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Los Angeles Lakers: 2 keys to winning the title once the season resumes

By Jason Reed

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Anthony Davis (left) #3 sits next to LeBron James #23 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Anthony Davis (left) #3 sits next to LeBron James #23 and Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on October 05, 2019 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Los Angeles Lakers’ keys to a championship: Someone stepping up off the bench

We see it every single season in the playoffs. The rotations shrink from 10-12 guys down to the best seven or eight players and everyone is expected to play more minutes. While the superstars are obviously the ones that carry the load, it is the role players that come off the bench that can swing the game and perhaps the entire series.

Last year for the Toronto Raptors it was Fred VanVleet. For the Golden State Warriors during their run, it was Andre Iguodala. Iguodala was the fifth-best player on the court when he was out there but his veteran leadership as well as his defense made the difference. Even with all of the star power on the team, the team was not the same without Iguodala on the court.

Someone on the Los Angeles Lakers is going to have to step up and take their game to the next level for the Lakers off of the bench and the number one candidate for that is Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma has gotten a lot of gripe this season for being a poor fit on the team and not playing up to standard but he is someone who absolutely could swing an entire playoff series.

We have seen how good Kuzma can be as well. Kuzma stepped up and had the game of his season with both LeBron and AD out against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 11. Kuzma scored 36 points with a 62.5 field goal percentage.

He does not have to be that good in the playoffs, but he does have to step it up if he is going to be that guy. If not, there are other options, with perhaps the next most-likely being Rajon Rondo, as he always enters into a new gear once the playoffs roll around.

Next. The advatnage that LeBron has for MVP. dark

Even with the best duo in the league, the Lakers need that support off the bench.

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