three. An average of 24%.”

CORROBORATED

One web search result directly states that 'The Lakers shot 12 of 49 from deep in Games 4 and 5,' confirming the made shots and attempts. This corroborates the combined statistic and the average calculation (12/49 ≈ 24.5%, which is close to 24%).

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Lakers hold the record for NBA's longest winning streak, 33 straight games, set in 1971–72.[21] 26 Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles, while four have coached the team.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Lakers

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web search NEUTRAL — The Lakers shot 12 of 49 from deep in Games 4 and 5, but more concerningly, just 63% at the rim. That's an 11.5% drop from their league-leading rim field goal percentage during the regular season.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/why-shots-stopped-falling…

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web search NEUTRAL — Lakers expected eFG vs actual eFG. 3-0 stretch: 49.4 --> 59.2 (+9.8) -low shot quality, extremely high efficiency. 0-2 stretch: 52.0 --> 50.0 (-2.0) -higher shot quality, lower efficiency (in line wit…
https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/could-lebron-james-and-…

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Claim 20: “In the first game of the series, he punished Houston.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.