With the Los Angeles Lakers stumbling out the gate, their bench has been a bright spot so far.
Everyone expected this Los Angeles Lakers team to struggle early on with all the new pieces acquired during the offseason.
After starting 0-3 with losses to the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Portland Trailblazers, all playoff teams from last year, nobody is too surprised at this point. However, M.U.D. has been the lone bright spot this season, and they could very well keep the Lakers afloat while the starters work out the kinks.
Currently, the Lakers bench ranks 5th in points at 45.1 per game, while getting an average of 19.7 minutes per game, about three minutes behind the league-leading Portland Trailblazers who give 22.3. minutes to their bench.
The Lakers bench also rank top 10 in steals and blocks, so once the Lakers are back at full strength after “SpitGate,” the clear move would be to give the bench more minutes.
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After the Lakers 143-142 overtime loss to San Antonio, Lebron James is currently averaging 39.7 minutes per game, which is admittedly well above what coach Luke Walton would want for Lebron one year into his four-year deal.
The suspensions of Brandon Ingram and Rajon Rondo threw a wrench into this plan, but once they are back, we should see Coach Walton continue to increase minutes for his bench. Lance Stephenson, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma are too good to get only 10-15 minutes per game.
Throughout the year, we should expect the Lakers to make some changes to the starting lineup, work through rotations and lineups to see what works and what doesn’t, that is part of working in 8 new players.
Luke has options; he can choose between Lonzo or Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope or Josh Hart, or maybe even Moe Wagner ( once ready ) over Javelle McGee. Lakers will be fine once the starters get into a rhythm, but until then, M.U.D. will keep the ship afloat and on course.