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3 issues that could keep the Los Angeles Lakers from the NBA Finals

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center on March 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center on March 26, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. The Los Angeles Lakers’ role players have not been as good as expected

Rob Pelinka was praised for his efforts this previous offseason for taking an NBA Championship-winning team and improving it by adding better role players to the roster. At the time, Pelinka absolutely deserved the praise he received as every move he made was savvy.

However, there is a difference between how moves look on paper and how they play out on the court and we have seen that this season. Perhaps it is because of the lack of LeBron and AD, but the Lakers’ role players have not been what fans were hoping for this season.

Montrezl Harrell has been really good, he is the lone exception. Harrell has provided the offense that fans hoped for and has not been as bad on defense as his naysayers said before the year.

New additions Dennis Schroder, Wesley Matthews and Marc Gasol have all played far below expectations. Gasol’s poor play forced the Lakers to address the center position. Gasol is fine defensively but he is not great offensively and can’t play more than 20 minutes a game.

Matthews has been a massive non-factor. He is shooting just 34.1% from beyond the arc on 3.3 attempts per game and has been a decent defender, but not as good as he could be. Most importantly, it is the offensive inefficiency that is troubling.

Then we have Schroder, who by the advanced numbers, might be the worst player on the team. We saw the impact that he has when he missed four games and the Lakers looked sluggish but was that really because of Schroder or was it pure happenstance?

Schroder’s eFG% is 47.4% (that is bad), which highlights his inefficiency on the offensive end. Schroder has posted an Offensive Box Plus/Minus of -1.7, the worst since his rookie season. His -1.5 BPM is among the worst on the team.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Markieff Morris and Talen Horton-Tucker are all also in the negative.

Yes, the Lakers have been without LeBron and AD and that is naturally going to hurt their record, but seeing how bad this team has played without them should be an eye-opener.

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