Los Angeles Lakers: Interesting bench storylines after Rondo’s injury

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Quinn Cook #28, JaVale McGee #7 and the Los Angeles Lakers bench react to a play against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Quinn Cook #28, JaVale McGee #7 and the Los Angeles Lakers bench react to a play against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Staples Center on March 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Dion Waiters, Los Angeles Lakers (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Lakers bench storylines: Which Dion Waiters will we see?

The media will polarize J.R. Smith during the playoff run even though numerous factors show Smith’s signing was a good idea at the mere fraction of the price.

However, no one as of this writing has a good explanation as to why the Lakers signed a player in Dion Waiters who has the same amount of suspensions as games played (3).

If you ask a Lakers fan or look at social media for a decent reason, you get the “Oh he blocked Lou Williams twice and he knocked down a 3 pointer on the other end.”

So this defensive play on Lou Williams and a 3 point shot on the other end has Lakers fans calling Waiters a very important pickup. There were some important details on the one notable play:

  1. The Miami Heat were losing by six points with less than a minute to go.
  2. The shot clock was winding down so Williams had to shoot.
  3. Most importantly, the Heat lost to the Clippers.

Now it is no secret that the Clippers bench is loaded and the Lakers need scoring coming off the bench, but are the Lakers that worried?

The storyline for Dion Waiters is the justification of signing a guy that had already been suspended by the Miami Heat three times this season.

While J.R. Smith has irritated the NBA, the Lakers and possibly LeBron before unpacking his bags, Dion has been putting in the work and lost some weight.

The storyline for Dion Waiters is being the playmaker and scorer that every member of the media seems to attach to him. Is he going to contribute in the 15-20 minutes allotted to him or will he start pouting? He couldn’t beat out rookies in Miami, how about the veterans in Los Angeles?