2014 Lakers Lineup: Breaking Down the Best and Worst Moments of a Rebuilding Season

The 2013–14 Los Angeles Lakers season stands as a pivotal moment in franchise history, marking the chaotic transition from the aftermath of the Dwight Howard saga to the embryonic stages of what would become a young core. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the primary lineup combinations deployed by head coach Mike D’Antoni, examining the personnel, strategic implications, and on-court results that defined a turbulent year. Through a statistical and observational lens, we analyze how this specific iteration of the Lakers functioned during a season of significant rebuilding and prolonged struggle.

The Frontcourt Conundrum: Size, Speed, and inconsistency

One of the most persistent issues for the 2013–14 Lakers was the inability to find a stable, effective starting five. The franchise was hamstrung by a lack of elite talent and significant cap space, forcing Mike D’Antoni into improvisational lineups that often prioritized speed and perimeter shooting over traditional size and inside presence.

The primary starting center for the majority of the season was the imposing, athletic, but oft-injured Ryan Kelly. Standing 6'10" with a rare combination of size, quickness, and outside shooting for a center of his era, Kelly was a puzzle piece that rarely fit consistently. When healthy, he provided a unique stretch-5 capability that allowed the small-ball lineup to function. However, his fragility and inability to establish position in the post limited his overall impact. Frequently flanked by the mobile, perimeter-oriented Jordan Hill and veteran bigs Ed Davis and later DeJuan Blair, the frontcourt lacked the fundamental anchor needed to compete with the league's elite teams.

The small-ball experiment, a hallmark of D’Antoni’s system, was both a source of fascination and frustration. This lineup typically featured a shooting guard (like Kobe Bryant or Nick Young), a small forward (like Jordan Hill or later Luol Deng), a power forward (like Ryan Kelly or DeJuan Blair), and two guards (often Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar or later Jeremy Lin). While this grouping created space for Kobe's signature iso-play and opened up driving lanes, it sacrificed rebounding strength and defensive versatility. Without a true rim protector, the Lakers were vulnerable to constant attacks at the basket, a liability that was glaringly apparent throughout the season.

The Backcourt: Star Power Meets Questionable Chemistry

The backcourt was the most star-studded and, paradoxically, the most problematic aspect of the 2014 Lakers lineup. The duo of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash was designed to be a high-powered offensive engine, but it quickly devolved into a symbol of dysfunction.

Kobe Bryant, in the twilight of his legendary career, was tasked with carrying an unsustainable offensive load. With the supporting cast lacking elite talent, the onus fell on his shoulders to generate offense, leading to inefficient high-volume scoring attempts and a notable decrease in his overall impact. The team's rigid structure often forced Kobe into isolation plays, a stark contrast to the free-flowing, team-oriented system he had thrived in during his championship years. This led to a palpable tension, particularly with the incoming talent.

The arrival of Steve Nash in 2012 was met with immense fanfare, but by the 2013–14 season, the veteran point guard was visibly diminished by a series of injuries that severely hampered his effectiveness. His legendary playmaking and court vision were significantly curtailed, leaving a gaping hole in the team's primary facilitator. When healthy, Nash was the intended primary ball-handler, orchestrating the offense and finding the open man. However, his frequent absences forced Kobe to assume even more of the playmaking burden, a role he was neither equipped for nor suited to in the D’Antoni system.

The tumultuous midseason acquisition of Jeremy Lin was meant to provide a spark, but his tenure was marred by inconsistency and injury. Lin brought a high-energy, frenetic style that contrasted sharply with the languid pace of the rest of the team. His initial burst of scoring provided a temporary lift, but his inability to sustain that level of play and the strategic questions he raised about the existing roster further complicated the lineup picture. The backcourt became a revolving door of experimentation, with D’Antoni cycling through various combinations of Nash, Kobe, Lin, and newly acquired guard Jordan Hill in search of a cohesive unit.

Specific Lineup Combinations and Their Outcomes

Analyzing the specific lineup groupings used throughout the season provides a clearer picture of their on-court efficacy. Each configuration had its own set of strengths and catastrophic weaknesses.

Lineup 1: The Primary Small-Ball (Kobe, Nash, Kelly, Hill, Farmar)

This was the most frequently deployed unit, intended to maximize spacing and leverage Kobe's one-on-one scoring. The result was often a frantic pace and high-scoring games, but also a porous defense. This group struggled mightily against teams with dominant post players, leading to lopsided losses. The lack of a traditional center meant they were frequently out-manned on the boards, leading to second-chance points for opponents.

Lineup 2: The Injury-Affected Unit (Kobe, Nash, Blair, Hill, Young)

This variant, which featured DeJuan Blair at center and Nick Young at small forward, was perhaps the most defensively inert of the season. Without the shooting stretch of Ryan Kelly, this group was a non-factor on offense and a liability on defense. It highlighted the team's lack of athleticism and versatility, often being outrun and outmuscled by more balanced opponents.

Lineup 3: The Emergent Deng-Kelly Group (Kobe, Nash, Deng, Kelly, Young)

A brief, glimmer of hope emerged when Luol Deng was acquired at the deadline. His steady, veteran presence provided a much-needed third scoring option and defensive anchor. Alongside Ryan Kelly, this created a slightly more balanced frontcourt that could space the floor and compete on the perimeter. While this unit was more functional, it arrived too late in the season to salvage the Lakers' disastrous 27–55 campaign and offered a mere preview of what a healthy, talented roster could achieve.

The Verdict on a Defining Season

The 2013–14 Lakers’ lineup story is one of profound lost opportunity. The core issue was not necessarily the specific combination of five players on the court at any given moment, but the broader context of a franchise in disarray. The roster was assembled hastily, the star power was past its prime, and the supporting cast was filled with stopgap measures and injured players.

Mike D’Antoni, an innovator who revolutionized the league with his “Seven Seconds or Less” offense in Phoenix, was shackled by the limitations of his roster. He was forced to abandon much of his philosophy and resort to simplistic, isolation-heavy sets that failed to generate open looks. The famous triangle offense of his past was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a more desperate, freewheeling style that yielded little success.

In the end, the 2013–14 season served as a harsh and necessary reset for the Lakers. The public failures of the small-ball experiment and the chaotic backcourt rotations provided a clear mandate for a complete overhaul. The lessons learned from those confusing and frustrating lineup configurations directly paved the way for the youth movement that would eventually culminate in back-to-back championships a few years later. The 2014 Lakers were a cautionary tale, but their struggles were an essential step on the long road back to relevance.