Los Angeles Lakers: Charlotte Hornets push Lakers to limit, 4 lessons

The Los Angeles Lakers are undefeated when Alex Caruso starts the second half.

Frank Vogel has started a trend that actually works wonders for the Lakers’ defense. After Caruso sat the bench for the beatdown against the Clippers, Vogel has inserted Caruso in the lineup in the second half of the last two games.

Two games later, the Lakers are above .500. After shifting the defensive intensity against the Utah Jazz by playing strong defense and providing a second ball-handler, Caruso did the same against the Hornets shifting momentum with timely defensive plays and overall hustle.

It’s really strange to talk about a player that scored only 5 points that had such an impact but the energy that this guy is bringing to the floor in the second half is amazing.

Caruso’s timely defensive efforts along with Dwight Howard held down the fort until LeBron James finally made it to the scoring party.