As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for the 2021–22 season opener against the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles on Tuesday night, the big question is who is going to start alongside LeBron, AD, and Westbrook.
Untimely injuries to Trevor Ariza as well as Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk, and Wayne Ellington have derailed Lakers ‘ head coach Frank Vogel’s basic plan to have the same starting lineup all season long. Earlier in the season, the Lakers likely starting lineup was projected to include the three superstars plus Wayne Ellington and Trevor Ariza but it now appears neither will be available to play Tuesday night due to injuries.
Although Monk and Nunn both returned to practice today, there’s been no official word yet as to whether they’ll be ready to play Tuesday night. Right now, here are the four best options Vogel has to fill out the starting lineup:
1. KENT BAZEMORE, STARTING SMALL FORWARD
While the Lakers struggled and lost all six of their preseason games, Kent Bazemore was clearly one of the team’s bright spots, playing solid perimeter defense and shooting 36% on a respectable volume of 4.2 threes per game.
While his 112.1 defensive rating for the preseason only ranked 13th on the Lakers and his offensive rating of 89.0 ranked 15th on the team, Bazemore was singled out by Vogel for his excellent defense and 3-point shooting. While only 6′ 4″ and 195 pounds, Kent has a 7′ 0″ wingspan that enables him to play and defend both the shooting guard and small forward positions. His greatest ‘ability’ might be his availability as injuries limit his competitors.
With Ariza out for another 6 to 8 weeks, Bazemore may have locked up the fourth starting spot because of his balance of shooting and defense. That he also started five of the six preseason games is a solid indication he will start.
2. DEANDRE JORDAN, STARTING CENTER
Frank Vogel loves two big defenders in his starting lineups and seems hell bent on repeating the twin towers lineups from the Lakers’ championship in the bubble with DeAndre Jordan assuming JaVale McGee’s starting role.
While Jordan had a poor 91.7 offensive rating, 105.0 defensive rating, and -13.3 net rating for preseason, he did start at center in the Lakers’ final preseason game, which was labeled as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for opening night. The problem with starting Jordan at the five is it moves Anthony Davis to the four and leaves only shooting guard as a position for a high volume, high percentage 3-point shooter to create spacing for the Lakers’ superstars.
While the Lakers won a championship starting a low post center in the regular season, starting Jordan would be a major mistake that would leave the starting lineup without enough 3-point shooting to create spacing.
3. CARMELO ANTHONY, STARTING POWER FORWARD
The injuries to Ariza, Horton-Tucker, Ellington, Monk, and Nunn may force coach Frank Vogel to start Carmelo Anthony at power forward alongside Anthony Davis at center with LeBron James then moving to small forward.
This might not be the permanent starting lineup Frank Vogel was hoping for but at least it does include Anthony Davis playing the five and two starting spots for elite 3-point shooters between Melo and whoever plays the two. Because of Mel’s subpar defense, the Lakers would likely have to start Bazemore at the two so they would not end up with two poor defenders. Melo did shoot 43.5% on 4.6 threes per game, second best to Malik Monk.
With the injuries limiting Vogel’s choice, starting Melo and Bazemore may be the best Frank Vogel can do right now to give the Lakers size and shooting to go with their superstar big three of James, Davis, and Westbrook.
4. AUSTIN REAVES, STARTING SHOOTING GUARD
Austin Reaves has been the surprise of the Lakers’ preseason. Undrafted, he impressed enough to earn a two-way contract, which was then converted to a regular NBA contract as the 23-year old enjoyed a breakout training camp.
Reaves is a long shot to start alongside LeBron, AD, and Russ but the 23-year old, 6′ 5,” and 195 pound shooting guard could well be the Lakers’ best option to start at the two due to his solid 3-point shooting and defense. What Austin brings to the starting lineup is a balance of savvy playmaking, high volume and quality 3-point shooting, great size and rotational instincts on defense, and solid basketball IQ and great maturity as a rookie.
If Frank Vogel’s goal in building a starting lineup is to surround LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook with the two players who best complement them, then Austin Rivers should be the starting shooting guard.
There are obviously other candidates besides the above four whom Frank Vogel could decide might start for the Lakers along with the superstar big three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook.
Of the other seven players on the roster, I excluded Ariza, Horton-Taylor, or Ellington as they’re unlikely to be available and Howard, Nunn, Monk, or Rondo, as they’re all far better suited to come off the bench for the Lakers. I’m hoping Frank Vogel does not start DeAndre Jordan as that would create major spacing issues for the Lakers’ starting lineup and leave the Lakers vulnerable to not having enough 3-point shooting to win enough games.
In the end, Vogel’s best starting option to complement the big three would be Austin Reaves and Kent Bazemore because of shooting and defense. Second best option would be Kent Bazemore and Carmelo Anthony.
I’m just hoping Frank will do anything but start DeAndre Jordan in some old school rerun of what worked in the regular season before the bubble but what we had to abandon in the bubble in order to win our 17th NBA championship.
My best choice to start with the big three are Reaves and Bazemore with Bazemore and Anthony as ny second choice. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine Frank choosing a rookie to start but if the goal is to start the best two players who complement LeBron, AD, and Russ, then it’s hard not to include Reaves.
Even after a poor 1-8 from three outing against the Kings, Austin is still shooting 34.5% on 4.8 threes per game, second only to Malik Monk’s 5.7 threes per game. What I love best about Austin is his smarts. He’s already the closest thing we have to Caruso as a defender who is always in the right spot and making the right decisions.
Austin is also averaging 2.8 assists per game against only 1.0 turnovers. He also has the team’s third best net rating for the preseason at a -5.4, topped only by LeBron, Dwight, and THT. The eyetest and stats say he should be a starter because he’s the best fit with the big three.
The other issue is the team we play on Tuesday, which is the Golden State Warriors, who are going to play small with Draymond Green playing the five.
Starting DeAndre Jordan against the small ball Warriors would be a huge mistake. Lakers need to start AD at the five and matchup with the small ball Warriors.
The problem the Lakers face with a low post center on the floor besides Davis is poor spacing for our superstars and teams going small with three guards like the Kings did to destroy us in the fourth quarter on Thursday.
It’s one thing for a small ball team to force opponents to abandon going big because of giving up 3 points for 2 on each possession. What doesn’t work well is trying to outscore a 3-point shooting team like the Dubs by scoring layups while they make threes. 2 is not greater than 3.
Lakers have the best small ball roster, the best small superstars, and the best small ball center. Only Frank Vogel would screw that up by trying to go big instead of small.
Aloha Tom
first of all, a lot will depend on if they get a couple of guys back. if they dont it almost forces them to start a big. it looks like Looney will be their starting center he started every preseason game. so at least DJ would not have to guard Draymond.
if we have a couple of guys back, I’m hoping we start AD at center. Even if we don’t he will play a lot of Center.
as for the other guys, I think one will be Bazmore, the only question will be, if its at the 2 or 3. If we do go small, my pick is Malik for the shooting guard spot. i know you love Reeves but he’s not there yet, and i think you forgot how well Monk was playing before he got hurt. He was shooting .471 from 3, on 5,7 shots in only 21 minutes. You love volume 3 point shooting, well there you go. Hes called micro wave by the team so that gives you an idea of what hes doing in practice as well. Actually he might be a good call to start if we do start DJ. Hes also a 3 level scorer and playmaker. He shot .515 overall. Austin was under 40% and only .345 from 3.
James Worthy thinks Monk might start. He says the team has been extremely high on him in the preseason, even though his offense wasnt clicking in those first few preseason games. He also said they were high on THT in camp as well. He was playing very good D. Raised his 3 point % to .364 on 3.7 shots in 22 minutes. and he was also dishing 2.7 assists in those short runs.
So while i also am impressed with Reeves, once everyone is back, he will have do more to earn minutes.
Yeah, hard to see Austin getting the start. While he did well there are a lot of vets who will feast first.
There may not be a better player on this team who complements the Big Three better than Austin. That was the criteria Frank set for the other two starters. Reaves could be best fit.
Aloha and thanks for reading and commenting, Michael. I also do like Monk and there was a version of the article with five candidates. I decided it was unlikely that Frank would start him after missing the last three games and he has only started one regular season game in his four years in the league. In the end, I see him and Melo as our 6MOY candidates.
I don’t see Austin getting the nod, they’ll probably start Ellington if AD is at the 4 or Melo if AD is at the 5.
DAJ had his best game of the preseason in the last one, all the reason Frank’s ever need…
What definitely helped is how Frank and the staff are using DeAndre and Dwight as screeners rather than having them clog the paint from the dunker’s spot.
That’s helps but is not a substitute for having a shooter who has gravity and forces teams to defend him beyond the arc. Playing a low post big with the Big Three only leaves us with one 3-point shooter to create spacing.
Frank needs to avoid doing that as much as possible. Starting DeAndre borders on malpractice when it comes to coaching.
Yahoo has DAJ starting tonight. Please don’t shoot the messenger 🙂