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Los Angeles Lakers: How will the new backcourt perform on defense?

By Addam Goldman

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 10: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a picture with his jersey during a press conference at Staples Center on August 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 10: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers poses for a picture with his jersey during a press conference at Staples Center on August 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The Glued to the Bench Group

  • Wayne Ellington
  • Rajon Rondo

Lakers fans began slathering over Wayne Ellington’s impressive three-point shooting numbers moments after Rob Pelinka inked him this summer. And why not? Ellington connected on an impressive 42 percent from distance off six attempts per game in 2020, and the Lakers desperately need shooting. Plus, his nickname is “The Man with the Golden Arm.”

Lakers management brought in Quinn Cook to La La Land prior to Frank Vogel’s first season with the team in 2019, sporting a similarly exciting 40 percent hit rate from beyond the arc throughout his career. What did Vogel do with Quinn Cook and his gaudy shooting numbers? He played him less than six minutes per game before Lakers management cut him last season.

Frank Vogel doesn’t play veteran players who’ve shown they don’t like to get their hands dirty on the less glamorous side of the ball. Just like Quinn Cook, “The Man with the Golden Arm” has established himself in the league as a guy who saves his legs for padding his numbers on offense, an attitude that Vogel loathes.

Rajon Rondo is a nice backup plan. And maybe “Playoff Rondo” will come out of hibernation for a 15-minute stretch in the playoffs to help save the Lakers season. But, things will have to really spin sideways in LA for the soon-to-be 36-years-old to supplant someone from the younger and more talented group of Russell Westbrook, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Malik Monk, or Kent Bazemore.

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