Los Angeles Lakers resolution #1: Find a starting lineup
Frank Vogel and the Lakers have been unable to land on a starting lineup this season that consistently works. Their starting lineup has been outdone by bench players in more than one instance this season and the Lakers have been constantly plagued by slow starts.
In just 38 games thus far this season, the Lakers have started the game with twenty different lineups. That is simply not a recipe for success.
While some of the lineup changes have been out of the Lakers’ hands, particularly due to the injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, there is still a prevalent sense that Frank Vogel is still trying to find a starting unit that can be counted on.
It is a foregone conclusion that James, Davis and Westbrook will be featured in the starting lineup, but the two accompanying role players have not been consistent. It seems Vogel has finally realized that it is not wise to start Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan alongside the below-average-shooting superstar trio, but it is now up to him to find the correct players to replace the big men with.
Whether it is Stanley Johnson, Austin Reaves, Malik Monk, etc., it is imperative for the Lakers’ success going forward that they identify their best five and utilize that lineup to their advantage.