1. The team’s chemistry stayed intact
This year’s version of the Lakers is so fun to watch because it has some of the best chemistry that we have seen since maybe the run and gun days of the Showtime era. It is easy to see they get along and are having fun on the court.
They have also been thrown a terribly traumatic experience because of the death of a member of the Laker family, Kobe Bryant. That experience, coupled with them being a dominant team all season has made this group of guys one of the closest in the entire NBA.
Even their head coach Frank Vogel admitted after the tragedy that almost nothing could break this group up saying,
"“It’s just strengthened what we’ve felt all year about our current group, which is: We’ve become a family in a very short time,” Vogel said of his team. “It’s something you talk about in the NBA with your teams, but this group in particular has really grown to love each other very rapidly, and we understand the importance of the opportunity we have this year, and this has just brought us closer together.”"
Veteran Jared Dudley has also come out and spoken highly of this team’s chemistry as some of the best he has seen in his entire career and he has been a journeyman playing for seven different franchises in 12 seasons. He told the Silver Screen and Roll midway through this season,
“Best chemistry I’ve had on a team,” Dudley said. “Obviously I think the other team I had was the Suns, I think 2010 when we went to the Western Conference Finals. It started with LeBron in the summertime, us going to Vegas, us hanging out, half play, half work. It’s for us getting to know each other. And I think winning has a lot to do with it. Credit Frank Vogel and the staff, (with) AD and LeBron leading.”
Caruso also is a big part of the Lakers’ chemistry because it seems like he is someone the whole team roots for because of his effort and high energy. His big-time dunks and diving on the ground for loose balls is something that teammates can not help but feed off of.
It is easy to root for an underdog, and despite his popularity on social media and beyond, Caruso is still an underdog. That is why players on the Lakers love seeing his fight and determination, because if he can bring that effort to the table, then why can’t they.
Caruso is what Kurt Rambis was for the Showtime Lakers in the ’80s. He is someone who is not afraid to do the dirty work necessary to become a Lakers fan favorite. Rambis might not have had Caruso’s high fly ability, but he certainly had a better flow.
Hair jokes aside, do no be surprised when Caruso is playing a big role for the Lakers in the playoffs when basketball resumes, and a big part of that is how he fits within the team’s chemistry. Yes, Lakers fans are all going through tough times without basketball, but at least Alex Caruso is still on our side.