Forget the stumbles and disappointments of first half of the season because the Lakers will finally get an opportunity to see if the superstar big three they envisioned when trading for Russell Westbrook can actually work.
Anthony Davis is expected to be back in the starting lineup as the Lakers get ready to play three critical road games against the best of the East. They play the Heat tomorrow, the Nets on Tuesday, and the 76ers on Wednesday. Showing they can compete with the top teams in the East will not only prove the Lakers are a legitimate contender but could also determine whether or not Frank Vogel remains as head coach of the Los Angles Lakers.
Because of untimely injuries and Covid protocols, the Lakers’ superstar big three has only played 15 games out of the team’s 46 total games and 291 minutes of the team’s 2,248 total minutes. That’s just under 13% of the time. With 36 games remaining in the 2021–22 regular season and 10 games until the February 10th trade deadline, the Lakers will get a chance to see how their superstar big three fares and whether they need to make changes.
As a team, the Lakers have been unable to play good, consistent basketball. Every time they appear to turn the corner, they instead find a way to fail. No more excuses. Here’s what Lakers need to do to take advantage of AD.
1. Fix the Starting Lineup
Vogel’s lineups have been a major source of concern. Frank needs to understand his job is still at risk and, now that he has AD back, he needs to make smart decisions about the Lakers’ starting lineup and rotations.
LeBron, AD, and Russ will all start and usually close games as expected. Russ will start at the one, LeBron at the four, and Anthony at the five. That leaves starting roles for a shooting guard and small forward to go with the big 3. While there’s some question about who was making lineup decisions for the Lakers, it does appear right now that head coach Frank Vogel has been given that power for the time being, as was shown by his benching of Westbrook.
Last night, Vogel started Westbrook, Bradley, James, Ariza, and Howard but swapped Howard for Johnson the second half. With AD back, it’s obvious Johnson should be the Lakers small forward to go with James and Davis. Stanley Johnson starting the second half allowed the Lakers to switch everything on defense, which should be a strategic goal rest of this season and the playoffs as it makes it easier to stay in front of your man.
Starting today, Frank needs to to replace 6′ 3″ Avery Bradley in the starting lineup with 6′ 5″ Austin Reaves, who is the the Lakers’ best perimeter defender and the perfect player to complement their superstar big three.
2. Make Russ the Third Option
One of the problems the Lakers have endured in this third straight Covid and injury plagued season is LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook were only on the court together for 15 games and 291 minutes.
With James missing 12 games and Davis 19 games, Westbrook was left to function as the team’s second option for much of this season rather than third option that was envisioned, which led to a chaotic first half of season. Hopefully, the moves by Vogel to make Westbrook more accountable for his turnovers, poor shot selection, and half-hearted defense and the return of Anthony Davis will be enough for Russ to embrace being the third option.
This season marks the third straight year Russell Westbrook will have had to adjust to a new team and new teammates. In his first year with the Rockets and then with the Wizards, Russ played better the second half of the season. While the Lakers discussed trading Westbrook, it appears now the goal is to give the Lakers’ superstar big three an opportunity to show what they can accomplish now that LeBron, AD, and Russ are finally healthy.
The Lakers have seen Russ make a legitimate effort to adjust his game to fit what the team needs from him as their third superstar. With LeBron and AD healthy, Russ now needs to embrace being the Lakers’ third superstar.
3. Narrow the Team’s Rotations
After playing so many crazy lineups and rotations due to injuries and Covid protocols, the Lakers finally have enough key players available that they can start playing a legitimate starting lineup backed up by quality rotations.
With Russ starting at the one, Reaves the two, Johnson the three, LeBron the four, and AD the five, Frank Vogel needs to make tough decisions to narrow the team’s rotation to 9 or 10 players instead of the usual 11 or 12 players. Narrowing the bench rotation to just 4 players — Carmelo Anthony, Malik Monk, Kendrick Nunn, and Dwight Howard — will eliminate the terrible indefensible lineups Frank Vogel was forced to play earlier in the season.
Narrowing the rotation essentially means players like Avery Bradley, Wayne Ellington, Trevor Ariza, DeAndre Jordan, and Talen Horton-Tucker will be relegated to third backup roles in case of key players injuries or foul trouble. The Lakers have 36 games left in the season and their top priority should be establishing consistent starting lineups and rotations so everybody knows their role and what to expect as the team heads into the playoffs.
The major challenge Frank Vogel has overcome is his hesitancy to remove underperforming players from the starting lineup or rotations. Vogel needs to remove Avery Bradley from the Lakers’ starting lineup and rotations.
4. Take Advantage of a Rested AD
One of the keys to the Lakers winning their 17th NBA championship in the bubble was having a healthy and rested LeBron James and Anthony Davis as a result of the four and a half month Covid driven suspension of the season.
As the Lakers head into the last 36 games on this regular season schedule, they should benefit from Anthony Davis having had over a month off to strengthen his injured knee and spend time fixing his shooting mechanics. Anthony Davis needs to be the bubble AD if the Lakers are to come back from a disappointing first half of the season and win their 18th NBA championship. Anything less will not be enough for the Lakers to prevail.
Lakers need Davis to get back his stroke from the bubble playoffs when he averaged 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks, shooting 57.1% from the field, 38.3% from deep, and 83.2% from the line. That would be an improvement over his regular season stats, where he’s averaged 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks, shooting 52.1% from field, 17.9% from deep, and 72.7% from the line.
Now that AD is healthy and rested, the Lakers need him to be the lethal midrange and 3-point shooter he was during the bubble championship. A healthy and rested Anthony Davis will be the key to the winning it all.
5. Trade THT at the Deadline
21-year old Talen Horton-Tucker is the Lakers most valuable trading chip. Like they did with Klutch Sports’ client KCP, the Lakers rewarded THT with a big raise right before they’re likely to trade him to another team.
Talen’s problem has always been his fit alongside LeBron, AD, and Russ. Like the Lakers three superstars, THT is a player who’s strength is his ability to attack the paint and finish at the rim and his weakness is 3-point shooting. The Lakers need to move THT and his 3-year $30 million contract for a player who is a better fit for the Lakers, ideally a bigger, longer 3&D wing with 6′ 8″ to 6′ 10″ size who can defend other teams bigger wing scorers.
The Lakers have already offered THT, Nunn, and their 2027 first round draft pick for Jerami Grant but the Pistons don’t appear ready to accept that offer. Besides Grant, the Lakers have been linked to numerous other NBA starters. Pacers’ Myles Turner, Rockets Christian Wood and Eric Gordon, Sixers’ Ben Simmons, Kings’ Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield, Raptors’ Chris Boucher and Goran Dragic have all been rumored to be Laker trade targets.
In the end, the Lakers best fit could be an excellent 3&D guard like Eric Gordon or shot-blocking stretch five center like Myles Turner. Gordon or Turner would both help elevate the Lakers team defense back to the top.
This is the game that marks the Lakers turning their season around. All of the other false dawns and fake turnarounds be damned. We’re finally healthy except for Nunn.
Here are the 5 things the Lakers need to do to revive their championship hopes:
1. Fix the Starting Lineup
2. Make Russ the Third Option
3. Narrow the Team’s Rotations
4. Take Advantage of a Rested AD
5. Trade THT at the Deadline
While the starting lineup of Reaves and Stanley Johnson with AD, LeBron, and Russ looks great, my question is do we have enough three-point shooters in that lineup? Besides, isn’t it a little bit too early to narrow the rotation when we are just now beginning to have most of our players back? Something tells me a little patience will go a long way in figuring out the best rotation.
You’re right Buba. While both both Stanley and Austin have each had a couple of great shooting games, they are both under the league average as 3 point shooters. They have to improve as shooters because we need that spacing. I like Stanley over Trevor at this point but I would like to see Malik start. He can shoot the 3 and he has shown a real chemistry with LeBron in setting up LeBron. Plus Malik has been much better as a starter then he has been as a starter.
There you have it, Michael. Starting Monk will do it for me. Great points and observations.
The problem is you have three players starting with Russ and LeBron who should not be starting and aren’t the best we have. No way Bradley, Johnson, or Howard should be starting for the Lakers other than injuries, although Bradley actually had a good game despite never staying in front of the man he was defending. He still should be replaced by either Reaves or Monk.
Who should start with LeBron and Russ are:
1. Anthony Davis
2. Forward or center we get from trading THT,
3. Best two-way shooting guard, Monk or Reaves
I’m starting to feel Frank has adopted Avery Bradley and will hang on to keeping him in the starting lineup. We need a better defender at the two guard, someone who is physical like Eric Gordon or bigger like Reaves. Yeah, I love Monk and he’s better defensively but it comes down to a choice of putting out a starting lineup that can switch everything or a starting lineup where Monk is going to be relentlessly hunted.
Like everything, Frank is a defensive coach and doesn’t know how to use players like Monk. I truly don’t understand his starting Bradley even though he played well for the most part.
It just seems were always behind and fighting to catch up because of the lineups Frank uses. Bradley is the new DJ. He’s the guy other teams are hunting, Frank. Ever wonder why, Frank?
We need five switchable defenders on the court so we can switch everything. Anybody who’s played the game understands the difference. You need five, not four, not three, guys to make it work.
THT will finish the season as a Laker. Same as Russ. We need to evaluate who we can waive and start scouring the corner’s of the Earth for size and defense. Waiver wire pickups and that’s the breadth of the moves I see Rob making (or able to make based on what we have to trade).
LMAO, THT is gone for sure. Nunn likely too.
One thing to remember is the Lakers generally react with a major move any time their first plan seems to have failed. Now through the years the time in between has gotten longer but now with LeBron on the team, the Lakers will be under great pressure to make major changes, which is trading THT and Nunn and the pick, which they’ve already offered for Grant and will ultimately give to whomever will give them the best in return. It will come down to their ability to choose the right return for our three trading chips. Hit that and we can win. Miss and we will lose. Stand pat and we’re screwed.
Like I’ve been saying we’ll see who’s “LMAO”ing in a month. I think the FO liked Grant and Detroit (wisely) said no thank you to the offer.
I agree that we should trade THT and certainly Nunn who has been a total non-factor, just don’t see it happening at this point based on Nunn not playing and THT not p[laying well.
Here’s a bigger issue/better question: do you throw in Reaves or Monk to make a deal to move THT and/or Nunn? I would not, they’re too of our brightest spots thus far.
You’re right about the bigger question, Jamie. I hate to give up Reaves or Monk although I seriously doubt either one of them has a high enough ceiling to be a championship NBA starter, which should be the measure by which you make the decision since LeBron’s window is closing.
We need another non-superstar starter who’s not on the team right now and Grant would be perfect fit both talent, age, and contract. I might instead give the Pelicans a second rounder to free up a pick so we could offer Detroit a second first rounder. I think that might cinch the deal.
But if push came to shove, I would throw in Monk but ask for the first round pick back. For a team like Detroit, Monk would be a perfect young player to bring in fans while rebuilding. More so than Reaves. And the Lakers were likely going to lose him to free agency anways.
From what I’m reading, though, it doesn’t seem like Detroit is being overwhelmed by trade offers for Grant. Nor have they come out and said there is no way for the Lakers’ offer. I expect the Lakers to be making other offers of the exact same three trading chips for other players like Harrison Barnes or Myles Turner. Moves made to push the Pistons to accept their offer or make a valid counter offer.
I’m also interested in players who would only require us to trade THT, giving us a chance to keep Nunn, who could be perfect as our backup behind Russell Westbrook. Nunn fits what we’re doing with small ball. THT just doesn’t. And Nunn might be content to just accept the second year of his contract. Anyway, players for whom we might trade THT straight up include Houston’s Christian Wood or Eric Gordon (whom would finally move Bradley to the bench) or Toronto’s Chris Boucher.
There will be trades the Lakers can make and it makes no sense to keep THT or Nunn and the pick is they can get the right starter.
When AD returns this is how I feel like the rotation will be:
Team A:
PG – Russell Westbrook
SG – Avery Bradley
SF – …Trevor Ariza…
PF – LeBron James
C – Anthony Davis
Team B:
PG – Malik Monk
SG – Austin Reaves
SF – Talen Horton-Tucker
PF – Carmelo Anthony
C – Dwight Howard (only when James is sitting though and if AD is in foul trouble, things of that nature.
Nobody else should see minutes. We don’t get Wayne shots so it makes little sense to play Wayne at this point, waive him or DeAndre Jordan (my preference is DAJ but I honestly don’t see the team doing that) and open a spot for a waiver.
Sign Stanley for at least the rest of the season. I could see a reason to waive any one of Kent, DeAndre or Wayne at this point. We got enough old guys, we need size and rebounding, they don’t have those things. DeAndre Jordan is ready for his fork, the dude is done, let him loose. Still, have a hard time seeing that happen…
While I would rather see a little more youth and shooting in Team A I think Frank rolls with what have to be considered the better defenders on the team. Frank also always defers to vets until they show they’ve pretty much fallen off the cliff, like Kent and DeAndre managed to do.
We will trade for a starter to replace Ariza in your list. Or, worst case, Johnson will replace Ariza.
Horton-Tucker is gone for sure. Nunn might be kept as back up point guard.
My depth chart right now is:
PG: WESTBROOK, Nunn, Horton-Tucker
SG: REAVES, Monk, Bradley, Ellington
SF: JOHNSON, Bazemore
PF: JAMES, Anthony, Ariza
CE: DAVIS, Howard, Jordan
Note: my depth chart is my choice, not what I think Frank might do.
Based on history, he will stupidly lose his job riding on AB Island.
In fact, I might make a THT for Eric Gordon trade just to move AB to the bench.
PG: Westbrook
SG: Gordon
SF; Johnson
PF: James
CE: Davis
If it’s my choice and not what I think Frank will do, which I see little sense in doing then it looks like this:
PG-Russ
SG-Monk
SF-LBJ
PF-Stanley
C-Davis
backups
PG-AB
SG-AR
SF-TA
PF-Melo
C-Dwight (but only as situations and matchups dictate)
But that’s not gonna happen so it’s just dreaming away the day, IMO.
I’m not entertaining trade notions at this time simply because I don’t see anything happening.
What’s funny is there is nothing more important to me than what I think the Lakers should do, which makes me optimistic.
Meanwhile, you prefer to focus on what you expect Frank to do, which leads you to pessimistic expectations.
Because I deal in reality. Frank is the coach. If I were the coach, or if there were another coach I was inclined to think would do things differently than I would post those ideas and notions. I don’t do dream weaver scenarios. It’s a fun thought exercise, sure, but in the end that’s all it is. If you choose to characterize reality as pessimistic that’s fair, it often is. But I don’t think that creating outlandish, and often impossible to achieve, scenarios makes things better or a person more optimistic. For instance I still think the Lakers have the pieces in-house to compete for a banner. We need guys like THT to find something consistent, Monk to be featured more (that’s on both the player needing to ask for the ball on the court and Frank to put him in the best position to succeed) and for health to swing our way again.
Of course, when I focus on what Frank is going to do, I feel like slitting my wrists. SMH.
I mean…at some point one needs to place one’s faith in the professionals. SO, while I think Frank is a better playoff than regular season coach I think he can (and even has) made some adjustments that make sense. In reality, if he had never said “I want to see a starting five etched in stone!!!” or whatever he’d be in less of a PR mess. Although he would still be in line up Hell. At any rate, I think we’ll see some more adjustments based on fit with AD. Might take until right up to the trade deadline but I think we’ll see ’em.
Well, I obviously like your rotations better than what you expect from Frank. I wonder how much winning the shampionship has doomed Frank to be fired for stubbornly sticking to what he thinks are why he won. No matter what the cost or consequence.