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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 role players who must step up

By Addam Goldman

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers guards Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers as he drives to the basket in the game at Staples Center on December 25, 2019 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 Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 25: Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers guards Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers as he drives to the basket in the game at Staples Center on December 25, 2019 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 Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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Three of the Lakers’role players must step up during the upcoming playoffs

Las Vegas has given the Los Angeles Lakers 2-1 odds to win the title, making the Purple and Gold the betting favorites to go all the way this season. Let’s not kid ourselves, though. The Clippers and Bucks are both incredibly talented teams that could beat the Lakers in a seven-game series.

The Lakers’ title hopes rest squarely on LeBron James’ shoulders. We also know that Anthony Davis will have to chew up his minimal playoff experience, spit it out, and then stomp on it for the Lakers to win 16 games in the postseason.

We’re not here to make simple proclamations like LeBron James must play like an MVP during the playoffs, or Anthony Davis must play like a top-five player. Anyone could do that. We’re here to go deeper.

We’re going to delve into attainable goals that three of the Lakers role players must achieve during the upcoming playoffs for the Purple and Gold to take home their first chip in over a decade.

Lakers role players who must step up: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Do you smell that? That’s the stench of thousands of fans across LA collectively crapping their pants at the thought of the Lakers’ starting point guard duties resting on KCP’s shaky shoulders.

The Lakers, behind LeBron James and Anthony Davis, looked impressive on offense before the coronavirus forced Adam Silver to put the season on hold. Still, we all know that a playoff series versus the Clippers or Bucks will be an ugly defensive slugfest.

The Clippers feature one of the best collections of defensive wings every assembled in the NBA in Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Patrick Beverly, Patrick Patterson, and JaMychal Green.

Plus, with the additions of Joakim Noah and Marcus Morris in conjunction with Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell, LA’s other squad suddenly looks formidable down the middle. Factor in Doc Rivers’ championship experience and his ability to gameplan on defense, and you have the makings of a challenging situation for the Lakers.

If the Lakers do get by the Clippers, the Bucks will presumably be waiting in the finals for them.

The Bucks easily have the best defensive rating (101.9) in the NBA, and when you adjust for rule changes and style of play, Milwaukee has one of the best defensive ratings ever. The five-some of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Wesley Mathews, Brook Lopez, and Eric Bledsoe is deadly. All five men are long and incredibly physical.

The Lakers are too good to be completely shut down by any team. LBJ is one of the few pick-your-poison players in the NBA. The Clippers and Bucks are going to load up on LBJ and AD, that’s a given. Danny Green has a 40 percent career 3-point mark stuffed down his left pocket and two chips placed securely in his right pocket, which means the Clippers and Bucks are going to stick to him like glue.

JaVale McGee (70 percent within three feet of the basket) is one of the best finishers at the rim in the NBA, so there’s no way he’ll be free. That means that the Lakers’ front runner to start at point guard, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, will be the “poison” that the Clippers and Bucks must take.

LeBron James leads the league in assists at 10.6 per game, and he’s the rare superstar who’s not going to force up a contested shot when one of his teammates (KCP) is open beyond the arc. If KCP does indeed start (Frank Vogel has said openly to the media that Caldwell-Pope is very likely to start at PG), he could hold the fate of the Lakers title hopes in his hands.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has a 39.4 3-point percentage on the season off of 3.5 attempts per game. Against almost every team in the NBA, that’s good enough, but against the Clippers and Bucks, he’ll have to do more.

KCP’s going to have to hit over 40 percent from deep to keep the Clippers and Bucks honest. If Caldwell-Pope can stop the Clippers and Bucks wings from loading up on LBJ and AD and make one of them stay home on him, LBJ will have room to maneuver. If KCP’s 3-point stroke forces the Clippers and Bucks wings to play LBJ and AD one-on-one, the Lakers will win those series. If KCP can’t manage to hit a high clip from 3-point range, things get a lot dicier.

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