Los Angeles Lakers: Most important role player vs. Clippers and Bucks

The most important role player vs. the Milwaukee Bucks: JaVale McGee/Dwight Howard

This is a bit of a cheater answer as this is obviously two players and not just one. However, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard essentially have the exact same role on the Los Angeles Lakers and play very similar minutes as a result.

They provide the team with two nearly-identical outlooks at the center position and split the time down the middle to keep both guys fresh. Thus, we included both of them in this article as they both will be important in the same way.

Two factors make the two centers extremely important against the Milwaukee Bucks. First, the best way to limit Giannis Antetokounmpo is with size and by throwing bodies in the lane to slow him down, essentially creating a “wall” to the basket.

We saw the Toronto Raptors find success in this last season, with Kawhi Leonard providing the isolation defense and the bigs on the Raptors providing the second-level help at the rim.

The other thing that makes both of these players so important is that they make Anthony Davis a better defender. Our very own Ronald Agers did a great job of breaking down how Howard’s defense on the strong side near the rim allows Anthony Davis to be the premier shot-blocker that he is.

Howard and McGee both provide that strongside defense and are premier shot blockers themselves. All three players are in the top-15 in the league in blocks per 36 minutes and that rim presence is going to be the difference vs. Giannis.

Luckily for Laker fans, Dwight Howard has announced that he will be rejoining the team in Orlando after weeks of speculation. He is donating his salary from the Orlando bubble to Bobby Marks’ charitable initiative Breathe Again.