2. Starting 5 lacking chemistry
The Lakers starting 5 of LeBron James, Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and McGee is not operating on all cylinders. Most importantly, it is not involving Ingram in the offense frequently enough. Instead, the preference seems to be to feed McGee in the low post, where he is not a dominant player.
Both Ingram and KCP have gone long stretches without touching the ball. In the 2 games, Rondo has lived up to his reputation for holding onto the ball and not passing it until he has an assist opportunity. He’s made an exception only to give it up to James. But he’s ignored both Ingram and KCP, who each stay camped out on the perimeter, essentially acting as decoys.
Once he returns from suspension, Ingram needs to see the ball more often. Given an opportunity, he has shown an increased ability to assert himself. He probably needs to move more without the ball. But in addition, it might be best for him to play major minutes with the second unit, where he can be the focal point of the offense, especially when James is out of the game.