NBA transition pace has already produced two very different nights for the Lakers this week. On October 5, Los Angeles overwhelmed Sacramento with defensive pressure and quick decisions. One night later, Golden State attacked a depleted Lakers lineup and reached halftime with 81 points. The first game showed how disruption can feed an offense. The second exposed how uncomfortable basketball becomes when the opponent dictates the tempo.
Miami supplied another striking example in its October 3 opener against Toronto. The Heat played at 113.5 possessions per 48 minutes, according to the Miami Herald’s game analysis, and scored 76 points before halftime. Their regular rotation handled those opening two quarters, giving the early acceleration more relevance than a late exhibition scoring spree.
That leaves a sharper question than simply who wants to run. Miami and Golden State have shown early offensive urgency. Los Angeles has demonstrated the benefits and the vulnerability. Sacramento, meanwhile, has encountered the cost of playing a fast game without protecting the ball.
Miami keeps the defense moving
The most revealing part of Miami’s opener came before the reserves finished the evening. With its regular rotation playing, the Heat shot 22-for-41 from the field and made 11 first-half three-pointers. Those figures, documented in the October 5 analysis of Miami’s offense, give substance to the team’s early scoring burst.
“We scored almost 80 points in the first half, but it still didn’t feel great, which is unbelievable,” Pelle Larsson said afterward. His dissatisfaction offers a useful counterweight to the scoreboard. Miami’s players could recognize unfinished work even while the shots dropped.
The tactical opportunity comes from making defenders handle consecutive decisions. An early drive pulls attention toward the paint. A pass outside forces someone to recover. If the receiver attacks immediately, the defense must move again before everyone finds a comfortable assignment.
That second action matters as much as the sprint upcourt. A stationary catch lets defenders reset their feet. An immediate pass or drive can preserve the opening.
Miami’s early attack should therefore reward movement from players who never receive the first outlet. A runner filling the corner stretches the recovery. Another cutting toward the rim can draw a defender away from the next catch.
But the opener also supplied a warning. The NBA’s official game summary credits Miami with 27 fast-break points and 25 turnovers. The Heat found open-floor offense while also surrendering plenty of possessions.
Those mistakes deserve attention alongside the scoring. Miami can afford some experimentation in October. Against a disciplined regular-season opponent, every unnecessary pass through traffic gives away part of the advantage its movement creates.
The Lakers turn stops into starts
Los Angeles began its October 5 opener by making Sacramento uncomfortable with the ball. The Lakers forced 26 turnovers in their 127–103 victory, and JJ Redick connected that disruption directly to the offense afterward.
“Getting stops helped our offense,” he said in his postgame assessment of the Lakers’ defense. Redick also praised the team’s running patterns and willingness to keep possessions moving.
That provides a concrete foundation for Los Angeles’ running game. A live-ball mistake lets an offense attack while opponents face the wrong direction. The first useful pass can remove several defenders from the possession without requiring a complicated play.
Los Angeles also recorded 15 steals and 29 assists, according to the October 5 box score. Those totals support the picture of an active defense feeding a cooperative offense, although they do not classify every basket as a transition score.
The next test concerns possessions without a steal. After a defensive rebound, the Lakers still need a clear outlet and runners occupying separate lanes. Otherwise, the ball handler reaches the frontcourt with teammates clustered around him and the defense already waiting. Pressure can create the opening. Spacing determines whether the offense uses it.
Golden State forces the chase
The October 6 game at Chase Center changed the view almost immediately. Golden State opened an 11–2 lead within two minutes, scored 45 first-quarter points and eventually won 124–98. Los Angeles played without several core players, a substantial limit on what the result proves.
Still, the Warriors supplied an unmistakable burst of offensive activity. Their first-half performance against the Lakers included eight assists from Draymond Green. Stephen Curry added five assists without a turnover.
Two nights earlier, Steve Kerr had delivered a blunt postgame verdict after the October 4 loss to the Clippers: “Spacing was not great.” That assessment identifies what Golden State must improve alongside its speed. Running harder accomplishes little when teammates bring their defenders into the same lane.
Green’s passing gives runners a reason to move early. Curry’s shooting threat requires defenders to locate him even while they retreat toward the basket. Together, those threats can create an advantage before either player attempts a shot.
A defender looking for Curry may hesitate to help elsewhere. A teammate running toward the rim can exploit that hesitation. Proper spacing gives both actions room to work.
Golden State’s open-floor offense deserves further attention because the team can threaten different areas at once. The challenge will involve reproducing that urgency against a fuller, better-organized opponent.
For the Lakers, the reversal sharpens the evaluation. Their Sacramento performance established potential. The following night showed why offensive pace and defensive recovery must develop together.
Sacramento must secure the ball first
Sacramento participated in the same fast game as Los Angeles on October 5. It simply gained far less from it.
RealGM estimated 107 possessions for each team. The Lakers produced 118.8 points per 100 possessions; the Kings managed 96.3. Those numbers expose the difference between creating more possessions and making them useful.
After the loss, Daeqwon Plowden described Sacramento’s defense as “flat.” That diagnosis puts the problem on both ends of the floor. The Kings need stops to create running opportunities, then enough control to keep those opportunities from becoming another defensive scramble.
Sacramento’s push upcourt needs to begin with secure possession. A rebounder cannot look ahead while still fighting to control the ball. An outlet receiver must offer a realistic passing target rather than sprint beyond reach.
The turnover total makes those details urgent. Trying to accelerate through pressure can leave teammates running away from a ball handler who needs help. Forcing the next pass then turns an intended fast break into an opponent’s opportunity.
The Kings should pursue quicker offense when the floor offers it. Their opener gives little reason to treat maximum speed as the answer to every possession.
Keep running when the lane closes
This week’s games have supplied different clues rather than a settled hierarchy. Miami has shown a measurable commitment to acceleration. Golden State has paired an explosive first half with productive passing. The Lakers have demonstrated how defensive pressure can generate offense, while Sacramento has shown how turnovers can undermine the entire exercise.
The next exhibitions should reveal whether those habits survive less accommodating circumstances. Watch Miami’s second catch after the opening drive. Follow Golden State’s runners when opponents deny the first advance pass.
For Los Angeles, the useful possessions may begin with ordinary rebounds rather than steals. The Lakers must show that they can reach good shots without depending on an opponent’s mistake.
Sacramento’s progress may look quieter. A secure outlet, an available receiver, and a sensible pass can accomplish more than a spectacular attempt through traffic.
The running game will also face a test during substitutions. One reserve jogging into an occupied lane can erase a promising opening. Another filling the correct corner can help create a basket without touching the ball.
Those small decisions will matter after October’s shooting bursts fade. A team can run hard and still waste the possession. When the first lane closes, who keeps the defense moving—and who hands it the ball?
READ MORE: Preseason Minutes Restrictions: Why NBA Coaches Sit Their Stars in October
FAQs
Which NBA teams are pushing the pace this preseason?
Miami and Golden State have shown early offensive urgency. The Lakers have created chances through defensive pressure, while Sacramento has struggled to protect the ball.
How fast did Miami play against Toronto?
Miami played at 113.5 possessions per 48 minutes. The Heat scored 76 points before halftime with their regular rotation handling those opening quarters.
How did the Lakers create fast-break opportunities against Sacramento?
The Lakers forced 26 turnovers and recorded 15 steals. Those defensive plays helped Los Angeles attack before Sacramento could organize its defense.
What held Sacramento back against the Lakers?
Sacramento committed 26 turnovers in its 127–103 loss. The Kings played quickly but surrendered possessions that helped fuel the Lakers’ offense.
Why does spacing matter when teams run?
Separate running lanes give the ball handler useful passing options. Crowded lanes let defenders cover multiple players and erase the early advantage.
