Los Angeles Lakers guard Alex Caruso has had a strong start to training camp, showcasing his versatility and playing both backcourt spots.
There has been a lot of talking coming out of the Los Angeles Lakers training camp. Spirits are high and everyone is looking to get the 2019-20 season off on the right foot.
With a new coaching staff in place and plenty of new faces on the roster, there is a lot of spots in the rotation up for grabs. Players are looking to make a good first impression as two starting spots and minutes off the bench are there for the taking.
One of those starting spots that will have a competition throughout training camp is the point guard spot.
The point guard spot for the Lakers isn’t a traditional point guard spot. With LeBron James shouldering a majority of the playmaking duties, he is the nominal point guard. As a result, the player who takes over the point guard spot in title will be asked to do different things.
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There are three players that look to be vying for that starting spot right now; veterans Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley and Alex Caruso.
All three have received positive reviews recently. Leading into training camp, Rondo was very impressive. Bradley has been one of the most talked about players in camp thus far for his intensity on the defensive side of the ball. Now, it is Caruso garnering some positive reviews.
Caruso finished the 2019-20 season on a high note. With injuries overcoming the roster, he was thrust into a big role to finish out the season and put up some gaudy statistics. He has quickly become a fan favorite, as some people believe he should be the starting point guard given his skill set and success playing alongside James last season.
Whether Caruso starts or not, he is set to have a role on this team next season. He is capable of playing either point guard or shooting guard and the Lakers are going to take full advantage of that versatility.
Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet shared that Caruso has been playing both spots in the backcourt during practice. He has played alongside Rondo, Bradley, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Quinn Cook.
That versatility will only help Caruso’s case in getting on the court, in his opinion and he is right. Head coach Frank Vogel also says that he has been impressive in camp thus far.
Alex Caruso has spent time both on and off the ball with the second unit, sometimes playing PG and sometimes SG next to Rondo, Bradley, Cook or KCP. “I think I can do both. That benefits me in the long run.” Vogel said he’s been impressive so far in camp.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 1, 2019
It is great to hear that Caruso is having a strong start to training camp. Everyone is going to be relied upon in some capacity to help the team win games this upcoming season and Caruso’s chance will come eventually.
Being able to play either spot in the backcourt will be a valuable asset for Caruso. The more spots that he can fill in the court, the better of a chance he has to receive minutes during the upcoming season.