Three-pointers and defense: Vincent s survival guide!

Last season, when the game entered a white-hot stage, the Lakers' rotation exposed many problems.

The team's new coach Redick has extremely low trust in the bench, and even played in a fixed five-man lineup throughout the second half of the key battle, while the substitute players are trapped on the bench. The focus is on the inside center position.

In addition, the Lakers have also tried many small ball tactics, but among them, Vincent is still the one who was abandoned. This embarrassing cooperation also made it seem that there was a big gap between him and the Lakers.

This makes people have to think:

Can the trust between Vincent and Redick be rebuilt for the upcoming new season? Or are the players and teams waiting for new trends in the free agent market to emerge?

Looking back on last season, Vincent's overall performance was average, averaging 21.2 minutes in the regular season, with personal data of 6.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists, with shooting percentages of 40%, 35.3%, and 71.4% respectively in the three events. A very general data sheet, which also leads to him being very easy to be abandoned by Redick at critical moments of the game.

But from an optimistic perspective, last season was also a small highlight of Vincent. He played in the highest single season in his career 72 games, topped the starting position in 11 games, and occasionally played a key role in the ending game when needed. The shooting percentage of 40% is slightly higher than the career average; the three-point shooting percentage of 35.3% is the second best result in his career.

So, what is his best ideal situation for Vincent in the new season?

Compared to the Heat's peak season, he doesn't have to undertake too many shooting and ball control tasks; compared with the Lakers, more requirements for his progress may be reflected in efficiency. In terms of efficiency, Vincent last season was already above average. Especially with three-pointers, the highest career shooting percentage is only 36.8%, which is also a key indicator that he can work hard to maintain or even improve significantly in the new season. In addition to the offense, Vincent on the defensive end still needs to give full play to the size advantage of a small defender. At the age of 29, he no longer has the top speed advantage, but in the right match, he is still a reliable perimeter defensive sharp knife. Stabilizing and maintaining defensive influence in the right game stage will be a key link in the new season outside of the offense. In addition to this, the worst situation also needs to be vigilant.

Since leaving the Heat, Vincent's condition has been instable enough. Judging from last season, the offense and defense rhythm was difficult to stabilize, the playing time was limited, the three-point shooting rate was sluggish, and the performance on the defensive end was also targeted due to the small figure. In addition, with more and more people in the Lakers lineup who replace him, the possibility of him getting a stable rotation position is not high. Outside public opinion has gradually put him on the trading shelves, especially the attributes of the expiration contract, which makes his market value extremely special.

Based on the offseason, the Lakers introduced Smart in order to replace Vincent's position. Although the offensive end may not be as stable as Vincent, the defensive value can be more in line with the current needs of the Lakers. In addition, Laravia, Adu Tiero, as well as the healthy Vanderbilt, and even Knector are the direct competitors for Vincent's new season to win playing time.

Against this backdrop, Vincent's challenge in the new season is clear: he must show his differentiated advantages with Smart to stabilize his position.

But other small guards have their own strengths and the team's rotation space is limited. How to find unique value in the tactical system is the key to Vincent staying in the rotation lineup. Unless there is an injury or other special situation, Vincent is likely to be excluded from the main rotation at the beginning of the season. He must seize every opportunity, whether it is training camp or regular season time, to prove his value in existence.

In other words, Vincent's 2025-26 season will be a big test. He needs to convert his short-term potential last season into a steady state, whether it is long shots outside the three-point line or stable value on the defensive end. He needs to tell the coaching team that he is worthy of being trusted and can also have a positive impact on the Lakers.

Of course, for the Lakers, Vincent is not only a potential rotation, but also a high-quality bargaining chip for the expiration of the contract. How to make him play a role while maximizing the depth of the team's lineup will directly affect the Lakers' victory and loss trends in the new season.

For Vincent himself, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. Whether he can find his position in the fiercely competitive rotation system directly determines the next stage of his career.