Rather have them than Robinson and Herro or Lou Will and Trez. Defense and playmaking are as important as scoring.
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Lakers Fast Break – Who Is And Who Is Not In Orlando? with Rafael Barlowe!
Rafael Barlowe from NBA Draft Junkies returns as he and Gerald talk about the upcoming scrimmages for the Lakers and the rest of the NBA this week but is everyone there to participate? We talk about the secrecy of who is not yet arrived in the bubble and why that could be. Plus we go into depth on JaVale Mcgee’s vlogs from inside the Orlando bubble, Kemba Walker and Victor Oladipo’s health issues and how it will affect both the Celtics and the Pacers, Jonathan Kuminga heading to the G-League and so much more on another jam-packed episode of the Lakers Fast Break podcast!
The One Player Every NBA Team Needs to Step Up in Orlando
The One Player Every NBA Team Needs to Step Up in Orlandohttps://t.co/8CnMSnmlOh via @BleacherReport
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 23, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers: Alex Caruso
Somehow, at age 35, LeBron James remains the fulcrum upon which a title contender rests. When he is on the floor, the Los Angeles Lakers boast the third-best offense in the NBA by net rating, and when he sits, they’re above only the Warriors in offensive rating.
James has played nearly 35 minutes a night this year, and he’ll play even more in the playoffs. But between that worrying net rating swing and Avery Bradley’s absence from the bubble, Los Angeles needs another guard willing and able to give quality minutes.
Though his reputation has been inflated by overeager Lakers fans, Alex Caruso has emerged as a genuine NBA contributor this year. The so-called Bald Mamba has proved especially valuable on the defensive end, ranking sixth among shooting guards in ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus, but he can knock down a shot when necessary and takes care of the basketball, recording 2.2 assists per turnover.
If Caruso becomes an integral part of Los Angeles’ championship hopes this summer, it’s time to worry. But if he runs a serviceable second-unit offense while continuing to grind on defense, expect the Lakers’ title train to continue running on schedule.
3 Things To Watch: Lakers Scrimmages
Keep an eye out for these things during the #Lakers upcoming scrimmages.
(via @ethantemkin)https://t.co/hCwj7kgXXj
— Lake Show Life (@TheLakeShowLife) July 20, 2020
THT getting plenty of buzz around the Lakers in the bubble
Talen Horton-Tucker is getting plenty of buzz around the Lakers in the bubble https://t.co/DLEyciNisx via @LakersSBN
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 23, 2020
Lakers rookie Talen Horton-Tucker might be the breakout star of the team’s mid-season training camp.
The Lakers’ rookie has clearly lost a ton of weight, and it’s not the only way he’s making an impression on the purple and gold as they look to restart the season. Head coach Frank Vogel singled out Horton-Tucker as a player having “a great camp” for the team after the coaching staff didn’t get a ton of time with him while he spent most of the year in the G League. And in his first chance in months to impact how the organization sees him, Horton-Tucker is taking advantage.
“His body changed,” Vogel said. “(He) dropped a lot of weight, got himself in great shape… He also did a lot of work on his shot. His perimeter shot really has improved throughout the course of this year and because of those two things, he’s had some success.
“It’s really brought a lot of confidence to him as a young player, and that’s what’s showing up right now, is how confident he’s playing. He’s playing beyond his years in these practices and scrimmages.”
But while Horton-Tucker may be playing beyond his years right now, that doesn’t mean he’s immune to being treated like a rookie. In that aforementioned video from McGee, Horton-Tucker can be seen carrying his teammates bags — “rookie duties,” said McGee — and he still gets “picked on a little bit and just treated like a rookie,” according to Vogel.