Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons trying to explain this win over the Grizzlies

LeBron and AD can’t do their heroics without the Los Angeles Lakers bench!

It’s a foregone conclusion when the superstars play lights out, the Los Angeles Lakers more than likely will win. But the other three starters combined for 11 points in Marc Gasol, Dennis Schroder and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the bench had better give the team something.

When Frank Vogel went to his bench, the Lakers got started. Kyle Kuzma got the bench started scoring-wise with 7 early points. But here’s how his colleagues did.

Montrezl Harrell:

Montrezl Harrell only played 16 minutes in this game due to almost getting knocked out by a Kyle Kuzma elbow. He left the game and went to the locker room briefly, but returned to the bench. Lake Show Life will be monitoring to see if he is placed in NBA’s concussion protocol. But as normal he put in work finishing with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Like Kuzma, Trezl hurt Memphis with offensive rebounds collecting three of his own. His plus/minus ratio was +15.

Alex Caruso:

Lake Show Life discussed how badly the Lakers needed Alex Caruso back in the lineup for his intangibles that don’t show up in box scores. In this game, he again showed why this team needs him on the bench ready. He only scored 2 points, but his defensive presence that was missing from both starting guards helped turned the game around.

Even though he didn’t score much, Caruso filled up the rest of the stat sheet with 6 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal. The Caruso option just makes the Lakers a different squad with much more options. His plus/minus ratio of +24 was a game-high.

Four Lakers bench players had close to a +20 plus/minus ratio. How important was this? LeBron was the only starter on the plus side ratio with AD breaking even and the others in the minus section.

With this win, the Lakers close out the five-game homestand undefeated and are riding a seven-game winning streak. The next game is on the road against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

But the real winner of this game was the Lakers fans on the East Coast who got a few more winks of shuteye after three straight overtime games going back as Saturday night. LeBron James should be happy playing under 40 minutes for the first time in about 9 days. James and the Lakers both let it known to anyone that would listen that he wasn’t tired.

PFFT! Sure and Lake Show Life can sell you the statues in front of the Staples Center for $5,000. Get yours today while the offer lasts.

Lake Show Life has extended its post-game coverage this season! There will be short post-game reports shortly after the game in addition to the extended post-game of Lake Show Life Lessons! 

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