Lake Show Life
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 3 players who have struggled without LeBron James

By Jason Reed

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a basket against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 02, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 02: Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a basket against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on April 02, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

2. Kenatvious Caldwell-Pope

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been very inconsistent this season. He started the season scorching hot and he has stretches where it looks like he cannot miss from three. However, he has had far more games in which he cannot hit a shot to save his life and he has not been great over this nine-game stretch.

KCP has the worst BPM of any player that actually gets minutes in the rotation. Kostas Antetokounmpo, Alfonzo McKinnie and Andre Drummond all have worse but the first two are mere depth guys and Drummond played a grand total of 14 minutes.

KCP has a -3.3 BPM that has been fueled by bad shooting and below-average defense. Ironically, KCP has been pretty decent from beyond the arc in this stretch as well. He is shooting 38.9% from three, which is certainly passable.

However, he is shooting 31% on two-point attempts with a 51.8% true shooting percentage, which is only better than Wesley Matthews and Kyle Kuzma among rotation players.

KCP probably has been better than Matthews if we are being completely objective but we should expect more out of KCP than we do Matthews. We have seen how good KCP can be at his best and outside of decent three-point shooting, he has not really added much to the Lakers in these nine games.

There is a reason why the Lakers went out and added another three-point shooter in Ben McLemore. McLemore has a very distinct floor and ceiling and the best version of McLemore will help with KCP’s inconsistencies.

Home/Lakers News