Los Angeles Lakers: The one problem holding back the team
By Casey Ahmed
The Los Angeles Lakers have one problem currently holding them back from reaching their full potential.
Going into the season the Los Angeles Lakers are filled with nuclear talent in the frontcourt and snipers to compliment the finishers, but the one spot the Lakers are lacking the most is play-makers who can break the defense down besides LeBron James.
In the season opener against the LA Clippers, it was put on full display, what forcing a soon to be 35 year old LeBron James into being the team’s “point guard.” Much was made about how this will never work but we’ve seen this work for many of the James-led teams during crucial playoff runs, as he would be the pseudo point guard.
To ask LeBron to do that over a span of 82 games is ridiculous, and with the other guards on the roster being mostly shooters, it forces the Lakers to relay on Rajon Rondo. Rondo is still good at running pick and rolls and setting guys up, but he has the same ailments that have plagued him his entire career.
Shooting has always been Rondo’s Achilles heel and today’s space and pace does Rajon no help with teams daring the career 31% 3-point shooter to take looks from downtown.
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Now the Lakers have some hope of finding some help with Andre Iguodala reportedly interested in joining the Lakers if the Memphis Grizzles decide to buyout the three-time champion.
That most likely won’t happen until January or February at the earliest and the Lakers will already have been fighting for homecourt throughout the playoffs. This issue won’t stop the Lakers from winning a champion due to the mega superstars that are LeBron and Anthony Davis but during games like on opening night, that feature teams with an elite defense, the Lakers issue will seem major.
The hope is also that the work Kyle Kuzma put in all summer will come to fruition and the Lakers won’t have to worry about scavenging for a playmaker elsewhere. Kuz has shown flashes since his rookie year that he can make valuable passes to the roll man or a skip pass to the corner 3-point shooter.
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The main issue is consistency. If Kuz can find the consistency to become an all-around player, the Lakers will not only solve the playmaking issue but also may have the league’s only Big 3. It will be interesting following this during the season and if the Lakers plan on fixing this hitch before it becomes bigger.