3 reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers can win Game 6 vs Phoenix

Some adjustments the Los Angeles Lakers can make for Game 6

Start Marc Gasol in place of Andre Drummond

The Los Angeles Lakers should run the offense through LeBron at the low post and Marc Gasol at the high post. Gasol can start in place of Andre Drummond because not only is he the best three-point shooter on the court for the Lakers but also he can pass the ball to LeBron in the post.

Drummond would thrive coming off the bench to dominate the Suns on the offensive glass whenever Deandre Ayton has to come out of the game.

Start Talen Horton-Tucker and Alex Caruso 

Talen Horton-Tucker was the only bright spot in a dreary Game 5 performance, finishing with a double-double (11 points and 11 rebounds in 16 minutes).

Why not start THT in place of Dennis Schroder to take some pressure off of LeBron James? It’s nothing personal against Schroder. He’s just not getting it done for whatever reason. Rejecting the contract was just a bad negotiation tactic at this point. Speaking of other players potentially up for a big contract, THT has proven to be productive in the limited minutes he gets.

As for the beloved Alex Caruso, he consistently brings the energy and effort the Lakers sorely need. Even if Caruso’s only contribution on offense is running the floor, that’ll force the Suns’ defense to break out of their shell so LeBron can attack the basket.

Bottom line: Lakers coach Frank Vogel needs to play the guys who want it the most.

THT and Caruso appear to want it more than Dennis Schroder and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, or at least they are healthy enough to show it.

Feelings do not matter at this point.

Play Montrezl Harrell

Speaking of which, Vogel needs to let go of whatever past issues he has with Montrezl Harrell and GIVE HIM SOME TIME!!!

Trezz may be a defensive liability for the Lakers. So is everybody else on the Lakers right now. At this point, the Lakers need to play the guys that will bring the intensity needed to win Game 6.

If he has to play power forward alongside Gasol, then so be it. Harrell can at least get buckets on offense to make up for whatever defensive shortcomings he might possess.

Run a triangle and two on Chris Paul and Devin Booker

A base man-to-man defense is what Frank Vogel has long prided himself on. As it is written in the Book of Proverbs, however, pride goes before the fall.

The Lakers cannot guard Phoenix straight up given their injuries and lack of lateral quickness to defend Chris Paul and Devin Booker in transition. Coach Vogel was halfway to my suggestion when he briefly ran a 2/3 zone (in which the Suns carved up). A traditional zone won’t work because of Phoenix’s impeccable passing, shooting, and spacing.

However, running a triangle and two to deny Paul and Booker the ball would throw a nasty curveball into Phoenix’s beautiful offense. Phoenix may swing and miss badly enough against the triangle and two to keep the Lakers in the game they would otherwise not be in.

Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder are unproven when it comes to initiating Phoenix’s offense. The best-case scenario for running the triangle and two is that Paul and Booker are thrown out of rhythm – and both have off nights as a result.

Conclusion

If this is it for the Lakers, then how they want to go out is their choice. By this point, it is pretty clear they are not championship material due to injuries and a lack of chemistry.

But can they win Games 6 and 7 against the Phoenix Suns?

Yes! The Lakers just need to play the same way they did last season – physical, aggressive, and willing to try anything to throw the opposing best player for a loop.