Luke Walton and the Los Angeles Lakers plan to stick with the group they started in Wednesday night’s win over the New Orleans, meaning Rajon Rondo will remain in the starting lineup and the Lakers will continue to start games without a traditional center.
Walton told reporters at the Lakers shootaround on Friday that he intended to stick with the same group he started against the Pelicans in Rondo, Reggie Bullock, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and LeBron James. That unit was outscored by the Pelicans starters, but they did record a better defensive rating (121) than the starters did the weekend prior against the Pelicans without Anthony Davis (131).
So, I guess, that’s progress. The Lakers defense has been one of the worst in the league since they lost Lonzo Ball and any improvements they can muster there should help them take advantage of the improved play of Brandon Ingram as well as the presence of LeBron James offensively.
As a result of the lineup switch on Wednesday, the Lakers only went to a traditional center for 12 minutes of the game.
While the Bucks do start a traditional center in Brook Lopez, his game is now based on his 3-point shot, meaning whoever has the assignment on him will have to keep tabs on him from long-range. And that task is even harder when you consider the Lakers also have to deal with the powerful drives of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
