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Los Angeles Lakers: 3 people that deserve most credit for no. 1 defense

By Cameron Salce

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with head coach Frank Vogel # of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center on February 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 22: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with head coach Frank Vogel # of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center on February 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

KCP is usually the first player the Lakers go to as a defensive stopper on the perimeter for the Lakers when they face an elite scoring guard. He came into the league more known for his offense and has since transformed his game into one of the best three and D specialists in the league and the best one on the Lakers.

The statistics might not back up him making an appearance on this list because he is ranked fifth on the team in defensive win shares and a staggering 13th on the team in defensive rating. Yet those numbers could be skewed because of how reliant they are on him to be an on-ball defender against the best players.

Apparently, Vogel does not believe defensive statistics carry that much weight, he also said last week:

"“I really don’t pay a whole lot of attention to individual defensive metrics, but those two guys (KCP and Caruso) do it all. They’re great with containment, they can defend 1-on-1, they’re great with deflections and steals, competing with bigs, negotiating through screens and reconnecting with their man, the pursuit aspect. All those things aren’t really measured in numbers, but all of the coaches out there, anybody that knows the game can see that they’re major contributors on the defensive end with what they bring to the table.”"

He did rank fourth on the team in steals with 62, only eight away from the leader Dennis Schröder, and he had the most blocks on the team for a guard with 26, two more than LeBron James. He also ranks 19th in the league according to ESPN’s defensive real plus-minus.

But the number that means the most in regards to his defensive reliability had more to do with his durability and that was his number of starts, he had 67 and that was the most on the team.

We all know the sports cliché, the best ability is availability, and that is especially true in regards to KCP because the Lakers rely on him to match up with the best guard on the other team on most nights.

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