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Lakers: The 3 best lineups without Anthony Davis are legitimately shocking

By Jason Reed

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard #39 Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James #6 and Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook #0 during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on December 29, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 29: Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard #39 Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James #6 and Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook #0 during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on December 29, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

The best lineup for the Lakers without Anthony Davis:

Avery Bradley, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook

Talk about a weird lineup. I would have guessed that this would be one of the worse lineups that the Los Angeles Lakers have to throw out there as it does not seem to mesh well together at all. The Lakers are taking away all of their best three-point shooters and are instead trading it for defense in Bradley and THT and size in Howard.

It is not like Bradley and THT are elite defenders in the slightest. Bradley can shoot but THT really cannot. Those two next to Russell Westbrook, especially with a center on the court to hurt the floor spacing, do not seem to make a lot of sense.

Yet for whatever reason it does. This is the best defensive lineup that the Lakers have and it by far allows the fewest opponent points per 100 possessions. This five-man lineup allows 75 points per 100 possessions. That is 10 points better than the next best lineup and is actually the third-best defensive lineup in the entire NBA. 

That is not a joke. The Lakers have the third-best defensive lineup in the NBA despite being one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

Frank Vogel obviously does not realize this as this five-man lineup has played only 25.6 minutes together across four games this season. In those 25.6 minutes, this five-man lineup has posted a net rating of +38.2. That makes it the 17th-best five-man lineup in the entire league.

Next. 50 greatest Lakers of all-time. dark

Will Frank Vogel play this lineup more? Probably not. But keep an eye out for it and see how it plays together if he actually does it give an extended run.

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