Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel explained how his team approaches shot selection with the Purple and Gold gearing up for Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets.

Vogel said the Lakers prioritize points in the paint and three-point looks, though he added he does not discourage players from taking midrange jumpers, as long as they have the space to get off a clean look:

“It is definitely a coaching point,” Vogel said, via Sam Amick of The Athletic. “You know, we want to have an analytics-based shot selection mindset with our team. … It’s the free throw No. 1; layup dunk No. 2; corner 3, No. 3; arc 3, No. 4, and midrange is the fifth priority shot we could have. But I will not ever tell my team not to take midrange shots if they are open shots. The No. 1 analytic for me is ‘Are you open?’ or ‘Are you guarded?’ That applies to shots at the rim, applies to 3-point line and applies to midrange. I’ll take an open shot over any zone that you can put up the shot from, and we want to work for open shots.”

Indeed, the Lakers controlled the painted area in Game 1, outscoring the Nuggets 56-54 in the paint.

However, Los Angeles also had success from beyond the arc. The Lakers made 11 of 26 three-point attempts, with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Markieff Morris combining to make six of their nine attempts from beyond the arc.

The Lakers are going to be tough to beat if they consistently knock down perimeter jumpers, particularly considering LeBron James and Anthony Davis find ways to get whatever they want in the paint.

Vogel and the rest of the coaching staff will hope the Lakers can get more easy shots as they look to take a 2-0 lead over the Nuggets on Sunday.