Head coach Frank Vogel changed the starting lineup Sunday when the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Houston Rockets.
Instead of DeAndre Jordan starting at center, which has been the case so far this season, Vogel inserted Avery Bradley at shooting guard. Kent Bazemore, LeBron James and Anthony Davis moved up a position.
The spacing and defense for the new five looked great, even though the Rockets are a young team still learning the ropes.
After the game, Jordan gave his thoughts on why he came off the bench with Carmelo Anthony and others instead of starting, via @Spectrum SportsNet:
“I think he needed more scoring off the bench for me and Melo,” Jordan said. “I think that’s why I came off tonight, which was a great game plan in my opinion.”
Jordan continued the theme players have brought up since media day about sacrificing usual roles for the bigger goal at hand.
“With a team like this, we’re so experienced and a lot of guys are selfless at this point in their careers and we know that we’re going to have to give up a lot of things, shots, minutes, touches, whatever it may be, nights you play a lot, nights you may not play at all,” Jordan said. “I think that’s what makes up a great team is us being able to give ourselves up for something bigger.”
The Lakers play the Rockets again Tuesday, so Vogel could run the same starting five for the second straight game until more conversations are held.
