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Los Angeles Lakers: JaVale McGee should be the starting center

By C.J. Mendenhall

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 24: JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes his entrance before the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 24, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 24: JaVale McGee #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes his entrance before the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 24, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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With a lot of talent in the front-court, should JaVale McGee be in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers?

The Los Angeles Lakers got an absolute steal by signing DeMarcus Cousins to a measly $3.5 million deal in free agency. Many are expecting the signing to effectively move last year’s starting center, JaVale McGee, to the bench. However, there are good reasons for him to get the starting nod.

McGee had an excellent season last year starting for the Lakers. With the addition of skilled big man, DeMarcus Cousins, nobody really knows who will be starting at center this coming season. Cousins, when healthy, was one of the best centers in the league. He is dominant physically, is a gifted passer, and he can hit the three-ball.

Many think he should start alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis to form a deadly front-court for the Lakers. While those three may be the best players on the team, there is still good reason for McGee to take the floor in the opening seconds.

For one, McGee is an elite rim protector. Last season he had 148 blocks in only 75 games, good for fifth-most blocks per game in the league. With his two blocks per game, McGee had more than known shot-blockers like Hassan Whiteside, Joel Embiid, Karl Anthony-Towns, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Clint Capela, just to name a few.

New Lakers teammate Anthony Davis averaged 2.4 blocks per game, good for second-most in the league (135 blocks in 56 games). While Cousins starting alongside LeBron and AD would be great, the rim protection in the starting unit with McGee would be ridiculous. It’s a good problem for the team to have.

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Another advantage for McGee is his ability to finish off of lob passes. The Lakers literally opened the preseason of 2018-19 with a dunk from him off of a lob. He continually showed the ability to clean up around the rim. He was the recipient of several lobs from Rajon Rondo, LeBron James, and others. He was able to convert these lob passes into buckets at a good clip.

Speaking of cleaning up around the rim, McGee could always be counted on last season to come through with an offensive rebound or put-back. When he did get offensive rebounds, he had great footwork and skills around the rim to either score or draw the foul. He has come a long way since being known primarily for his appearances on “Shaqtin’ a fool”. When he was first signed last summer, many fans were a little wary of him. But, he gelled with the team and played about as well as we could have hoped for from him.

The fact that JaVale has already spent one season playing alongside LeBron and many other Lakers coming back gives him a slight advantage over DeMarcus Cousins. Even though Boogie could also be a phenomenal fit starting alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis, McGee may fit even better with the starting unit. He already knows how to play off of LeBron, being the recipient of a large portion of his many assists last year. He also isn’t coming back from an Achilles injury followed by a torn quad as Cousins is.

So what about Cousins? This guy was a superstar before he was injured playing in New Orleans. He has already played with Rondo on not only the Pelicans, but also back in his Sacramento Kings days. He has also already played with Anthony Davis on the Pelicans, where they formed a dangerous duo known as “Boogie & The Brow” or “The Twin Towers”.

This is why it’s a good idea to have him coming off the bench. Rondo may not be starting this year, meaning Cousins could get more run with his former teammate as part of the second unit. Since Davis is the younger superstar on the team, he would still get plenty of minutes playing with Cousins.

The Lakers would be wise to utilize the existing chemistry between Rondo, AD, and Cousins, as well as between McGee and LeBron. Alongside Kyle Kuzma, Cousins can help lead against opposing benches, causing a nightmare for the other teams’ reserves. Having Boogie in the second unit would make the Lakers dangerous during every minute of games.

This isn’t to say Cousins shouldn’t be closing games alongside the two superstars. The Lakers could form a deadly closing group known as “Boogie, Bron & The Brow”. Perhaps Cousins plays so well that he eventually deserves to start over McGee. After all, he was one of the very best centers in the league, routinely putting up absurd numbers.

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It will be very excited to see what Boogie can do alongside LeBron and AD, as well as Rondo. It just seems with the season McGee had last year, and his existing chemistry with the team, he should be the starting center on opening night.

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