While the Los Angele Lakers may have to rely on going small with LeBron James at the five to survive the six weeks until Anthony Davis returns, there’s a compelling case for keeping the King at the five even after AD returns.
With Davis likely out until February, the Lakers are poised to commit to starting LeBron James at center until AD returns. They’ve already moved DeAndre Jordan out of the rotation and Dwight Howard should be next. Unless the Lakers make a sudden surprise move to add another center, you can expect a heavy dose of small ball with LeBron James starting at the five. That’s the only way the Lakers are going to survive until AD gets back.
So far this season, LeBron at the five has been one of the Lakers’ best lineups, posting an impressive 13.5 offensive rating (2nd best in NBA) and 106.0 defensive rating (5th best in NBA) for a +7.5 net rating (3rd best in NBA). Considering most of those stats were compiled with Jordan or Howard as a second big, the LeBron at the five metrics going forward with Anthony Davis playing his preferred power forward position should be even better.
Because of his low center of gravity, physical strength, and veteran savvy, James is a better on-ball low-post defender than Anthony Davis, who excels as an off-the-ball help shot blocker who can roam like a football free safety. Throw in James’ unrivaled playmaking and bully ball invulnerability and you start to see how having him play the five and AD the four could be the better long-term solution rather than him at the four and Davis at the five.
Playing LeBron instead of AD at the five changes everything. The Lakers get bigger, badder, and better with LeBron at center. Frank gets his two bigs, AD gets his preferred power forward, and LeBron becomes a small ball five.
https://www.lakerholics.com/could-the-evolution-of-lebron-james-be-small-ball-stretch-five-for-lakers/
What an amazing night for LeBron, for the first time in his career, starting at center. And no Jordan or Howard. Made the game close but I’m loving seeing LeBron as the Borg whom other teams just cannot handle in the paint.
Watching Russ using pick-and-rolls from LeBron tonight only further cemented my belief LeBron should play the five all the time going forward. Irony of all ironies is it could end up being his best position. He impacts the game so many ways that AD doesn’t at the five. Add AD in as the off ball shot blocker and stretch four and the Lakers are a different team. Russ’ passes to LeBron cutting for those last two killer layups were elite. Quick like only Russ can do.
Going to be fun watching this grow. Great games from LeBron and Russ and Melo and Monk. We need to get Reaves and Ariza back and then AD. We will be totally different team with LeBron at the five as the team’s new weapon.
Imagine when we roll our a LeBron at 5, Ariza at 6, AD at 3, Reaves at 2, and Russ at 1 small ball lineup heading into the playoffs. That could be some serious transformational basketball.
I have to admit, I didn’t know what to expect when I saw the starting lineup. But man, that lineup worked, even if it is just one game. James pick and roll with Russ was exceptional. Tom you are very right, if you add in AD as the off ball shot blocker while James play the 5 this team will be tough to handle.
Thanks, Buba.
If we don’t trade for Turner or Wood, then I’m 100% behind LeBron at the five and AD at the four. It solves the problem of Frank wanting two bigs and AD wanting to play the three.
Wonder if that was Frank’s or Fiz’s decision to start LeBron at the five? I loved that we didn’t resort to playing Jordan or Howard. Big question is will we have the will tonight to start LeBron against Steven Adams? Lakers should start LeBron and play Adams off the floor.
Certainly a useful weapon, one that won’t be deployed against the likes of Embiid, Jokic, and KAT. Against teams with pretty much no center it makes sense. I’ll be surprised if LeBron jumps center tonight against Steven Adams, for instance. Probably start Dwight and got to LBJ when Adams sits.
I agree with when it comes to Embiid or Jokic or Kat but the Lakers simply need to play a center like Adams off the floor. No need to screw the spacing by starting Dwight although he should play when LeBron is on the bench. Can’t play Melo at the five.
It was interesting to watch but gotta keep in mind that this was against HOU and it was a tie game with 3 minutes left. Still anxious to see how it looks against actual playoff competition and good coaching..
It was a tie game because we were missing AD, Ariza, and Reaves. Replace Bradley, Collison, and THT and this game would have been a rout.