Los Angeles Lakers: 3 unique lineup options for the upcoming season
The Alex Caruso and Dwight Howard pick and roll lineup
- PG: Avery Bradley
- SG: Alex Caruso
- SF: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- PF: Jared Dudley
- C: Dwight Howard
Many folks believe Kyle Kuzma will come off the bench next season for the Lakers and dominate opposing team’s second units. It’s possible that “Kuz” will indeed be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate for the Purple and Gold, but there’s a couple of reasons to think Kuzma will be in the starting lineup instead.
- LeBron James has publicly stated that he’d like to play starting point guard for the Lakers next year.
- LeBron James loves Kyle Kuzma, and he wants “Kuz” playing alongside him.
It makes sense to have James start at his natural position, small forward, to his save his aging legs for the postseason, which in turn would push Kuzma to the bench.
However, if James wants to start at point guard, he will. There’s no way Frank “I’m just lucky to be here” Vogel is going to have the gumption to say no to LBJ.
If Vogel ends up starting the Lakers five best players; LeBron, Green, Kuzma, Davis, and McGee, then the coaching staff will have to come up with a plan for how to run the second unit offense.
One of Vogel’s best options will be to surround Alex Caruso and Dwight Howard with three good outside shooters and let “Bald Mamba” and “Superman” run pick and rolls.
Caruso showed last year that he’s adept at running the pick and roll. He’s capable of making the three types of plays that every good point guard must have in his back pocket; attacking the rim, stepping back and hitting a jumper, and passing to open teammates.
Howard has never been exceptional at pick and rolls, but that’s because he’s never wanted to crash towards the rim. Instead, he’s always wanted to play out of the post, like his idol Shaq. Physically, Howard should still be able to destroy second units bigs as a roll man since he’s stronger and faster than almost every center in the association.
The big question in regards to this lineup is simple: Will Howard finally play excellent team basketball and do whatever it takes to help the Lakers march towards a championship?
After Howard signed his non-guaranteed contract with LA, he’s said all the right things. If Dwight’s attitude has genuinely changed and he does play team basketball, then a second unit of Bradley, Caruso, Caldwell-Pope, Dudley, and Howard will be one of the best benches in the NBA.
On offense, the Lakers would have a real identity, predicated upon letting Caruso and Howard run pick and rolls while spreading the floor with three good outside shooters in Bradley, KCP, and Dudley.
Defensively this unit would be dominating. All five men in this lineup are capable of playing great defense. There would be only one hole in the Lakers armor with this group of players; they’d be a little small on the wing with 6′ 5″ KCP covering the small forward position. However, KCP’s height won’t matter much if Howard buys in and plays outstanding defense in the middle, because he’ll allow the Lakers three speedy guards to crowd their assignments on the perimeter and muck up opposing squads game plans.