Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff x-factor: Danny Green

The Los Angeles Lakers’ lack of backcourt depth entering the Orlando bubble calls for a heightened presence of Danny Green.

A player that is not being talked about enough, and will truly be an important piece of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2020 playoff run, is Danny Green.

Green has been in the shadows of LeBron’s backcourt the entire season—which I’m sure will continue when play resumes—but he may be a key contributor in his first postseason as a Laker.

Excluding LeBron, no other player on this roster has 1) started in more playoff games than Green, who’s currently at 118 on his career and 2) won more championships than Green, as he was a part of the 2014 Spurs title-run, along with the 2019 Raptors last year.

Outside of James of course, Green has the most credible postseason resumé and experience, which is a feat that holds significant value for a roster with minimal playoff success otherwise.

Guys like Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard never had the fortune of playing with the talent that Green had played with in past years—but that will serve a tremendous benefit to the Lakers this postseason. Green knows exactly how to play with stars, and will know exactly when to defer to LeBron and AD in order to maintain a cohesive unit on the floor.

Danny Green’s playstyle is key for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Green’s skillset of being a catch-and-shoot player has always been ideal for a team that has a ball-dominant superstar. Among active players with over 3,000 3-point attempts, Danny Green ranks 5th in career 3-point percentage at 40.2%. That’s considerably better than other players who have shot at a high volume such as Paul George, Damian Lillard, and even Kevin Durant.

Despite not putting up gaudy offensive averages, his defensive efforts should not go unnoticed. Again, excluding LeBron, Danny Green ranks first among Laker guards this season in defensive and total rebounds per game, steals per game, and blocks per game.

Green has also been one of the most stable pieces throughout the entirety of this season. Tied with JaVale McGee, no other player—even LeBron—on the Lakers has started more games than Green before the shutdown.

And considering the Lakers’ depth at the guard position, Green may need to take on more responsibilities.

Whether that be because fellow shooting guard Avery Bradley chose to not join the team in Orlando, Rajon Rondo’s uncertain availability because of his recent hand injury, or free agent signing J.R Smith needing time to acclimate to the team, Green’s minutes may see a substantial uptick.

I would definitely not be surprised to see Green log valuable playing time down the stretch. Among all the veterans of this roster, Danny Green is primed to be one of the most impactful for a 2020 Los Angeles Lakers title.