Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players who need to step up without Avery Bradey

2. Rajon Rondo

So far this season, Avery Bradley has been the starting ‘point guard’ for the Los Angeles Lakers. He has filled that position in name only, as the actual ball-handling and playmaking role. Rajon Rondo will now help fill that point guard role and will be relied upon to run the offense whenever James is off the court.

Rondo has battled injuries of his own to begin the season, as he had a sore calf to begin the season on the sidelines. He will quickly see his role increase with Bradley now sidelined.

While Rondo provides a different skillset from what Bradley provides, it will still help the team while Bradley recovers from his hairline fracture. Rondo’s defense and shooting have been criticized, but he has shown that he can still run an offense. In his first appearance this season, he registered seven assists in only 14 minutes played.

Expect Rondo’s minutes to push into the 20s while Bradley is sidelined. He still needs to get his conditioning back up to par, but the Lakers will need him to step up while Bradley is gone. Rondo’s defense isn’t up to Bradley’s level, but his playmaking is an improvement and the Lakers could certainly use that.