Los Angeles Lakers: Key players to lock down banner no. 17 on Friday

Welcome to Kevin’s Key. Where we determine the key player to determine victory or defeat for your Los Angeles Lakers!

The Los Angeles Lakers must not be complacent as they play for championship #17 tonight.

Previous Kevin’s Keys:
Game 1: Kevin’s Key to Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat
Game 2: Kevin’s Key to Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat
Game 3: Kevin’s Key to Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat
Game 4: Kevin’s Key to Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat

The Los Angeles Lakers are wearing their iconic Mamba jerseys tonight. I still cannot fathom Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba himself, and his daughter Gianna are no longer with us. I remember the exact time and place I got word they died.

I am sure many of you do too. At the very least, the Lakers can embody Kobe’s legacy by winning an NBA championship. Their playoff focus has been unbelievable to this point.

The job is not finished. Game 5 is more than a coronation for King James; it is more than just wearing the Mamba jerseys, honoring Kobe’s legacy.

It is a must-win.

Because Kobe would approach Game 5 like a Game 7. Tonight’s game is not about strategy. Both teams have each other figured out by now.

It’s about the desire to win.

The Miami Heat will not hand it to them. They have read all the media proclamations saying they are done. Their intensity and focus will be at an all-time high.

If their Twitter account is to be believed, they are psyching themselves up. Gary Payton wrote a rousing article about Heat Culture on the Player’s Tribune (WARNING: FOUL LANGUAGE). Jimmy Butler said their confidence will stay high. Lakers coaching legend Pat Riley, the Godfather of Heat Culture, is a master motivator. Expect Riley to fire up the team ahead of time.

Miami’s Twitter account provides an insightful look. The motivational quotes all read as an inspirational pregame message.

I see it as insecurity. I sense blood in the water. Kobe would too. It’s time to finish Miami off.

A gentleman’s sweep, in a non-gentlemanly way.

The key to tonight is for the Lakers to impose their will on Miami in the paint. To control the game on their terms. As awesome as Game 4’s win looked, the Lakers were never in control. It
was played on Miami’s terms: an ugly, slow, grind-it-out affair. The Lakers had to find the wherewithal to close out the game.

Tonight should be even more difficult. Those who found the wherewithal in crunch time especially deserve some shine – and a preview of what is needed for each of them is in store in Game 5.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
KCP came up in the clutch. Game 4 was a coming-out party for the former top-10 pick. His scoring gets all the attention, but his passing saved the Lakers: those 5 assists were crucial to keeping the Lakers offense above water when Miami sunk their initial action in the half-court.

The Miami Heat were invited to KCP’s coming out party. They did not have a good time. But they are still partying, hoping the night will turn around. KCP has to continue to ruin their night!

The Lakers may get into an early offensive quagmire if KCP does not step up again. He must become the secondary playmaker to keep things moving early on, which will help the Lakers to fend off Miami’s inevitably hot start.

Rajon Rondo
Rondo’s stat line read more like Playoff P: 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists – but, as Rondo has throughout the playoffs, he navigated the Lakers’ offense through choppy waters.

His performance was not perfect. The Lakers still had 15 turnovers against Miami’s intense pressure. Some of those were from Rondo making lackadaisical post entry passes to AD. But when it mattered most, Rondo put his other four teammates in the right position to succeed.

What a point guard is supposed to do. Now he has to make Miami’s offense undergo some choppy waters themselves. Lacking a true point guard, Miami is ripe for the picking: they had 11 turnovers in Game 4.

That’s low hanging fruit! Let’s bump it up to 15!

Alex Caruso
Did Caruso get my message to Rondo? He needs to continue to expertly navigate a maze of Miami screens (as in, make Duncan Robinson have to hit these crazy moonball shots).

As for the other shooter on Miami, pressuring on Tyler Herro will help bring this “baby goat” back to earth. Caruso should never concede the switch to Kyle Kuzma, like on this possession.

(FYI: Miami is a bit too cavalier with the baby goat status on their Twitter. See what I did there?)

Anthony Davis
It was noted Anthony Davis proved to be the finale for a man nicknamed Finals Jimmy. Jimmy Butler was all done when AD switched onto him in the fourth quarter.

Butler was not the only one who felt AD’s wrath. AD did this to Miami’s offense all night long. AD played incredible defense in the fourth quarter.

His talent is unfair. Miami still had 32 points in the paint. AD’s goal tonight should be to not allow a single Miami Heat player to score inside the paint.

Related: Los Angeles Lakers: How Anthony Davis found his Mamba Mentality

On offense, AD needs to overpower any Miami Heat defender who dares takes him on 1 on 1. If they double, quickly find the open man.

LeBron James
The King, LeBron James, wore his crown in Game 4. He needs to hit Miami with it in Game 5. I would still run the offense through him in the post. This fadeaway came straight out of his training with Hakeem Olajuwon.

Or, instead of posting up, LeBron can ruthlessly pick on Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro to try to guard him. When this happens, LeBron’s finish was masterful.

Notice Robinson’s failure to either jump out hedge the screen or to drop back to corral the straight-line drive. Still, Duncan Robinson is not stopping LeBron James. LeBron needs to dominate Miami inside. I hope he rarely – if ever – settles for outside shots.

Related: Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James’ genius defense vs. Clippers explained

On defense, he needs to quarterback the other four players. His ability to navigate Miami’s endless maze of screens and cuts will be needed if Anthony Davis has to guard Jimmy Butler.

Conclusion
For this series to conclude, the Lakers must play as a team. No letup. No complacency. No unfurling a banner in their minds until the game is over.

In their Mamba jerseys, they have not lost inside the bubble. The Mamba mentality must course through their veins for 48 minutes. Anthony Davis and LeBron James will lead the way – but the whole team must stand alongside them.

Hence why the whole team is key. If the Lakers play well, we can proclaim.

Lakers out (of the bubble).