Los Angeles Lakers: 4 Lessons in overtime loss to Wizards

Frank Vogel’s rotations will eventually have to be addressed by the Los Angeles Lakers!

All NBA coaches have set rotations of players that they trust and Frank Vogel is no different. There should be structure in how many minutes a certain player gets in a ten-man rotation that includes LeBron James and a healthy Anthony Davis. No problem.

However, it is the NBA coach’s job to find the right combinations to work from game to game. Frank Vogel has been lackluster lately and it goes far beyond the Montrezl Harrell minutes that is a crime within itself.

It’s the minutes that he’s giving players that have no business playing at times. Let’s break down a few players.

Wesley Matthews Jr:

This writer blew it on Matthews Jr. starting. Cool, we all make mistakes. Sure he’s the backup to Dennis Schroder until at least Friday (Like Vogel is going to sit him down!) from NBA’s health and safety protocols.

But that’s no reason to give him 23 minutes to contribute zero points in the game! Guess who’s starting against Utah? Probably Matthews. To the faithful readers of Lake Show Life Lessons…OOPS our bad!

Alex Caruso:

Here’s the problem. The Los Angeles Lakers need the intangibles of Caruso on the floor. He competes on defense and always makes a big play that does not show up in the box scores (The jump ball forced late is an example!). But anyone with a basketball I.Q. can see that Caruso is scared to death to shoot the ball.

The broadcasters can see it, Lake Show Life can see it and more importantly Lakers opponents see it. The title contenders will treat him like Matthew Dellavedova in the playoffs. Book it. Ask LeBron how that worked out in Cleveland.

Among the other players that have been covered that are not measuring up, how about these options…

Give Talen Horton-Tucker more minutes!

THT gives the Lakers some of the same intangibles as Alex Caruso, but here’s the difference. Talen is not scared to shoot. In his 16 minutes, THT scored 7 points on 3-4 shooting. This is an easy option. If THT is playing well, increase the minutes, if he’s making too many mistakes, give him a seat on the bench with an iPad to go over his mistakes with the coaching staff.

Please give Alfonzo McKinnie some minutes to see what he has! 

The Lake Show Life wasn’t shocked that the Lakers waived a player. We’re just shocked it wasn’t Alfonzo McKinnie. He doesn’t play at all unless it’s garbage time. But now that he’s still on the roster, let the guy play. PLEASE!

No Schroder, no AD and a three-game losing streak. What does Frank Vogel have to lose here? It’s not like he’s going to go out there and play listless defense as Markieff Morris has for weeks.

Lake Show Life could say the Lakers have a chance against Utah on Wednesday (Nope!) but we’ll instead finish with important dates for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office to improve the roster.

• Feb. 23: 10-day contracts can be signed
• Feb. 24: The contract of Quinn Cook would have become guaranteed (Hence the move to waive him!).
• Feb. 24: The Lakers can sign two players to a prorated contract. They are currently $912,000 below the hard cap. If DeMarcus Cousins is signed, the other player gets the rest.

Lake Show Life will keep you up to date on the site and in the comment sections. Please bring your questions. We’ll answer them as well as we can.

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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