Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: The good and the bad from the first week back

By Addam Goldman

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 21: Anthony Davis #3 and Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the fourth quarter in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on February 21, 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 - FEBRUARY 21: Anthony Davis #3 and Alex Caruso #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the fourth quarter in a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on February 21, 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Good: Kyle Kuzma and Alex Caruso

How did the Los Angeles Lakers hold the Clippers to a 43 percent clip from the field and the Raptors to 42 percent overall despite Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Danny Green’s leaky defense? Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma picked up the slack and played excellent perimeter defense.

Alex Caruso is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. He’s 6 among shooting guards in ESPN’s defensive real plus-minus, and he’s 7 among all guards in NBA.com’s defensive rating.

Alex Caruso won’t win any defensive awards this year. It always takes the league a few years to recognize new talent. Don’t be surprised, though, if two years from now, Caruso makes the All-Defensive team. He’s that good.

Watching the way Alex Caruso plays defense is enough to make a genuine basketball fan—someone who appreciates that there’s more to basketball than scoring—smile and get all warm inside. The guy has an incredible motor. He goes hard every moment he’s on the floor.

He picks up opposing guards 90-feet away from the basket and makes them work just to bring the ball up the court. He jumps passing lanes. He sacrifices his body by taking charges. He plays the pick and roll very well.

Alex Caruso’s most significant gift is stifling opposing guards in one-on-one situations without fouling. Alex Caruso moves his feet side-to-side better than any player in the league right now. He makes it very difficult for opposing guards to get by him and score at the rack.

If things shake out the way most people think they will, the Lakers are going to have an arduous path to the finals. The Purple and Gold will have to face Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round and then James Harden and the Houston Rockets in the second round all for the honor of squaring off against the Clippers in the western conference finals.

KCP is not capable of defending Lillard and Harden. The Lakers will depend on Alex Caruso to advance in the playoffs, and so far, he looks up to the task.

Kyle Kuzma has been the biggest surprise for the Lakers thus far. Kyle Kuzma has shot with confidence from deep, and he’s connected at a high clip during the Lakers’ first three games back.

Kuz took a similar amount of shots as LeBron during the Lakers’ first two restart contests, and it looks like LBJ is wisely using these last eight regular-season games to allow Kuzma to shoot the ball and build his confidence.

So far, so good. Kuzma’s overall offensive game looks sharp. He’s making quick passes and quick drives to the rim. If Kuzma’s offensive trajectory continues along this path, he could be one of the playoffs’ break stars.

Kyle Kuzma’s perimeter defense has also been great. Lakers fans across the world witnessed Kuz lockdown Kawhi Leonard—the league’s premier one-on-one force—several times during the Lakers’ first game back.

Kyle Kuzma still can’t guard anyone on the block, but his new perimeter defensive prowess has opened up a unique lineup option for Frank Vogel. The Lakers could decide to go ultra-big in the playoffs (perhaps to combat the Rockets small-ball lineup) by playing Alex Caruso and Kyle Kuzma in the backcourt alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Dwight Howard in the frontcourt.

Home/Lakers News