Los Angeles Lakers: 3 keys to reclaiming the throne as champions in 2022
By Jason Reed
1. The Los Angeles Lakers need a true third guy
The Los Angeles Lakers have not really had that third option in either of the two seasons with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Rob Pelinka recognizes this last offseason and made the move to add Dennis Schroder. Even though that did not pan out, the move was still great at the time and you cannot fault Pelinka at all.
The championship year did not have a true third option but it had someone step up in the playoffs and essentially be that guy: Rajon Rondo. It sounds crazy, especially after seeing how bad he was this year for the Clippers in the playoffs, but Rondo was absolutely the third-best player on the Lakers and was hugely important to the team winning the title.
His averages were not that high but he had big games when the Lakers needed it. He dropped 16 and 10 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals and scored 19 in the NBA Finals clinching game. He had three straight double-digit scoring nights against Houston, including a 21-point game.
Plus, the Lakers could get away with not having a true option in 2020. They will need it in 2022. The Brooklyn Nets are still a problem, the Bucks are obviously great, the Warriors are only going to get better, Phoenix will still be in the mix, you get the point.
The Bucks may only have one star but they had two players step up when they were playing well. Khris Middleton was shaky at times but stepped up when the Bucks needed him most and Jrue Holiday, even when not producing offensively, was elite defensively.
The Los Angeles Lakers should not settle. They should look for a true third option.