Los Angeles Lakers: 2 players that need to get minutes in playoff rotation

1. Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol was playing very poorly to start the year for the Los Angeles Lakers. While he was still holding up defensively, Gasol was about as inefficient on the offensive end as a player can be. This led the Lakers, who signed Gasol to a two-year deal the prior offseason, to prioritize Andre Drummond on the buyout market.

There were red flags about Drummond that were certainly present before the playoffs began. He had never really played for a winning basketball team and while he is a box-score stuffer, anyone who watches him play knows he is not the most effective big man despite his numbers.

However, we all gave the Los Angeles Lakers the benefit of the doubt. Now, ironically, it is the veteran who struggled early that needs to get more playing time. Drummond is already getting far less playing time, and quite frankly, it would not be surprising if he received some DNPs throughout the playoff process.

Gasol just fits with this team much more smoothly. He does not clog the paint for Anthony as he has the ability to stretch the floor with his shot. He might not be as great of a rebounder as Drummond but the Lakers already have such a massive size advantage that it does not really matter.

Gasol’s ability to stretch the floor as well as operate in the pick and roll, something Drummond has struggled with, would really help this Lakers’ offense. Now, he should not get a massive role in the offense, but he certainly should be getting the looks that Drummond is getting, at least against the Phoenix Suns.

Gasol’s overall numbers might be low but he was playing much better basketball to end the season. He averaged 4.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 66.7% from beyond the arc in his final 10 games played. That was in 16 minutes. If he could do that in 12-15 minutes it would be great.