Lakers roster questions: Who should start at point guard?
The Lakers are down two point guards. Many Lakers fans will cry for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to start, and Frank Vogel has already come out and said that KCP’s the favorite for the job (although there will be a competition for the starting gig before the season resumes). As usual, Alex Caruso will probably get pushed to the periphery of most people’s thoughts.
Alex Caruso should start.
The Lakers crushed the rest of the league during the 2019-2020 season with Avery Bradley starting at the 1. Bradley’s out, but his stats are eerily similar to Caruso’s.
Avery Bradley
- 24 MPG, 36 3P%, 109 DEFRTG, and 1.64 DRPM (26th in the NBA)
Alex Caruso
- 18 MPG, 36 3P%, 106 DEFRTG, and 2.02 DRPM (16th in the NBA)
Stats aren’t everything. Avery Bradley is a slightly better 3-and-D point guard than Alex Caruso. Bradley’s a guy who transmutes into the Energizer Bunny when he’s on the floor, capable of terrorizing opposing 1’s with his constant pressure. With that said, Alex Caruso comes close to replicating what Bradley does for the Lakers.
The Lakers don’t need a traditional point guard/floor general. We all know LeBron James runs the offense. The Lakers need a point guard who can slow down the surplus of offensively gifted point guards who play in the Western Conference. The Lakers also need a point guard who can consistently hit open 3-pointers and bring the ball up the floor giving LBJ at least some rest. Alex Caruso checks all those boxes.
KCP’s a fine bench player, but even just thinking about him trying to contain Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Jamal Murray, or Damian Lillard is enough to send butterflies racing through my stomach.
For all of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s bravado on the less glamorous side of the ball, he’s one of the Lakers’ worst defenders. He’s second to last in defensive rating on the squad (110) and tenth in defensive box plus/minus (0.5). Opposing coaches game plan for KCP, they continuously try to manufacture switches involving Caldwell-Pope and their best offensive weapon.
Offensively, Kentavious has improved upon his outside stroke. But would you trust Caldwell-Pope to bring the ball up the floor with a guy like Patrick Beverly, Chris Paul, or Mike Conley hounding him?
The Lakers should start Alex Caruso, Danny Green, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and JaVale McGee.
Meanwhile, Dion Waiters, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, and Dwight Howard should make up the second unit. Quinn Cook and Jared Dudley should also see limited action during the right situations.