Los Angeles Lakers: 3 potential problems during the Orlando NBA Playoffs
By Tyler Soso
1. Roster holes
The Los Angeles Lakers have dominated a majority of the 2019-20 NBA season, currently holding a 49-14 record, which is the second-best record in the entire league. However, the team has had a couple of roster holes that have not been properly filled, which could prove to be a problem come playoff time.
1. The Los Angeles Lakers need a backup ball-handler
The first main piece that the team has been missing is a backup ball-handler. Backup point guard Rajon Rondo has tried his best all season but has consistently struggled to hold down the second unit as a facilitator.
Fan-favorite Alex Caruso has been a solid backup guard all season but is used more as an off-ball defensive guard often with LeBron on the court. Aside from his struggles during the regular season, Rondo has proved throughout his career that he is a force to be reckoned with during the playoffs, often dubbed “Playoff Rondo” by fans.
Rondo’s playoff resume speaks for itself, which gives Lakers fans hope that he will fill the backup ball-handler role when LeBron comes out of games during the playoffs. With little to no suitable free agency options at the point guard position, Rondo is likely the Lakers’ last hope at having a good backup point guard.
2. A player who can create their own shot
The second main piece that the Lakers have been lacking all season is someone who can create their own shot. The team had hoped that 24-year-old Kyle Kuzma would fill that role, but he has since underperformed over the 54 games he has played in this season.
Kuzma was the sole player of the Lakers young talent regime who remained on the roster after the Anthony Davis blockbuster trade last summer and has found difficulty finding the right fit next to his new superstar teammate.
Although he has a lot of potential, Kuzma will have to continue working at his game before the team can truly rely on him. In order to solve the problem of having another shot-creator on the roster, the Lakers went out and signed shooting guard Dion Waiters on March 6.
Waiters only played three games this season with the Miami Heat before being traded to and waived by the Memphis Grizzlies back in February. He has yet to play in a game with the Lakers due to the season’s suspension, which leaves him with little time to get into a groove before the Orlando playoffs begin.
Waiters has had a tumultuous season thus far, dating back to multiple early-season suspensions with the Heat, but is looking for a fresh start with the Lakers and help propel the team into a deep run in the playoffs.