Under Hamblen, There’s Less Arc to Their Story

The days of 35 and 36 three-point attempts left when Rudy Tomjanovich did, but the Lakers are still shooting too often behind the arc for Frank Hamblen’s liking.

The Lakers are averaging 19.1 three-point attempts since Hamblen took over last month, a slight drop from the 22.4 attempts they averaged under Tomjanovich.

“I’d like to see us shoot 12, 13 a night, 14, something like that,” Hamblen said. “I just think you can use the floor and get better shots. If that’s your game [to shoot threes], that’s one thing, but I think you can probably make the extra pass and get a better shot.”

The Lakers set a team record with 36 three-point attempts Dec. 25 against the Miami Heat. They have shot 1,251 three-pointers this season and are on pace to break the team record of 1,500 set in 1996-97.

The Lakers shot four for 11 from behind the arc Sunday against the Indiana Pacers.

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As the Lakers get further and further into the reintroduction of the triangle offense, some players are losing time because they’re not grasping the nuances of the scheme.

Backup point guard Tierre Brown did not play Friday against the Dallas Mavericks and had only 12 scoreless minutes Sunday because he has tended to dribble too much in an offense that demands passing. He had not sat out a game this season until Friday.

Forward Brian Cook is averaging 17.2 minutes this season but only 5.2 over the last six games. He did not play Sunday, or last Monday against the New York Knicks, the first time he had been kept out of a game this season.

“The more you go through with it, some guys fall by the wayside a little,” Hamblen said. “You just have to keep reviewing and bringing them back.”

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Forward Devean George is healthy enough to play but his lack of conditioning and a glut of small forwards on the roster has kept him from moving off the injured list, Hamblen said.

George has not played a game this season because of numerous complications from off-season ankle surgery.