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Los Angeles Lakers: Point guard Tyler Ennis earning minutes

By Davide Tovani

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 3: Tyler Ennis #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 3, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 3: Tyler Ennis #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 3, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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In the wake of Lonzo Ball’s injury, point guard Tyler Ennis had the chance to prove himself receiving some long-awaited playing time.

When Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard Lonzo Ball went down with a shoulder injury, combo guard Jordan Clarkson, primarily playing as backup point guard through the season, inherited the starting role left vacant by the rookie.

However, with the Lakers struggling with Clarkson as a starter, Luke Walton decided to shake things up. He gave Tyler Ennis, who we had sparingly seen on the court until that moment, a chance to lead the team, throwing him into the starting lineup.

Not that the results were much different in terms of win-loss record for the Lakers, but Ennis took the chance he was given and showed some sign of life after spending most of the season sitting on the end of the bench.

In six games without Lonzo Ball (starting three of them and not dressing for one) the 6’3″ guard averaged 7.6 points and 4.8 assists in 21.6 minutes per game. He had an impressive 20 points, 11 assists performance in a close loss to the Houston Rockets.

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Of course, we have to take the performance against the Rockets with a grain of salt. Given the pace of play and lackluster defensive effort. However, Ennis still responded to the call to the action.

He took what the defense was giving him, showing no fear facing one of the premier teams in the league. The Rockets are also one of the better defensive teams in the NBA, so Ennis earned his statistics.

In this span of games, he also shot an awful 1-for-10 on 3-pointers. The 3-point shooting remains a big issue for a team that is dead last in 3-point percentage.

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Anyway, after displaying some productivity and outplaying South Bay Lakers point guard Alex Caruso, Ennis keeps receiving minutes behind Lonzo Ball, hoping he provides some needed spark off the bench that can help the Lakers recover from the unmerciful month of December.

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