Andre Drummond brings some sense of rim protection and rebounding to the Lakers!
NBA casuals and box score watchers love to bring up the fact that by the numbers, the Los Angeles Lakers are the top rated defensive team in the NBA. The Lake Show Life staff and readers use the eye test and understand that film doesn’t lie. Remember when Anthony Davis went on a tirade about the lack of defensive intensity?
Take this defensive possession against the 76ers for example.
https://twitter.com/shaqtin/status/1375282829911760906
Last year’s roster construction that included a combination of Dwight Howard/JaVale McGee along with Anthony Davis playing the weak side was a nightmare for offenses. The Lakers led the NBA in blocked shots by a country mile. This season, no one is afraid to take the ball to the rim anymore. For the first time since 2010, the Lake Show failed to block a shot in the Philadelphia game.
Lake Show Life warned that Gasol would struggle with athletic centers that had range out to the 3 point line. The experience has been worse than predicted.
Even though Montrezl Harrell has been on a tear on the offensive end of the court, the word is out on his pick and roll defense. When the Lakers go to their small ball lineup, opponents just run plays similar to what the Phoenix Suns ran last week.
https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1373825509612605441
Andre Drummond provides a defensive presence that will make opposing guards and wings actually THINK about getting their shots contested. Also he can shore up the interior defense that has been lacking all season long. Even in the Cleveland game, Larry Nance had a field day running the pick and roll before he got in foul trouble.
On the offensive end, Drummond will bring back the threat of the pick and roll for the Los Angeles Lakers. Since the dismissal of Damian Jones, the offense had been more drive and kick with heavy dependence on Dennis Schroder. The threat of Drummond rolling to the basket for the lob will open up the shooters.
We already know it works. Damian hit 16 of his last 17 shots before he left.
Okay that’s the good side of things, now let’s flip the script and talk about the worst. Read on to see what “challenges” Andre Drummond brings to the Los Angeles Lakers.