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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) /
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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Talen Horton-Tucker

Talen Horton-Tucker has a ton of potential and I am someone who is very high on what he can become in the league. The fact that a 20-year-old even has this big of a role on a title-contending team is remarkable in itself.

The Lakers have something special in THT and his potential as a two-way playmaker is off the charts. It is silly to expect a 20-year-old to be great, but we have to be fair in our analysis and point out how THT has played without LeBron James.

THT has left more to be desired in these nine games. While he is still playing solid defense, he really has not been much of an offensive threat, if at all. It will come with time but he is not a great shooter and his drive to the basket right-hand finish can only take him so far.

If anything, it shows the kind of offensive impact that LeBron James has on the players he plays next to, which we already knew.

THT has the third-lowest BPM among rotation players, only ahead of KCP and Kuzma and is averaging 10.6 points per game in the nine games. That is not bad, but he is only shooting 43.9% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc.

THT is playing 23 minutes per game without LeBron and his production has not really gone up. If we are grading on a curve, for a 20-year-old, THT is doing great.

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If we are being completely honest, it is a tad bit disappointing that we are not getting even better play out of THT, but perhaps I am asking for too much.

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