5 Solutions to the Los Angeles Lakers' Struggles on Offense

This Los Angeles Lakers offense is way far removed from Pat Riley's Showtime days. It's also far off from Phil Jackson's triangle days.

While Lakers head coach Mike Brown will never be confused with Riley or Jackson, this Lakers offense under his leadership should be much better than it currently is.

The Lakers as a team averaged over 102 points per game a season ago, but have managed to go over 100 only once this season so far.

There are plenty of problems with this Lakers offense, with no end of the struggles in sight.

Here's a look at a few things the Lakers need to do to fix things.

Use Yor Big Guys

Pau Gasol recently said the Lakers offense needs to play the game inside-out.

He's right.

The Lakers have a pair of very talented big guys in Gasol and Andrew Bynum, but Gasol has been spending more time on the perimeter then he has in the post.

Make feeding the big guys in the post priority No. 1. Everyone else will still get enough touches.

Find Some Shooters

What would make the Lakers offense effective is not only the power game down low, but having guys behind the arc that can consistently knock down shots.

The Lakers are shooting an NBA worst .256 percent from three-point range.

That won't cut it.

General manager Mitch Kupchak must do what it takes to acquire a player or two who can consistently knock down the open jumper.

Hitting open shots can go a long way to fix things. Until opposing teams respect the Lakers' perimeter game, they will be an easy team to defend.

Find a Point Guard

It doesn't have to be a big splash for Deron Williams at this point, but the Lakers need a competent ball handler.

With all the half-court sets Brown runs and a pair of big men on the floor, the Lakers need a point guard who can efficiently get them into their offense and get the ball effectively where it needs to get.

It doesn't have to be an All-Star at this point, but Kupchak must improve this club. There are way too many holes.

Tweak the Lineup

It might make more sense for Brown to adjust his lineups on the floor more often in order to take advantage of what the Lakers are trying to do offensively.

This is just one of many possible examples, but if you are going to have Gasol playing outside the paint, don't play him with Bynum as much.

Maybe use Troy Murphy more with Bynum at times and maybe use Josh McRoberts with Gasol more often to get him some more touches in the paint.

Get Younger

Unfortunately for the Lakers, many of the ways to fix the offense requires moves that need to be made.

This team is just too old at the moment.

The only regular under the age of 25 is Bynum (24). Devin Ebanks and Darius Morris are also young, but neither is ready to contribute regularly.

Bryant is 33, Derek Fisher is 37 and Gasol is 31 years of age, all playing major minutes.

The obvious guy to turn into some younger talent is Gasol, especially if Brown isn't using him well.

Alone Gasol isn't going to produce a Williams or Dwight Howard in a trade, but he could bring a decent young guard and big body and in the process free up some cap space to be used in the offseason.