4. JaVale McGee
2018-19 per game stats: 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.76 steals, 2.55 blocks
VORP: 0.9, 2nd on the Lakers
WS: 2.5, 2nd on the Lakers
DEFRTG (last 10 games, minimum 10 minutes per game): 104, 6th on the Lakers
OFFRTG (last 10 games, minimum 10 minutes per game): 9th on the Lakers
MOET: 5
Last rankings, I had JaVale 2nd on the Lakers, but over the last ten contests, his game hasn’t been quite as sharp as before. It seems like recently he’s been hunting blocks instead of playing good position defense and he’s been throwing up a few too many awkward hooks for my liking. With that said, he’s still the best contract in the NBA and his interior defense is still massively important to the Lakers. He’s also 2nd on the team in VORP and WS.
3. Tyson Chandler
2018-19 per game stats: 3.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.60 steals, 0.4 blocks
VORP: 0.1, 7th on the Lakers
WS: 1.0, 7th on the Lakers
DEFRTG (last 10 games, minimum 10 minutes per game): 101.3, 2nd on the Lakers
OFFRTG (last 10 games, minimum 10 minutes per game): 114.8, 1st on the Lakers
MOET: 9
In many ways, Tyson Chandler is the opposite of JaVale McGee. He’s averaging 0.30 blocks per game on the year, but he plays perfect position defense. I love watching Chandler cover two players on the pick-and-roll for a brief moment until the Lakers perimeter defender can get back into the play. Chandler swallows up more pick-and-rolls than any backup center in the league.
When it comes to offense, Chandler never makes a silly play. He either sets a huge pick or he dunks. Chandler is the reason why advanced stats were made. His traditional stats are horrible and they can’t possibly show what a great player he’s been for the Lakers, but his advanced stats are very impressive.