The Lakers big three had their best performance of the season and LeBron James’ ability to work off of Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić was a big part in securing the win.

The Lakers entered Saturday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies desperate for a win. Tied in the standings for the fourth seed and at risk of slipping closer to the play-in, the Lakers secured the victory 134-127.

This was the best game played by the trio of LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic. All three scored at least 25 points, grabbed six rebounds, and provided eight assists.

The excellent performances were spearheaded by a clear and intentional shift to using James as a play finisher, allowing the starting backcourt to initiate most possessions.

The coaching staff is evaluating how to sustain the offensive flow with all three. According to the NBA’s tracking data, in a 14-game sample, they possess a 113.0 offensive rating together on the floor, which would rank 19th in the league.

It’s a first-world problem and one that coaches would love to have. Franchises would sacrifice their next decade to have this problem, but it remains a concern nonetheless.

One promising solution has been to use James more in the post, particularly when teams implement a switching defense, as they have recently.

Take a look below as LeBron sets a screen for Reaves and the Grizzlies switch with Scotty Pippen Jr., creating a mismatch. An easy pass over the top results in a basket at the rim.

It also puts James in another place to be a playmaker. To draw attention without needing to dominate at the top of the key.

It’s still a shared offensive burden, but now shifting where his attack comes from. Another post entry is thrown on the play below off of a switch, this time in the middle of the floor.

A two dribble back down draws an extra defender, leaving Grizzles star Ja Morant to guard two on the weak side. A kick out leads to one of the four triples made by Gabe Vincent.

During a possession later in the game, James exploited a matchup in the post against Desmond Bane and scored effortlessly over the top.

While none of these actions fully resolve their on-court chemistry — something that will develop over time — they provide alternative options to straightforward one-on-one play, which helps mitigate the anticipated growing pains.

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Another option is using James as a screener at the top of the key. Jaxson Hayes is the only Lakers center in the rotation, which leaves the team playing most minutes as a small ball group.

These lineups need one of the forwards to fill some of the roles of a conventional big man.

In a four-point game with two minutes remaining, the Lakers run a play for James to serve as a screener at the top of the key for Reaves.

On this play, he is playing the center position on offense.

Watch below as James catches the ball downhill off the pick and roll, creating an opportunity to attack a four-on-three situation. He executes a no-dribble pass to a cutting Rui Hachimura for the lay-in.

This in no shape or form means he will never be on the ball initiating, as this is still LeBron James we are talking about.

The very next clutch offensive possession, James and Reaves switch roles and the Lakers run an inverted pick and roll, where a guard screens for the center or forward.

The Grizzles put two on the ball, leaving Reaves free in the paint. The and-one floater finish puts the Lakers up nine and seals the victory.

The Reaves-James two-man game has been a staple of the Lakers’ crunch-time offense for years and Doncic, of course, will now expect to be heavily involved in these actions.

A balance with all three being threats simultaneously is the preferred outcome here.

James is the most versatile of the three and not only performs “big man” tasks, but can also act as a bridge between the talented backcourt.

These plays leverage James’ physical traits and IQ in ways that best serve the guards he plays with while still giving him the keys when he so chooses.

In the playoffs and high-leverage situations, the Lakers’ fate will still be in the hands of James. The Grizzles game serves as a blueprint of how the trio can work going forward, with James still the piece that makes it all work.

It’s just not how we’ve typically seen it over the last two decades.