Williams can get to the line

TORONTO — During his rookie year, Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell took note of veteran guard Lou Williams’ most infuriating and reliable skill.

That ability to get to the free-throw line, that skill that amused his teammates and frustrated opponents.

So Russell studied film of Williams drawing fouls, then he asked for suggestions.

“A lot of guys are dominating this game from the free-throw line,” Russell said. “I wanted to find out a way I could figure that out early in my career.”

On Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls, Williams did it again, drawing a foul on Bulls guard Rajon Rondo late in the shot clock, with the Lakers leading by two and 20 seconds remaining in the game. It contributed to an unlikely, short-handed Lakers win on the second night of a back-to-back. It continued a trend.

According to BasketballReference.com, Williams ranks sixth in the league in free throws per 100 possessions among guards. Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, Houston’s James Harden, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan and Portland’s Damian Lillard are the only other guards who have taken more free throws per 100 possessions.

“You just gotta laugh at it at this point,” Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. said. “We see it so much in practice, for us it’s hard to believe guys still bite on that. But sure enough, every time, he gets it.”

Said reserve point guard Marcelo Huertas: “It’s a gift.”

Added Lakers Coach Luke Walton: “It’s smart basketball.”

This season, Williams has made 83.3% of his free throws, and he’s a career 81.8% free-throw shooter, making it all the more valuable of a skill for the Lakers.

Learning how to draw fouls was a conscious choice for Williams. After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in January of 2013, he knew he could no longer rely on his quickness as much as he had before.

“Had to find other ways to score the basketball,” Williams said.

His knowledge of defenses got him there.

“I understand coverages,” Williams said. “I understand a lot of times teams are going to try to push me right, they don’t want me to get to my left hand. So if I jab right and I go left you’re gonna probably try to cut me off because your coach is gonna get mad. You’re probably going to run into me, and I’m just going to shoot the ball.”

Russell isn’t the only Lakers guard to take note of Williams’ free-throw-drawing prowess. Jordan Clarkson stays conscious of opportunities to catch opposing defenders slipping.

Huertas equated gambling in defending Williams to putting one’s “hand in a cookie jar.” He’s never seen anything exactly like Williams’ technique.

“He grabs the defender’s arm before he even catches the ball,” Huertas said. “So it’s a different way. James Harden does it. He does it in a different way, he grabs the ball and tries to draw contact, but Lou he draws the contact before he even grabs the ball. So it gives him the chance of shooting or not. If the ref calls the foul or not, he gives them a fraction of a second to think about it. It’s something unique.”

Often, all anyone can do is laugh.