Los Angeles Lakers: Kyle Kuzma shines in a foul plagued win! 4 Lessons!

The Los Angeles Lakers are loaded with guards that can get buckets! 

The Los Angeles Lakers have shown that they will blow big leads at times. They have had some sloppy play and laziness in the second half. However, the Lakers bench is flat out loaded with guards that can get their own shot. Yes, that includes Quinn Cook.

There are some that will continue to be leery of Dion Waiters (This writer at the top of the list!) but this guy can flat out score the basketball. When the Magic was threatening to steal a win, Dion Waiters would have none of it.

For most of the game, Waiters was a non-factor. This would be a prime situation for him to shut down. Nope,  Dion Waiters went off the fourth-quarter scoring 12 points doing what the Lakers signed him for. Creating shots.

J.R. Smith was the first to come off the bench in this one, replacing Dion Waiters’ spot in the rotation from last game. This is an obvious attempt for Frank Vogel to get Alex Caruso some minutes as the primary backup ball handler.

As for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, he’s the starter. Frank Vogel may say different up until Thursday, but who cares? He’s lying.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope plays better and is more confident and in the starting lineup. Period. After slightly rolling his ankle in the previous game, in his second game KCP finishing with 17 points on efficient 7-8 shooting.

Caldwell-Pope is so effective working on the right side of the floor on the wing. He’s almost automatic knocking down the 3 point shot from that area. It’s important that Frank Vogel keeps KCP’s minutes consistent. Minutes is the barometer of confidence for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

As for J.R. Smith? Well, he’s trying. Really trying. For every flashy play like an alley-oop to Dwight Howard, he will be remembered for throwing up bricks that hit the side of the backboard.

Bottom line Dion Waiters at this point is outperforming J.R. Smith.

The Los Angeles Lakers play their final scrimmage on Monday, July 27 at 12:00 p.m. PT against the Washington Wizards. Markieff Morris is expected to play in that one. Lake Show Life will have the coverage.